VermontH.6602025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund and Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund appropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

More local prevention help for youth

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Health Department distributes fiscal year 2027 Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund money to four youth programs. Elevate Youth Services receives $288,935 for a low-barrier Barre teen center offering food, activities, mentors, peer counselors, prevention, recovery, and treatment connections. Greater Falls Connections receives $124,999 for youth engagement and education, prevention staff, and program space. Interaction: Friends for Change receives $200,000 for Windham County youth therapy, housing, crisis, medical, recovery, and employment supports. Winooski Partnership for Prevention receives $26,697 for staff and partner stipends supporting elementary-school medicine safety lessons with family involvement.

More local harm-reduction team support

Beginning July 1, 2026, Public Safety receives $287,000 for fiscal year 2027 to expand harm reduction and community intervention. The Health Department also distributes $237,646 to Springfield Project ACTION for public safety team coordinators. Coordinators support Bennington, Springfield, Brattleboro, St. Johnsbury, and central Vermont. Their work includes administrative support, meetings, data tracking, outreach coordination, and planning for continued services.

Emergency teams get opioid treatment training

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Health Department receives $248,000 for fiscal year 2027 to expand emergency opioid treatment training. The money supports the Prehospital Vermont EMS Buprenorphine Treatment program. Emergency providers learn to carry buprenorphine and give it after naloxone. The funding does not create an individual payment or guarantee treatment.

More outreach and community recovery support

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Health Department receives $455,000 for fiscal year 2027 to fund 26 outreach and case-management positions. These staff work within the preferred provider network and serve people with substance use disorder in community settings. Continued yearly outreach funding depends on enough money remaining in the opioid fund. Another $500,000 goes to recovery centers, with allocations set after consultation with the Vermont Recovery Network. These funds support services, not direct household cash payments.

More recovery coaching in correctional settings

Beginning July 1, 2026, Corrections receives $1.1 million for fiscal year 2027 for peer recovery center coaches. Coaches serve people in Vermont correctional facilities and probation and parole offices. They provide recovery coaching and reentry support. The money cannot cover administrative expenses.

More recovery help at homeless shelters

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of Economic Opportunity receives $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 for long-term shelter programs. The programs serve people experiencing homelessness. Services include harm-reduction support, rides to recovery services and appointments, and nursing care. The money funds shelter services rather than direct household payments.

More treatment beds and recovery housing

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont provides $1.6 million for fiscal year 2027 to recovery residences certified by the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences. Continued yearly funding depends on enough money remaining in the opioid fund. Another $1.2 million creates residential opioid treatment beds and recovery housing beds, with priority for areas lacking services. Treatment beds must meet American Society of Addiction Medicine level 3.1; recovery beds must meet National Alliance for Recovery Residences level III or higher. The law also provides $35,000 for room and board at Rutland Mental Health Services’ transitional housing program, without setting per-person amounts.

Opioid funding lasts longer, covers more

Beginning July 1, 2026, the opioid fund can support co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, within settlement-use limits. Fiscal year 2027 opioid-abatement appropriations remain available until fully spent unless a future law requires their return. In fiscal year 2027, $444,000 from the opioid satellite account, $8,287.34 from wound care, and $1 million from stabilization beds return to the fund. The Health Department must submit annual spending plans by January 15 and publish quarterly spending reports, including unspent and uncommitted money. Releases from national settlement accounts must follow the required sequence, and department payments follow state disbursement rules.

More job help during opioid recovery

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont provides $875,000 for fiscal year 2027 for specialized employment services through HireAbility Vermont. The services support people with opioid use disorder. Beginning in fiscal year 2028, funding shifts to the General Fund. The law does not set direct payments or benefit amounts for individuals.

Opioid funding applicants face new limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, applicants seeking ongoing opioid funding must submit plans describing future costs and resources outside the opioid fund. For fiscal year 2028, the advisory committee cannot accept funding proposals or recommend funding, except for programs already named in law for annual funding. Instead, it reviews outcomes and program sustainability to guide fiscal year 2029 and later allocations. Its expanded duties include ongoing stakeholder consultation, including people with opioid use disorder, targeted outcomes, annual votes, and Attorney General consultation on allowed uses. It must formally present recommendations to the Governor, Health Department, and Legislature, with emphasis on ongoing services.

Opioid dosing sites expand and shift

Beginning July 1, 2026, four opioid treatment programs share $1.5 million equally, receiving $375,000 each. The money supports partnerships with health care providers to expand medication-dosing sites serving Addison County and eastern or southern Vermont. This allocation no longer includes a Corrections-operated facility. Another $500,000 establishes a satellite treatment site in northwestern Vermont. That site replaces the prior designation for a second Chittenden Clinic Addiction Treatment Center.

Syringe services gain funding and reporting

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont provides $850,000 for fiscal year 2027 for syringe services. Continued yearly funding depends on enough money remaining in the opioid fund. The Health Department must submit recommendations for statewide syringe recovery models by December 15, 2026. The plan must require providers to report the share of distributed syringes returned or otherwise collected. The law does not require individual residents to return syringes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Eric Maguire
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Daniel A Noyes
Democratic • House
Doug Bishop
Democratic • House
Esme Cole
Democratic • House
Golrang "Rey" Garofano
Democratic • House
Theresa A Wood
Democratic • House
Zon Eastes
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 12 • No: 18

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Pending third reading, motion to amend Senate proposal of amendment disagreed to on roll call, requested by Senator Collamore, Failed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 12, Nays = 18