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VermontH.2182025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to fiscal year 2026 appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund

Sponsored By: Theresa A Wood (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fewer insurance barriers to opioid treatment

Beginning July 1, 2025, health plans cannot require prior approval for opioid use disorder drugs prescribed within FDA dosing recommendations. Plans also cannot require prior approval for related counseling and behavioral therapy when patients receive medication-assisted treatment. The law does not specify lower premiums or out-of-pocket costs.

Funding for incentive-based recovery services

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law provides $800,000 for contingency management, an incentive-based treatment approach. Up to $35,000 goes through Corrections to a Pathways Vermont pilot in Chittenden County. The pilot serves people under Department of Corrections supervision. Health distributes the remaining money as grants for ongoing provider services.

Linked violence support and recovery services

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $20,824 for Umbrella in fiscal year 2026. The money connects domestic and sexual violence providers with recovery partners in northeastern Vermont. It funds coordinated services for people receiving support from these providers.

More local opioid treatment and recovery

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives fiscal year 2026 funding for three local treatment and recovery efforts. Project Connectionworks receives $309,000 for prevention, treatment, and recovery services aimed at reducing opioid-related illness and deaths in Windham County. Connecticut Valley Addiction Services receives $150,000 to expand opioid treatment in rural Windsor County. Treatment Associates of Washington County Mental Health receives $30,000 to hire an on-site recovery coach.

More opioid prevention and treatment for youth

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives fiscal year 2026 funding for three youth-service programs. Elevate Youth Services receives $200,000 for Healthy Youth Program counselors at Kellogg-Hubbard Library’s Basement Teen Center in Washington County. Friends for Change’s Youth Center in Bellows Falls receives $100,000 for intervention and harm-reduction support for youth and young adults. Spectrum Youth and Family Services receives $170,000 for two new positions serving youth in Chittenden and Franklin Counties. Those positions expand opioid use disorder screening, treatment, and case management.

More outreach for people needing recovery

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $1.976 million for 26 outreach or case management staff in its preferred provider network. They help engage people with substance use disorder at places such as police barracks, shelters, and social-service groups. Health also receives $76,000 for a Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform outreach worker. Another $300,000 supports that group and Johnson Health Center in continuing and improving the Managed Medical Response Partnership. Lawmakers intend annual funding for the 26 positions, subject to available fund money. All fiscal year 2026 appropriations in this package use the Opioid Abatement Special Fund and depend on sufficient money. Every grant agreement funded by the package must include outcome data collection and reporting to the administering department and Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee.

Parenting support for people with opioid disorder

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $80,000 for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont in fiscal year 2026. The money supports parenting-skills instruction for people with opioid use disorder. It also funds social and emotional parenting support.

Housing and shelter help during recovery

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $1.4 million for residences certified by the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences. Lawmakers intend annual funding of at least that amount, unless the fund lacks enough money. Children and Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity receives $800,000 for long-term shelter programs with harm-reduction support and clinical nursing. Through Health, Champlain Housing Trust receives $44,229 to continue wound and preventive care at three low-barrier shelters in Chittenden County. Health also receives $550,000 for Northeast Kingdom Community Action to hire four peer-support specialists. They help people with opioid use disorder move from homelessness into safe, permanent housing in the Northeast Kingdom.

Job help for people with opioid disorder

Beginning July 1, 2025, Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living receives $850,000 for HireAbility Vermont in fiscal year 2026. The money funds specialized employment services for people with opioid use disorder. Services are funded in Burlington, Newport, Rutland, and Bennington.

Opioid training for Vermont judges

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Judicial Branch receives $50,000 for fiscal year 2026 training for Vermont judges statewide. Training covers opioid use disorder issues and strategies for handling court dockets.

Funding for Burlington overdose prevention center

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $1.1 million for fiscal year 2026 grants to establish Burlington’s overdose prevention center. Burlington must submit a City Council-approved proposal that meets 18 V.S.A. § 4256 and Department of Health guidelines. Lawmakers intend continued funding for the center’s operation through fiscal year 2028, unless the fund lacks enough money.

Funding for syringe services and overdose response

Beginning July 1, 2025, Health receives $850,000 for syringe services in fiscal year 2026. Lawmakers intend annual funding of at least $850,000, unless the fund lacks enough money. Health also receives $32,157 for Brattleboro Fire Department community training. Training covers opioid antidote use, CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed bleeding-control methods.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Theresa A Wood

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 206 • No: 82

House vote • 3/28/2025

Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 72 of 143 to Pass -- Yeas = 119, Nays = 24

Yes: 119 • No: 24 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/27/2025

Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 73 of 145 to Pass -- Yeas = 87, Nays = 58

Yes: 87 • No: 58 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on May 13, 2025

    5/14/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor on May 13, 2025

    5/13/2025House

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 7, 2025

    5/7/2025House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/2/2025House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/1/2025House

  6. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/1/2025House

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    4/30/2025House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    4/29/2025Senate

  9. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    4/25/2025Senate

  10. Pending third reading, Senator Lyons proposal of amendment, agreed to

    4/25/2025Senate

  11. New Business/Third Reading

    4/25/2025Senate

  12. 3rd reading ordered

    4/24/2025Senate

  13. Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on Appropriations

    4/24/2025Senate

  14. Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/24/2025Senate

  15. Read 2nd time

    4/24/2025Senate

  16. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    4/24/2025Senate

  17. Favorable report by Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/24/2025Senate

  18. New Business/Second Reading

    4/24/2025Senate

  19. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    4/23/2025Senate

  20. Favorable report by Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/23/2025Senate

  21. Second Reading

    4/23/2025Senate

  22. Entered on Notice Calendar

    4/23/2025Senate

  23. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

    4/17/2025Senate

  24. Favorable report by Committee on Health and Welfare

    4/17/2025Senate

  25. Second Reading

    4/17/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 16)Opens in a new window

    5/20/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    4/29/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    4/29/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/13/2025

    PDF

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