Witnesses urge Vermont to enshrine neural-data protections and require AI disclosure in mental‑health tools

Lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would create a statutory framework for "neurological rights" and restrict how companies collect, use and share neural data. Witnesses told the House Committee on Health Care that consumer devices and generative AI used in mental‑health tools can capture uniquely sensitive brain signals and that Vermont could lead national policy.

"The recognition that each individual has rights to mental and neural data privacy and protection from unauthorized neurotechnological manipulation places Vermont at the forefront," said Sean Posowski, a practicing neurologist and medical director at the NeuroRise Foundation, who spoke in support of the bill and offered suggested statutory language. Posowski emphasized the need for written informed consent and called the bill’s ban…