[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6555452,"mediaKeyId","3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83","parentId",3340360,"title","House moves to a largely ‘sealing’ regime for criminal records with S.12; third reading ordered","audioSeconds",1643,"startMs",2782345,"endMs",4425565,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83&start=2782&end=4425","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83/thumbnail_2782345.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555452/Vermont/House-moves-to-a-largely-sealing-regime-for-criminal-records-with-S12-third-reading-ordered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555452-2a832cdeaab66c9c8e717b596c2cb95f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773180952&Signature=FYtDEpoR2oz95mMGd03amb2RQa5PaESMRCiAoiSKCHGt0MCGYYbO00gHAXCjcPsi~MNmv5LHCerx19slIdBWDcZhwlL6lDGyq2XvGOwPeym-wYmYQ3rxMI1-B9SE9Up7CrIO-JoksE-rOgWtufpcSoY8x~ucaAkKqJWLIf1MosVC64v9JANN-Wiq-WWXqAjKVRTvX-gRlT8JXHd9uXhO6Er4TNspqx-E4SaVK74UbkNdd6Ieq8W2ocGWMIDBWz67h78uujH~Ne8Ig4VKAMyo6Z90WwEwQ~gI71TRdQ-a5vm~IGGfpUj5fXnJyjmlsgzCDjrHzylnDriH3u56h7SKZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Legislature","date","2025-05-16T13:36:09Z","article","The House proposed to the Senate to amend S.12 and ordered third reading after floor review of the Judiciary Committee’s strike-all amendment. S.12 revises Vermont law for criminal history record clearance by moving from a two-track system of expungement and sealing to primarily a sealing regime with limited carve-outs for expungement.

House Judiciary committee members described the bill as an attempt to simplify a complex, piecemeal body of law. The committee’s amendment updates definitions, revises the list of qualifying offenses (primarily misdemeanors and a limited set of nonviolent felonies), and establishes waiting periods: generally three years after completing sentence for qualifying misdemeanors, seven years for qualifying nonviolent felonies, and ten years for certain DUI misdemeanors (with additional constraints for commercial driver's license holders). The amendment also allows immediate sealing without a hearing if the petitioner and respondent stipulate.

The bill sets rules for use of sealed records, listing entities allowed access for specified purposes (prosecutors for discovery, criminal justice agencies for criminal justice purposes, employers in limited circumstances such as law enforcement hiring, researchers under state law, and victims for certain notices). It requires the court to bar viewings of sealed offenses in searchable databases and to maintain an index of sealed cases. The House amendment added email as an acceptable method to notify victims when a petition is filed and included civil penalties (up to $1,000) for unauthorized access and disclosure of sealed records by law enforcement officers and others.

The Ways and Means Committee reported that S.12 does not change current sealing fees (a DUI I sealing fee remains the only fee) and that any increased workload would be handled by courts or return to the legislature if resourcing is needed. Judiciary described that the bill retains some contexts where expungement remains necessary (for example, for certain deferred sentences and court diversion periods) and added provisions addressing municipal and traffic violation expungement timing. S.12 as amended sets an effective date of 07/01/2025 for most provisions.

On the floor the Judiciary sponsor said the measure balances easing barriers to employment, housing and education with public safety and prosecutorial needs; legislators were reminded the proposal is the product of multiple years of study and advocacy. The House voted by voice to propose to the Senate to amend S.12 as recommended and ordered third reading.

Speakers and witnesses included House Judiciary members, legislative counsel, Joint Fiscal Office analysts, representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, state judiciary staff, victim services, defense and prosecution stakeholders, and other interested parties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Session: 2025-05-16-9:30 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The House proposed to the Senate to amend S.12 and ordered third reading of a comprehensive revision to Vermont’s criminal record clearance law that shifts most cases to a sealing regime with specified waiting periods and limited exceptions.","taxTitle","HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",29454,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555458,"House advances bill to certify community-based perinatal doulas and seek Medicaid coverage",1410,927705,2338285,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83&start=927&end=2338","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83/thumbnail_927705.jpg","/articles/6555458/Vermont/House-advances-bill-to-certify-community-based-perinatal-doulas-and-seek-Medicaid-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555458-139d92c9159e4afebf80aad10d0fbfdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773180952&Signature=OR~o-QXe5MQlHnPCEIcSy2hm8TvqrGZJeAPtsyxgpR-wZMI5ngO0HKrmhPXF0kDChT2qH9FPkDoDelGbVaF-oNyrf7KnEVTnzSRG5afwuFyJ8oa8dRauWlPTjmN6mbx11Jy1TQr5mmcLYuqtk3Fcy0wU2xkuc6SxFM4fK4udm3GNheS88SlxJ34YPt5c9pbh6Bglmum6c2qlPj1mh6R7uZJHohT~59q-YIxULvpkSGvnAZNSA-0DpoTJHDLi0IakdqkIpbimSopPuMaFqXWvdLiyjnxXWHfx7qUxqg~u-eQQADNJ4ThWvUT2~UE8uY-EVO2nMr9aDIDqEjXMdrNY9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House proposed to the Senate amendments and ordered third reading of S.53 on a vote of the body after committee reports and floor debate. S.53 would create a statutory category of \"certified community-based perinatal doulas,\" require certification under the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), and establish a Medicaid reimbursement methodology for doula services contingent on federal approval.

The bill directs OPR to develop a certification program for community-based doulas, including rulemaking, appointment of experienced doulas as advisers, and use of an external certifying body. According to the bill text and committee summaries, certification will be required for doulas who seek Medicaid reimbursement; doulas may continue to practice without certification but would not be eligible for Medicaid payment.

The House Health Care Committee described evidence presented during its review linking doula support to reduced cesarean and preterm birth rates and to lower rates of postpartum depression. Representative Cortes (member from Bristol) summarized studies cited to the committee, and told members she was relying on national reviews and Vermont-specific analyses presented to the committee. She noted a recommended Medicaid payment methodology developed by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) of $100 per visit with a minimum 30-minute unit and a service limit of 12 visits per birth.

Ways and Means, which reviewed fiscal impacts, reported that OPR would need $25,000 in fiscal 2026 to stand up the certification program and that initial certification fees were estimated at $75 with renewals at $120. Committee estimates cited an expected population of roughly 70–100 practicing doulas in Vermont and projected application revenues of $4,500–$7,500 per year; Ways and Means noted that the bill itself does not make an appropriation for DVHA’s federal-state work on the Medicaid state plan amendment.

Floor remarks included personal testimony: the member from Fairfax described receiving doula support during childbirth and urged passage; Representative Cortes read a definition of doula care and quoted a researcher, saying, “if a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.” House committees on Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations each recommended concurrence with the Health Care Committee’s proposal of amendment. The House voted to propose to the Senate to amend as recommended and ordered third reading.

If implemented, actual Medicaid reimbursement would not take effect until DVHA files and receives approval for a state plan amendment from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the House amendment moved the target date for DVHA to submit that state plan amendment to no later than 07/01/2026. The bill also adds a statutory chapter authorizing certification and sets administrative duties and fee structures for OPR.

The House record shows committee votes in favor (Health Care 11–0; Ways and Means 10–0–1; Appropriations 10–0–1) and voice votes on the floor. The bill’s fiscal costs to implement the OPR component were reported to be modest; estimated Medicaid cost impacts were described in DVHA analysis to committees but the final state fiscal cost depends on federal approval and future utilization rates.

Provisions still require several administrative steps before Medicaid coverage can begin: OPR rulemaking for certification, DVHA’s submission and federal approval of a state plan amendment, and establishment of the reimbursement claims process.

Speakers and witnesses during committee and floor consideration included OPR staff, DVHA representatives, Joint Fiscal Office analysts, the Doula Association of Vermont, researchers and advocacy witnesses, and multiple legislators from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations who reported to the floor.","The Vermont House proposed amendments and ordered third reading of S.53, a bill creating certification for community-based perinatal doulas and directing the Department of Vermont Health Access to seek Medicaid reimbursement under a state plan amendment, with an initial reimbursement methodology and modest administrative costs noted.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555439,"House concurs in Senate amendments to stormwater management bill H.481",230,695975,926765,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83&start=695&end=926","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83/thumbnail_695975.jpg","/articles/6555439/Vermont/House-concurs-in-Senate-amendments-to-stormwater-management-bill-H481","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555439-23a60284ceb386c54d0f9c9cee78f6df/orig.mp4?Expires=1773180952&Signature=UVeOnpJc5ogBaDK7-bTBnnxn-bakbKh7cXHfQJTXheLFPJQQ6Y8nEPjO2AXBsWxsGFbKqU0kHyeIF1PUcM4NyuB1G7riiao-yyVtTdf1AouVyiniFIpiRpMgTevn8mm8rNKebcrH9z3GJxK2UngVyg79nhoNKKcl4hjA3YSagQz5uPn-jqBY3g646EV9W1HmXrylh5LDTPZr3x5FOcE6aTMe1nRPugH1VTNJjoHDgWszdk~4RDjmou8oOd-OYZFzSWb2r9NlZ7EtH-OxMZDVk9zCbon7lfYDDA398VOp36l97bI5iONHncD2x8zFaOdppdOYorGIXu7~x8YYJrUMfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 481 (H.481), an act relating to stormwater management.

Floor briefing by the member from Burlington summarized Senate changes that the House Environment Committee had reviewed favorably. Noted amendments include requiring the Agency of Natural Resources secretary to notify property owners subject to the three-acre permit rule, renaming a municipal impact fee to a municipal special assessment fee, linking a statutory subsection to a later study on municipal stormwater utilities, and adding financial assistance to help municipalities obtain engineering services to form a municipal stormwater utility should that study recommend creating such utilities. The Senate also added a public-facing plain-language stormwater management resource guide for property owners and a periodic check-back report to review the effectiveness of the clean water surcharge to the property transfer tax.

The House voted by voice and the Speaker announced concurrence in the Senate’s proposal of amendment.

Speakers included the member from Burlington who presented the committee report and the Environment Committee’s straw poll and review.","The House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to H.481, an act relating to stormwater management, endorsing changes that add municipal assistance, a public resource guide, and study language on municipal stormwater utilities.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555444,"House adopts conference report on capital construction and state bonding bill, orders delivery to governor",262,2461319,2724040,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83&start=2461&end=2724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83/thumbnail_2461319.jpg","/articles/6555444/Vermont/House-adopts-conference-report-on-capital-construction-and-state-bonding-bill-orders-delivery-to-governor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555444-2db8c75dc4c8980e2c03609c85c5e351/orig.mp4?Expires=1773180952&Signature=Hi9R66iu39ey2N462oTyWJ3VGwIq9eWRKDB1IMfAkW~w88m3dkcL57RvGa~g2qDo7EZMeBslSMqDYnj4MzyTddKFUrHZwCV6Ckqcs1lzvYW9BD~ITZJ5HwIZCXlUUC1VjRV7e4ocXtTtWEaw19nK53fTx2RzsWwTnu~adNUPgVS16U50DUUl0Wte5gaOka7AI7cHV4Pdg6hyDS3l234jTADIGG1u~NGf3TjkWrNg2FfL3dK2RCa2FtdgAQFx5VkegE7CHwzF8~VZMNkvk~BhksEwgnxKId8SmrZqCqLffWpLvkUK9pblv3gt-VAR2bF0JuNo~fjMkfyj4IUP-2eHaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House adopted the report of the committee of conference on House Bill 494, the capital construction and state bonding bill, and on the motion ordered the bill delivered to the governor forthwith.

Floor presenters said the conference report reconciled differences with the Senate on several project funding items and moved some previously proposed bonded infrastructure funding into general fund appropriations. House members noted negotiated adjustments—reducing one municipality-targeted line from $3 million to $2.5 million in general fund support, clarifying that funds should go to municipalities that own or hold long-term leases for the infrastructure, and preserving other House funding positions following negotiation. The conference committee reported unanimous support from its six members.

After adoption of the conference report, a member moved and the House approved delivery of H.494 to the governor without delay.

Speakers on the floor included the member from Springfield who presented the conference report and other members who explained funding reallocations. Committees reported the conference committee had voted unanimously to support the report.","The House adopted the committee-of-conference report on H.494 (capital construction and bonding), approved compromise funding adjustments, and ordered the bill delivered to the governor forthwith.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555448,"House amends and advances S.109, an omnibus judiciary procedures bill",2393,4425960,6819135,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83&start=4425&end=6819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340360-daec3876bfccaa0cf3d39def1fc2be83/thumbnail_4425960.jpg","/articles/6555448/Vermont/House-amends-and-advances-S109-an-omnibus-judiciary-procedures-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555448-74a729f4d9630cb7b6e568bf5bed5893/orig.mp4?Expires=1773180952&Signature=IjDeY68wxg2~eRaV2EtvAz2nRTFpFhB6Pik2CKWTVM85nuWfynjGeJYOApHiEZljTYP5StGC1-IhN1Knw~HZxij-WEiVX-DYCdHjc4QJ3pgciacRZBUvtKvEVc28w4FsRE3sHfXYaLioJ-yg3pu9DuKhMZ50oGcqW1Iyilp-7pwHwe0kt6WzLncraZeN9H5TqLDBpeSp7CPG2SLzWhgkWg-r9muiOZufT1u2Ady5YRU36-rM9xgXB6oxbeOsNzvSsBmZzBqIhcGrArMvqkP5w8xbjdKIYnwu7wWZ-tBjRB4dgYQ74RkrloSkdRIKFAzXCnHI6rVf~ZDk6iJ91So3iA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House amended the Judiciary Committee report and proposed to the Senate to amend S.109 as modified, then ordered third reading. S.109 is a multi-section miscellaneous judiciary bill containing mostly technical fixes, some policy changes, and several directed studies and working groups.

Committee sponsors described the bill as a \"Whitman's sampler\" of mostly noncontroversial items that had accumulated during the session. Substantive elements in the bill and the adopted floor amendment include: remote access for attorneys to non-confidential court records; clarifications to Judicial Bureau procedures and civil penalty language; repeal of an outdated criminal penalty for adult children failing to support parents; creation of a firearm surrender order compliance working group to study uniform surrender and return processes; reinstatement (with clarifying language) of statutory authority for courts to consider a person’s child support payment history in adoption proceedings while excluding certain DCF foster care payment contexts; creation of an adult involuntary guardianship working group to study jurisdictional alignment between probate and family divisions; a victim notification task force to study improvements to victim notice systems; and technical statute corrections across court and probate statutes.

The floor amendment deleted two sections that had been rendered unnecessary when the governor signed separate legislation, added additional consults for the firearm surrender working group (including the Fish & Wildlife commissioner), adjusted membership and scope of the child-and-parent legal representation task force, and made several other technical and membership changes requested by agencies and stakeholders. Ways and Means and Appropriations reported the fiscal impacts are de minimis for working-group per diems and that the reinstated marriage-license fee changes in the bill would, if allowed to sunset, reduce a domestic violence special fund by roughly $72,000 annually (the bill retains the fee increase).

Committee votes were reported in committee: House Judiciary (vote 11 in favor), Ways and Means and Appropriations recommended concurrence with recorded committee votes noted in the record. The House adopted amendments offered on the floor, proposed to the Senate to amend as recommended, and ordered third reading.

Speakers and witnesses included a broad set of stakeholders: Vermont Judiciary staff, Attorney General’s Office, Department for Children and Families, Department of Corrections, bar associations, victim services, county assistant judges, and others who provided targeted testimony on particular sections of the bill.","S.109, the annual miscellaneous judiciary bill containing technical corrections, policy changes, and working-group directives, was amended on the floor, the House proposed to the Senate to amend, and third reading was ordered. The bill spans court administration items, victim notification, guardianship studies, and other technical fixes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House moves to a largely ‘sealing’ regime for criminal records with S.12; third reading ordered

House advances bill to certify community-based perinatal doulas and seek Medicaid coverage

House concurs in Senate amendments to stormwater management bill H.481

House adopts conference report on capital construction and state bonding bill, orders delivery to governor

House amends and advances S.109, an omnibus judiciary procedures bill