Vermont AI bills to watch
Vermont lawmakers are advancing multiple AI‑related bills this session—H.365 on anti‑discrimination, H.776/S.207 on health care decisions, and H.644/S.241 on child safety—with sponsors like Rep. Monique Priestley and Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky driving the agenda. The patchwork shows the state grappling with fairness and access as AI touches social services. (x.com)
H.776, titled "An act relating to the use of artificial intelligence in health care coverage decisions," lists Rep. Monique Priestley as lead sponsor and was read and referred to the House Committee on Health Care on January 27, 2026. (legislature.vermont.gov) The bill creates a new statutory section (9423) that requires health plans using AI for utilization review to base coverage decisions on individual medical histories and clinical circumstances rather than solely on group datasets, and it authorizes audits by the Department of Financial Regulation. (fastdemocracy.com) S.241, introduced January 13, 2026 by Sen. Martine Gulick with Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky as a co‑sponsor, would prohibit offering or advertising mental‑health services delivered wholly or partly by AI and treats violations as Consumer Protection Act breaches with a $10,000 civil penalty per violation. (legislature.vermont.gov) House companion H.644—filed as "An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services"—cites research showing commercially available therapy chatbots can fail to recognize crises and has been placed in a House committee for consideration. (trackbill.com) H.365 would expand oversight of social‑media platforms and AI systems by requiring annual registration with the Secretary of State, submission of privacy and product‑safety information, and (as introduced) an annual $100 registration fee. (legislature.vermont.gov) S.207 is a separate Senate bill that targets "surveillance pricing"—prohibiting use of consumer data collected through electronic surveillance technologies to set individualized prices—and was read in the Senate on January 6, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs with Sen. Rebecca White as lead sponsor and Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky listed as an additional sponsor. (legislature.vermont.gov)
