by Guy Page
Gov. Phil Scott on May 13 signed into law several bills, including funding for the so-called safe injection site (SIS) pilot in Burlington that he vetoed last year.
The $1.1 million for the Burlington SIS site is included in H.218, an Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund bill that allocates sums to about 20 other programs aimed at substance abuse.
The planned SIS law will prevent any police action on-site and has no age limits on who may possess and consume illegal drugs there.
The Senate passing H.218 prompted a stern online comment from Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex.)
“You reap what you sow,” Ingalls said. “Now they are putting in a drug house that allows anyone of any age to legally use drugs that are legal no where in the world. Not only that, but while you are in this area police are forbidden from arresting anyone who possesses. So dealers can sell at will to the people who are going to legally shoot up.”
Also, on the same day that Vermont pro-life groups held a Pro-Life Day at the Vermont State House, Scott signed into law S.28, the so-called Muzzle Bill which allows the Attorney General to fine pregnancy resource centers and other health care providers for advertising information the AG believes is misleading.
Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
- H.13, Medicaid payment rates for community-based service providers
- H.96, increasing the monetary thresholds for certificates of need
- H.206, the Uniform Commercial Code
- H.218, fiscal year 2026 appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund
- H.463, technical corrections for the 2025 legislative session
- S.18, licensure of freestanding birth centers
- S.28, access to certain legally protected health care services.