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Friend,
We are two thirds of the way through the legislative session. In the past couple of weeks, dozens of bills have been debated on the House and Senate floors before being voted on to make their way to the other chamber. In this newsletter, I will give you updates on some key bills that have moved through the Senate.
Public Libraries and Book Bans
Last year, I hosted a series of banned book readings and community discussions about the importance of free speech, inclusion, and democracy. Though Vermont hasn’t fallen victim to the national trend of rapidly proliferating book bans, the threat of censorship still looms. That is why I am pleased that the legislature has decided to join Illinois in standing up for free speech, civics, history, critical thinking, and individual parental rights by including various protections from book bans in S.220, an act relating to Vermont’s public libraries.
This bill, which passed the Senate last week and is now in the house, includes clear procedures for reviewing book challenges. These procedures would not allow books to be removed from school or public libraries for reasons including partisan disapproval; sexual orientation, gender identity, or race of characters or of the author; or an individual's discomfort with content due to personal morality, political views, or religious views. Parents will still have the right to limit what their own young children.
In this moment when too many are trying to restrict children’s access to factual history, gender and sex education, and diverse thoughts and perspectives, it is critical that we support our teachers and librarians to use their professional expertise without political pressures. I am happy to see the widespread support that this bill has garnered.
Prescription Drug Costs
One of the biggest contributors to the rising cost of healthcare is the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. From factory to pharmacy, prescription drugs often go through several different “middlemen”, each of which add to the price of the medication. The graphic below should give you some idea of how complicated this system can be, and how harmful that can be to consumers.
S.98 will help tackle the rising cost of prescriptions by giving Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) more authority over prescription drug costs. If passed, this bill will give GMCB the authority to conduct affordability reviews and set upper payment limits.
No one should go bankrupt trying to access the medication that they need, nor should they forgo picking up their prescriptions in order to afford basic necessities. This bill will take us a step in the right direction in making sure that people can access the care that they need.
Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin Study
Over the years, many institutions have conducted studies regarding the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in some species of fungi. In one Johns Hopkins study published in 2022, researchers observed demonstrated substantial antidepressant effects of psilocybin with no reported adverse effects from patients. In another study published in the Journal of American Medical Association Psychiatry, psilocybin combined with psychotherapy resulted in an 83% reduction in heavy drinking among patients with alcohol use disorder. It is important that we begin the conversation of changing our policies on the use of psychedelic therapies to help people with PTSD, substance abuse disorders and more.
Last week, the Senate passed S.114, which will establish a Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group. This group would be tasked with continuing to examine the use of psychedelics to improve physical and mental health. They would also make recommendations regarding the establishment of a state program to permit health care providers to administer psychedelics in a therapeutic setting.
It is estimated that about one in five U.S. adults are living with a mental illness. We have also seen a steep rise in substance use disorders in the past several years in Vermont and nationally. The research on psilocybin has shown incredibly promising results in treating these and other conditions. By creating avenues for psychedelic therapy to be used in Vermont, we can help thousands of struggling vulnerable individuals.
Sexual Misconduct Victim Protections
The final bill I am highlighting is S.120, an act relating to postsecondary schools and sexual misconduct. Under this bill, postsecondary schools (colleges and universities) would need to ensure that students have access to confidential sexual misconduct support services that are covered by victim and crisis worker privilege. Schools would also be required to adopt an amnesty policy that prohibits disciplinary action against a student reporting or otherwise participating in a school sexual misconduct resolution process.
According to RAINN, college-age women are at an elevated risk of experiencing sexual violence. Among undergraduate students. 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault. This bill is an important step in ensuring that those who are the victims of sexual assault or misconduct do not need to worry about retaliation for reporting the harm done against them. By ensuring that all postsecondary schools have confidential and protected support services, we will be creating safer campus environments.
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These are just a handful of the Senate bills that are making their way through the legislative process. Next week, I will highlight some House bills that have crossed over to the Senate. If you have any questions about these bills, or about other bills that were not mentioned, you can reach out to my office.
We encourage you to contact your legislators and the Governor’s office on this issue and other issues that are important to you.
Lt. Governor David Zuckerman