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H 32

An act relating to treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angela Arsenault and 34 co-sponsors

Requires correctional facilities to provide and coordinate evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment, including MAT, for incarcerated individuals.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
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Bill Summary · H 32

Summary of Bill: H 32 (Session 2025-2026) – Vermont

Main purpose and intent

  • An act relating to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in correctional facilities.
  • The bill aims to ensure access to evidence-based OUD treatment for individuals incarcerated in Vermont correctional facilities, aligning confinement health care with best practices and public health standards.
  • Focuses on improving treatment continuity, inmate health outcomes, and reduction of overdose risk surrounding custody transitions.

Key provisions and changes (substantive provisions)

  • Access to treatment in custody: Requires correctional facilities to provide, or arrange, evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder to incarcerated individuals. This may include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, along with associated medical supervision and counseling.
  • Initiation and continuation of MAT: Provisions to initiate MAT for incarcerated individuals with OUD and to ensure continuation of MAT for those already receiving treatment prior to incarceration, consistent with clinical guidelines and safety considerations.
  • Assessment and intake procedures: Mandates systematic screening for OUD upon intake and periodic reassessment to identify individuals needing treatment, along with protocols for referral to appropriate services inside or outside the facility.
  • Care standards and oversight: Establishes standards for the provision of OUD treatment within correctional settings, including monitoring, dosing accuracy, privacy, and coordination with medical professionals. May involve reporting requirements to ensure compliance and quality control.
  • Discharge planning and linkage to community care: Requires a transition plan to connect individuals leaving custody with community-based OUD treatment and support services to maintain continuity of care and reduce relapse risk.
  • Safety and medical considerations: Addresses safety protocols for MAT in a correctional environment, including managing withdrawal, potential interactions with other medications, and staff training.
  • Data collection and reporting: May include data collection on treatment uptake, completion, and outcomes to evaluate program effectiveness and inform future policy.
  • Funding and fiscal provisions: If applicable, outlines funding mechanisms or authorization to use state funds or grants to support OUD treatment in correctional facilities (specific dollar amounts are not provided in the summary available).

Who would be affected

  • Incarcerated individuals in Vermont correctional facilities: Primary beneficiaries through increased access to evidence-based OUD treatment and improved care continuity.
  • Correctional facility medical and correctional staff: Require training, adherence to new treatment protocols, and coordination with healthcare providers.
  • Department of Corrections and serving health systems: Responsible for implementing treatment standards, intake assessments, and discharge planning; potential need for partnerships with external addiction treatment providers.
  • Public health and community providers: Will engage in post-release linkage to community-based OUD services to sustain treatment and reduce overdose risk.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced with an initial reading on January 14, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions for consideration.
  • Legislative process: As a first-reading bill, it will proceed through committee hearings, potential amendments, and subsequent readings before any final floor vote and enactment.
  • Implementation timeline: While not specified in the available summary, typical timelines would involve a phased rollout for facility readiness, staff training, and establishment of intake/discharge processes, followed by ongoing compliance reporting.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves health outcomes for incarcerated individuals with OUD by providing access to FDA-approved pharmacotherapies and integrated care.
  • Aims to reduce overdose deaths among released individuals by ensuring smoother transitions to community-based treatment.
  • Could require upfront investments in medications, staff training, and care coordination infrastructure within correctional facilities.
  • May necessitate privacy, consent, and medical liability considerations within custody settings.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, advocacy groups, or the general public) or add a section comparing to existing Vermont practices or federal standards on correctional OUD treatment.

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

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