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House advances S.157 to require state certification and resident protections for recovery residences
Summary
The Vermont House voted to propose to the Senate amendments to S.157, a bill to make permanent a framework for certifying recovery residences, require Department of Health oversight, and enshrine resident protections and a grievance process; committees reported the measure favorably and the House ordered third reading.
The Vermont House advanced S.157, an act to establish a voluntary state certification program for recovery residences and to make permanent limited exemptions from landlord-tenant law for certified homes. Representative Bishop (Member from Colchester), speaking for the Human Services Committee, summarized the bill and urged support.
"The evidence is clear that stable, recovery-supportive housing significantly improves long-term outcomes," Representative Bishop said, describing recovery residences as a critical bridge between clinical treatment and independent living. The member said Vermont aims to strengthen quality by directing the Department of Health to oversee certification and to adopt rules in partnership with department-approved organizations such as the Vermont Alliance of Recovery Residences.
Under the strike-all amendment recommended by Human Services and reported favorably by Ways and Means, the bill would add a statutory definition of "recovery residence," place oversight in the Division of Substance Use Programs and require certified residences to meet written agreement, notice and grievance standards. Representative Bishop said the bill makes permanent the two-year experimental framework from Act 163 of 2024 that otherwise would have expired July 1. The bill includes safeguards before a residence may exit or transfer a resident: a written residential agreement signed and reaffirmed, specified grounds for removal (including safety threats and criminal charges), notice with rationale and a grievance process, and provision of temporary alternative housing or stabilization beds.
The legislation also sets a timetable for rulemaking: an initial proposed rule must be filed with the Secretary of State by Sept. 1, 2027, and permanent rules adopted by Dec. 1, 2028. Representative Holcomb (Member from Norwich), speaking for Ways and Means, said the Joint Fiscal Office identified no fiscal impact; the statute requires the Department to seek legislative approval before imposing any fee to sustain a certification program.
The House Human Services Committee voted 9-0-2 to recommend the amendment; Ways and Means voted 11-0-0 in favor. By voice vote the House "proposed to the Senate to amend the bill" as recommended and ordered the bill read a third time.
If enacted, S.157 would create a voluntary, state-supervised certification pathway intended to improve program quality while preserving resident safeguards. The House action sends the amended bill back to the Senate for consideration.
