An act relating to Human Services Board fair hearing proceedings

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Daisy Berbeco and 25 co-sponsors

The bill would make fair hearings more accessible by ensuring applicants can speak uninterrupted for a reasonable time and by requiring plain language from hearings officers and at

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services

Summary of H.92 (2025-2026) — Vermont

Purpose and intent

H.92 proposes changes to the fair hearing proceedings conducted by Vermont’s Human Services Board. The central aim is to make fair hearings more transparent and user-friendly for aggrieved applicants seeking review of human services decisions.

Key provisions and changes

Right to speak without interruption: The bill would require that an aggrieved applicant be given an opportunity to speak for a reasonable period of time without interruption from the hearing officer or the agency’s attorney. This enhances the applicant’s ability to present their case fully before any rebuttal or questioning occurs.

Plain language requirement: The hearing officer and the agency’s attorney would be required to speak in plain language and avoid legal jargon (legalese). This is intended to improve comprehension and accessibility for applicants, including non-lawyers and individuals with limited formal education or familiarity with legal proceedings.

(Note: The short-form text provided omits the full statutory changes, but the stated purpose centers on these two procedural improvements.)

Who/commercially affected

Primary beneficiaries: Applicants for human services who participate in fair hearings, including individuals and families contesting agency determinations related to benefits or services administered by the Department for Children and Families, the Agency of Human Services, and related entities.

Stakeholders involved in hearings: Hearing officers of the Human Services Board, attorneys for the aggrieved applicants, and attorneys for the agency. Legal aid organizations and disability advocacy groups are among those who commented in support, indicating a focus on accessibility and clarity.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative track: Introduced in the Vermont House as H.92, with referral to the House Committee on Human Services. The action history shows initial first reading and committee consideration in January 2025, followed by multiple committee hearings in March and April 2025 as part of a draft development process (including input from Vermont Legal Aid, the Disability Law Project, and the Human Services Board).

No explicit effective date provided in the short-form text; typical enactment would follow the standard legislative process after passage and gubernatorial approval, with potential implementation timelines to align with administrative rule updates.

Practical impact and considerations

Accessibility: By eliminating or reducing legalese and allowing applicants to speak at length before interruptions, the process becomes more understandable and less intimidating for non-attorneys.

Fairness and transparency: Plain language and uninterruptible speaking time aim to improve perceived and actual fairness in hearings.

Administrative considerations: Agencies and the Human Services Board may need to provide training for hearing officers on plain-language practices and adjust hearing procedures to ensure the “no interruption” period is feasible and consistently applied.

If you’d like, I can compare these proposed changes to current Vermont fair hearing rules or outline potential implementation steps and costs.