VermontVermont sets rules for voluntary recovery home certification
Vermont law directs the Department of Health to set rules for voluntary recovery home certification, including approved standards and yearly reports to lawmakers.
What it does
The Department of Health must set rules for voluntary state certification of recovery homes, including approved standards and yearly reports on how the program works.
A qualifying recovery home may immediately remove or transfer a resident for listed conduct affecting others’ health or safety, but must follow approved policies, provide notice, and arrange temporary housing.
When a resident applies for emergency housing, relapse that led to removal from a qualifying recovery home cannot be treated as the resident causing their own homelessness.
Argument forCertification standards and yearly reports could help lawmakers track how the program works and whether certified homes meet approved standards.
Argument againstImmediate removal could disrupt a resident’s recovery and housing, even when the home provides notice and arranges temporary housing.
More detail
The Department of Health must make rules for a voluntary state certification program. The voluntary program is for recovery residences that seek certification from the State. Homes seeking state certification must meet standards set by the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences or another organization approved by the Department. The rules must set data and reporting requirements for certified homes, including information about exits and transfers, and require yearly Department reports to the General Assembly on the program’s effectiveness. If the Department identifies a need for a program fee, lawmakers must enact it before the Department may include it in a rule. The Department must file a proposed rule by September 1, 2027, and adopt a permanent rule by December 1, 2028.
A qualifying recovery residence may immediately remove or transfer a resident only under the stated conditions. This applies to shared homes that support people recovering from substance use disorder and are certified by an organization approved by the Department of Health. The residence must have a written exit and transfer policy approved by a state-approved certifying organization, obtain the resident’s written consent and reaffirm it after seven days, provide or arrange temporary housing, give written or electronic notice, and have an approved grievance process. The policy must address temporary bed holds and return criteria, keep a resident’s belongings for at least 60 days after permanent removal, and plan for alternative housing. It must exempt valid prescription medicine used as prescribed. The listed grounds include conduct affecting the health or safety of people at the residence, such as violating its substance use policy, repeatedly refusing services, being charged with a crime, theft, interfering with other residents’ recovery, or threatening violence. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. The text gives no separate start or end date for this provision.
Relapse leading to removal cannot count as the resident’s own cause of homelessness when the resident seeks emergency housing. It concerns a resident removed from a qualifying recovery residence who applies for emergency housing. This rule applies to qualifying recovery residences certified by an organization approved by the Department of Health. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. The text gives no separate start or end date for this rule.
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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 20Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott May 19, 2026Latest
- May 20Signed by Governor Phil Scott on May 19, 2026Became Law
- May 13Delivered to Governor on May 13, 2026To Governor
- May 6Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 5As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 5House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 5House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 5Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 1Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- Apr 30Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- Apr 29New Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- Apr 28House proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 28Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 24House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- Apr 23Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 23Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 22Third Reading orderedMinor
- Apr 22Report of Committee on Human Services agreed to
- Apr 22Rep. Holcombe of Norwich recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Apr 22Rep. Bishop of Colchester reported for the Committee on Human Services
- Apr 22Read second timeMinor
- Apr 22Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 21Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 16Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- Mar 11Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human ServicesMinor
- Feb 27Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Feb 27Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) HashimMinor
- Feb 27New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 263rd reading ordered
- Feb 26Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare, as amended, agreed to
- Feb 26Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare amended as recommended by Committee on Finance
- Feb 26Reported favorably by Senator Gulick for Committee on Finance with recommendation of amendmentMinor
- Feb 26Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Benson for Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Feb 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Feb 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Feb 26New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Feb 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Feb 25Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 25Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 24Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
- Feb 24Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Feb 24Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- 2025
- May 30Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and WelfareIntroduced
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