VermontVermont would treat certain people in a forensic facility
People meeting a serious-crime and court-finding threshold would receive treatment and periodic reviews, first at a correctional facility and later at a separate facility.
What it does
People found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity for an offense punishable by life in prison would receive treatment and regular reviews. Supervised release may be possible under stated conditions.
Until July 1, 2029, eligible people would receive services through an interim program at a correctional facility. The permanent facility would then operate separately from a correctional setting.
Before July 1, 2029, the Secretary would give lawmakers status reports and a plan for developing and operating the facility.
Argument forPeople facing the most serious charges could receive treatment and regular reviews, with supervised release possible if they are no longer dangerous or cannot be restored to competency.
Argument againstPeople receiving treatment in a correctional facility until 2029 may have less separation from prison life than they would in a stand-alone facility.
More detail
The Agency of Human Services would provide a forensic facility for treatment and periodic reviews. The facility would serve people charged with or convicted of certain crimes who meet the stated court findings and offense threshold. Placement applies when a person is found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity for an offense punishable by life in prison. A person may be released under supervision if they are no longer dangerous or cannot be restored to competency.
The Agency would provide interim services at a correctional facility and then operate the permanent facility separately from a correctional setting. The interim program would provide forensic and competency restoration services to people eligible for placement. The Agency would establish the interim program through emergency rules. The interim program applies until July 1, 2029. The permanent facility becomes effective on that date.
The Secretary would report on the facility's status and provide a feasibility plan to the General Assembly. The Secretary would report to the Joint Justice Oversight Committee and provide the plan to the General Assembly. The reports and plan are due before July 1, 2029.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 28Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Hashim, Passed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 1. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 28As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 28Roll Call, requested by Senator Hashim, Passed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 1
- May 28Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Hashim
- May 28House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 28House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 28Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 28House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 28Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 27House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 26Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 62 of 124 to Pass -- Yeas = 115, Nays = 9. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 26Rules suspended and bill placed in all remaining stages of passage as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Third Reading orderedMinor
- May 26Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 62 of 124 to Pass -- Yeas = 115, Nays = 9
- May 26Report of Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed to
- May 26Rep. Morrissey of Bennington demanded yeas and nays
- May 26Rep. Burditt of West Rutland, Arsenault of Williston, Christie of Hartford, Dolan of Essex Junction, Goodnow of Brattleboro, Goslant of Northfield, Harvey of Castleton, LaLonde of South Burlington, Malay of Pittsford, and Oliver of Sheldon moved to amend the report of the Committee on Judiciary, as amended, which was agreed to
- May 26Rep. Wood of Waterbury, Bishop of Colchester, Cole of Hartford, Donahue of Northfield, Eastes of Guilford, Garofano of Essex, Maguire of Rutland City, McGill of Bridport, and Noyes of Wolcott moved to amend the report of the Committee on Judiciary, which was agreed to
- May 26Rep. Squirrell of Underhill asked and was granted leave to withdraw the report of the Committee on Appropriations
- May 26Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- May 26Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary
- May 26Read second timeMinor
- May 26Action Calendar: Unfinished Business
- May 22Action Calendar: Unfinished Business
- May 21Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 20Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 19Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- May 19Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 18Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 3Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 1Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Norris
- Vote recorded Read 3rd time & passed on roll call, requested by Senator Norris, Passed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1Read 3rd time & passed on roll call, requested by Senator Norris, Passed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 1Passed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) HashimMinor
- Apr 1New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 1Pending third reading, motion to amend to be offered by Senator(s) HashimMinor
- Mar 313rd reading ordered
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary amended as moved by Senator Lyons, Benson, Cummings, Gulick, Harrison, Major, and Morley
- Mar 31Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 31Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Lyons
- Mar 31Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 31Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Consideration Postponed/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 27Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 27Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 27Consideration Postponed/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 26Consideration Postponed/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 25Consideration Postponed/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Consideration postponed to March 31, 2026 on motion of Senator Baruth
- Mar 24Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 24Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 24Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 20Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 20Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 17Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Mar 17Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 17Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 17Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 6Read 1st time & referred to Committee on JudiciaryIntroduced
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