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Bill

H 140

An act relating to the provision of grants for community nurses and community care coordinators working in collaboration with municipalities

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rebecca Holcombe and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes state grants to fund community nurses and care coordinators, to be used in collaboration with municipalities to improve local preventive, primary, and coordinated healt

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 140

Overview

H 140 (Session 2025-2026, Vermont) seeks to establish and provide grants for community nurses and community care coordinators who work in collaboration with municipalities. The bill aims to enhance local health and social service delivery by expanding the roles of community-based health professionals and aligning their efforts with municipal governance and services.

Purpose and intent

  • To improve access to preventive and primary health care, care coordination, and public health services at the community level.
  • To strengthen collaboration between healthcare professionals (community nurses and community care coordinators) and municipalities to address local health needs, social determinants of health, and resource gaps.
  • To create a state-supported funding mechanism (grants) to support staffing, training, and potentially program implementation in communities.

Key provisions and changes

  • Grant program: Establishes or authorizes a grant framework to fund positions for:
    • Community nurses
    • Community care coordinators
  • Collaboration requirement: Grants are conditioned on or designed to promote collaboration with municipalities, integrating efforts with local government services and programs.
  • Eligibility and administration: Details are anticipated regarding who can apply (municipalities, health districts, or allied organizations), application procedures, reporting, and supervision/oversight, though specific text is not provided in the summary.
  • Use of funds: Likely specifies permissible uses (salary/stipends for staff, training, program development, data collection, and inter-agency coordination), and may set performance or outcome measures.
  • Match or funding levels: The bill may specify funding amounts, caps, or matching requirements, though exact figures are not provided here.
  • Reporting and evaluation: Provisions to monitor outcomes, fiscal accountability, and program effectiveness, with required annual or periodic reporting to the legislature.
  • Sunset or renewal: Potential terms for renewal, continuation, or sunset of the grant program.

Who is affected

  • Municipalities: Primary partners and recipients of grant funding; municipalities would collaborate with community nurses and care coordinators to deliver services.
  • Community nurses and community care coordinators: Position recipients, with support for salaries, training, and program activities.
  • State health and human services agencies: Likely responsible for administering the grant program, coordinating with municipalities, and monitoring outcomes.
  • Residents of municipalities: Beneficiaries of enhanced local health care access, care coordination, and preventive services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction/First reading: February 4, 2025 — Bill read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services.
  • Next steps typically include committee hearings, potential amendments, floor readings, and final passage in the House, followed by progression through the Senate (if applicable) and eventual signing into law by the governor.
  • Timelines for grant cycles, reporting deadlines, and program start dates would be established in the enacted text or associated administrative rules.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Access and equity: Potential improvement in health access and care coordination at the community level, particularly in underserved or rural areas.
  • Local-government collaboration: Encourages structured partnerships between health professionals and municipalities, potentially leading to more integrated service delivery.
  • Workforce development: Creates opportunities for employment and specialized roles (community nurses and care coordinators) within communities.
  • Fiscal considerations: Requires state funding; effectiveness depends on appropriation levels, grant distribution, and administrative capacity.

Note: Some details (such as exact eligibility criteria, grant amounts, match requirements, and reporting metrics) would be clarified in the enacted text and accompanying fiscal notes or rules.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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