Lawmakers review S.127 section to create housing planning committee for people with developmental disabilities

The House Human Services Committee on Tuesday reviewed Section 6 of S.127, a Senate housing bill, which would create a State Housing and Residential Services Planning Committee charged with producing a state plan to develop housing for individuals with developmental disabilities and filing a report on Nov. 15, 2025.

The provision calls for the committee to “create an actionable plan to develop housing for individuals with developmental disabilities that reflects the diversity of needs expressed by those individuals and their families, including individuals with high support needs who require 24 hour care and those with specific communication needs,” Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Council told the committee as he read the proposed language.

Under the proposed section, the committee would be 12 members, including one member of the House, one member of the Senate, the secretary of Human Services, and one member appointed by the Associated General Contractors of Vermont. The plan must include a schedule for creation of at least 600 additional units of service‑supportive housing, an accounting of support needs and anticipated funding needs, and recommendations for changes in state law or policy that the committee identifies as obstacles to developing housing for people receiving Medicaid‑funded home and community‑based services.

Wood said the bill assigns the Department of Housing and Community Development assistance to the committee and requires that, on request, the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living provide an analysis of current housing for people with developmental disabilities and the level of community supports needed. He also noted the bill sets a July 15 date for the committee’s first meeting and a Nov. 15, 2025, report deadline; the provision dissolves the committee 15 days after the report is filed. "This is a very aggressive time frame," Wood said.

Committee members raised several issues during the discussion. Representative Eastes and others asked whether the bill directs where the new units would be located; Wood said the text requires a statewide plan but does not prescribe specific sites and that the committee could add language to require geographic distribution. Eastes also urged including people with lived experience on study committees; Wood said members with family experience were included in the proposed membership and that subsection language in a related study (section 5) expressly gives preference for members with lived experience.

Members discussed next steps if they want changes after the version passed House General and moved to Ways and Means. Wood said amendments from members of the House Human Services Committee would need to be offered as floor amendments and offered to draft suggested language if the committee provides guidance.

No formal motion or vote on amendments occurred during the meeting. The committee heard the section as informational and discussed possible language changes to clarify membership, geographic distribution of units, and explicit preference for members with lived experience.