Committee discusses H.122 funding request for 'Maple Mountain' rural physician residency program

The Commerce & Economic Development committee met Friday, May 2, 2025, and discussed H.122, an economic and workforce development bill that includes a multi‑year funding request for a rural residency program the chair referred to as "Maple Mountain." Committee members heard that the program aims to place physicians in rural Vermont communities and that the first‑year funding request is roughly $515,000 as part of a four‑year ask the chair estimated at about $1.6 million.

The committee chair said the initiative “sounds like a very worthwhile program for workforce development and to get more primary docs into state, especially in rural areas of state.” The chair also told members that studies show residents who complete the program “tend to stay in those communities or go to a rural community.”

Committee staff will bring additional budget detail to the next meeting. The chair said Patrick Titterton will come in to “just go through, the dollar amounts that are in H.122, what's in the budget,” and members were reminded that a fiscal note is available. A committee staff member asked if everyone had received the fiscal report on H.122; the chair said the committee can post the fiscal note and related documents on the committee web page.

Members discussed coordination with other committees and offices: the chair said they had been talking with the chair of health care, the chair of appropriations and the speaker about the program and that witnesses are expected to testify later in the day. The chair also noted there is “not a whole lot we can do” in the committee immediately but that the committee might be able to advance one component.

Next steps: staff will post the fiscal note and supplemental materials to the committee web page and the committee will reconvene later to hear presentations and review the fiscal details. No formal motion or vote occurred during the meeting.