Human Rights Commission pushes immigrant‑justice, disability and gender‑care measures after civil‑rights summit

Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, told members of the Senate Judiciary committee that recommendations from a November civil‑rights summit reflect community priorities and require legislative attention.

Hartman said the summit drew more than 300 participants and produced policy recommendations across housing, immigrant justice, trans rights, disability access and education equity. On immigrant justice, the commission supports bills that would create state‑funded access to legal counsel for people facing removal and urged faster work to establish an Office of New Americans with initial FY27 funding so it can begin building services.

Hartman highlighted concerns about people detained under a federal ICE contract housed in Department of Corrections facilities: “They are being denied language access. People are housed in DOC custody, and they don't even know that they're in the state of Vermont,” Hartman said, describing obstacles to communicating with attorneys and accessing medical care. The commission recommended DOC changes and backing for S209 and S208, bills that would limit locations for federal detention and require law enforcement to identify themselves.

On queer justice, the commission backed a proposed gender‑affirming care fund to offset potential federal restrictions to Medicare and Medicaid and preserve access for trans people. “Gender affirming care is truly life saving care,” Hartman said, noting higher suicide risk among youth without access.

Hartman also described education and disability recommendations. The commission cited school‑based harassment as an increasing problem and urged removal of the “severe or pervasive” standard for harassment in schools; panels also recommended steps to ensure reasonable accommodations that enable people with disabilities to vote and participate in town meetings.

Hartman recommended the committee review recorded panels and the summit report and solicited additional testimony from organizations active on these issues, including the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project and ACLU Vermont.

The session closed without votes on policy bills; Hartman provided the committee copies of the summit report, panel recordings and the commission’s annual report for further review.