Legislation

Illegal immigrant health insurance bill introduced into Senate

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House bill would inventory all immigrant support groups

By Guy Page

Bills introduced into the Vermont Legislature would provide health insurance regardless of immigration status, and require the State of Vermont to inventory and assess the state’s various immigration support organizations.

Recent illegal entry into the Swanton Sector (U.S. Border Patrol photo)

S52, introduced into the Senate Jan. 31 by sponsor Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison), would “expand eligibility for health care coverage to all income-eligible individuals over 18 years of age who are ineligible for Medicaid and for premium tax credits on the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange due to their immigration status by July 1, 2024.”

Illegal immigrant children have been covered under a Medicaid-like health insurance program since July, 2022. The new legislation, if it becomes law, would provide coverage regardless of age or immigration status. 

In the House, Rep. Laura Sibilia sponsored H141, requiring the Vermont Refugee Office find a third-party organization to conduct a $25,000 assessment (including funding sources) and inventory of all immigration support groups. The legislation does not explain why the assessment/inventory is necessary. 

For purposes of the RFP for the assessment,  “Vermont’s immigrant community” includes refugees, asylum seekers, asylees, humanitarian parolees, immigrants, individuals without a legal immigrant status, and any permanent lawful residents who may have held one of these statuses in the past.

Apprehensions of immigrants entering the USA illegally across the Swanton Sector border (VT, part of NY and NH) are up 743% October – December, the US Border Patrol reports.

Other bills of interested introduced recently into the House:

H142 would raise the minimum age of juvenile delinquency from 10 to 12, and would ban any solitary confinement of juvenile delinquents. 

H135 would impose rent control by capping the amount by which a landlord may annually increase rent by not more than the average of the Consumer Price Index over the prior 12-month period, or six percent above the most recent rent, unless the landlord can demonstrate need. 

H132 would reintroduce a Homeless Bill of Rights, legislation which in recent years has failed to pass either chamber despite strenuous support by House General and Housing Chair Tom Stevens, the past and current sponsor of the HBR. 

Below is a list of all House bills introduced to date.

Bill #IntroducedTitleLead SponsorSponsor partyCommittee
H.1451/31/2023FY2023 budget adjustmentApropriationsN/A
H.1441/31/2023Exempts unemployment from income taxMulvaney-StanakProg./ DemocratWays and Means
H.1431/31/2023Towing companies can’t solicit roadside businessRachelsonDemocratTransportation
H.1421/31/2023Raise juvenile delinquency age from 10 to 12Small/ Christie/ RachelsonDemocratJudiciary
H.1411/31/2023Inventory, assessment of immigrant-support organizationsSibiliaDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.1401/31/2023Database of state grants to municipalitiesWillamsDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1391/31/2023Required employee breaksStevensDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.1381/31/2023Employers receiving state grants, contractsKornheiserDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1371/31/2023Home share for disabledStevensDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.1361/31/2023Restrict Social Media on state-owned devices, networksDonahueRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1351/31/2023Rent controlBos-Lun/ BurrowsDem./ Prog.General and Housing
H.1341/31/2023Default speed limit for unposted town highwaysTemplemanDemocratTransportation
H.1331/31/2023Reduces penalties for distracted drivingSmithRepublicanTransportation
H.1321/31/2023Homeless bill of rightsStevensDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.1311/31/2023Establishes Green Mountain Recreation FundSimsDemocratAgriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
H.1301/31/2023Retricts management of sewage and septic wasteDolanDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.1291/31/2023More funding for pollution cleanupDolanDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.1281/31/2023Exempts small wood producers from Act 250SimsDemocratAgriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
H.1271/31/2023Legalize sports bettingBirongDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1261/31/2023Conserve 50% of Vermont land by 2050SheldonDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.1251/31/2023Revises rules for various boards and commissionsDolan/ BrumstedDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1241/27/2023Supports rural economic developmentSibilia/ Sims/ Hango/ PriestlyDemocratCommerce and Economic Development
H.1231/27/2023Repeal State LotteryStevensDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1221/27/2023Bans surveillance devices on private property w/o owner’s consentBlackDemocratJudiciary
H.1211/26/2023Affords data privacy protectionsMarcotteRepublicanCommerce and Economic Development
H.1201/26/2023Imposes sales tax on digital sale of software and gamesMaslandDemocratWays and Means
H.1191/26/2023Combats excessive motor vehicle noiseBartholemewDemocratTransportation
H.1181/26/2023Broadens eligibility for Medicare Savings ProgramDonahue/ NoyesDemocratHealth Care
H.1171/26/2023Strengthens suicide prevention effortdBlackDemocratHealth Care
H.1161/26/2023Protects job applicants from discrimination and ensures privacyMulvaney-StanakProg./ DemocratGeneral and Housing
H.1151/26/2023Requires insurance coverage of breast milk for infantsCordesDemocratHealth Care
H.1141/26/2023Restricts electronic monitoring of employees and automated HR decisionsPriestlyDemocratCommerce and Economic Development
H.1131/26/2023Bans tax exemptions to any organization engaged in lobbyingSibiliaDemocratWays and Means
H.1121/26/2023Ensures coverage for opiate abuse treatmentSmallProg./ DemocratHuman Services
H.1111/26/2023Amends housing investment and regulatonSims/ HarrisonRep./ Dem.General and Housing
H.1101/26/2023Extends application period for telecom sitingSibiliaDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.1091/26/2023Ensures reimbursement for home-delivered mealsNoyesDemocratHuman Services
H.1081/25/2023Update Vermont School Bus Manual and the CDL testsLaBountyDemocratTransportation
H.1071/25/2023Hartford infrastructure financingChristieDemocratWays and Means
H.1061/25/2023Protects teaching gender-identity and racismHeadrickProg./ DemocratEducation
H.1051/25/2023Create $3 mil disaster fundSimsDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.1041/25/2023Defining membership in worker cooperativesAndrianoDemocratCommerce and Economic Development
H.1031/25/2023Required state reporting on staff-to-patient ratiosPageRepublicanHealth Care
H.1021/25/2023Amending the Art in State Buildings ProgramCoffeyDem./ Rep.Corrections and Institutions
H.1011/25/2023Reducing transportation carbon emissionsBurke/ StebbinsDemocratTransportation
H.1001/25/2023Seasonal signs at pedestrian crossingsDolan/ McGillDemocratTransportation
H.991/25/2023Amending National Guard Tuition Benefit ProgramHango/ Birong/ SibiliaDemocratEducation
H.981/24/2023Firearms storage restrictions, 10-day waiting periodMulvaney-StanakProg./ DemocratJudiciary
H.971/24/2023Write-in candidates, primary electionsScheuDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.961/24/2023Clean Heat StandardStebbins/ SibiliaDemocrat/ Ind.Environment and Energy
H.951/24/2023Municipal Energy GrantsWillamsDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.941/24/2023Reach UpGarofano/ Gregoire/ Brumsted/ SmallDem./ Rep.Human Services
H.931/24/2023Reach Up benefitsGarofano/ Gregoire/ Brumsted/ SmallDem./ Rep.Human Services
H.921/24/2023Uneemployment insurance after voluntary separationMulvaney-StanakProg./ DemocratCommerce and Economic Development
H.911/24/2023Paid family leave for serious injuryStevensDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.901/24/2023Defunct Congregational churchesStevensDemocratJudiciary
H.891/24/2023Legal protections for abortion, transgender service providersDonally/ LaLonde/ SmallDemocrat/ Prog.Judiciary
H.881/24/2023Cash bail restrictions, prohibitionsBos-LunDemocratJudiciary
H.871/24/2023Access to wages before paydayMarcotteRepublicanCommerce and Economic Development
H.861/24/2023Audiology, Speech Pathology Interstate CompactMcCarthyDemocratHealth Care
H.851/24/2023Public trails accessibilityBurroughsDemocrat/ Prog.Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
H.841/24/2023Wastewater discharge permitsSimsDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.831/20/2023Tax credits for living organ donationsNoyesDemocratWays and Means
H.821/20/2023Sell two state buildings to Town of WaterburyWoodDemocratCorrections and Institutions
H.811/20/2023Ensure fair repair of agricultural equipmentDonahue/ SimsRep./ Dem.Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
H.801/20/2023License freestanding birth centersCordesDemocratHealth Care
H.791/20/2023Ensure rights to independent auto repairDonahue/ SimsRep./ Dem.Commerce and Economic Development
H.781/20/2023Takeout of alcoholic beveragesBirongDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.771/20/2023Adopting the Physical Therapy Licensure CompactOdeDemocratHealth Care
H.761/20/2023Regulating captive insurance companiesMarcotteRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.751/20/2023Notify planned outages of 911 servicesSibiliaIndependentEnvironment and Energy
H.741/20/2023Repeal Global Warming Solutions ActHigleyRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.731/20/2023Revoking VT use of California’s Clean Air Act waiverHigleyRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.721/19/2023Safe injection sitesSmallProg./ DemocratJudiciary
H.711/19/2023Expanding DMV veteran designationsPetersonRepublicanTransportation
H.701/19/2023Restrictions on telecommunications sitingsDolan/ PattDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.691/19/2023Ban smoking outdoors near entrancesDolanDemocratHuman Services
H.681/19/2023Urban zoning, housing developmentBongartzDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.671/19/2023Manufacturers pay for household hazardous products collectionDolanDemocratHuman Services
H.661/19/2023Mandated family and medical leave insuranceKornheiser/ Scheu/ StevensDemocratGeneral and Housing
H.651/18/2023Raise Small claims from $5,000 to $10,000PattDemocratJudiciary
H.641/18/2023Ban on wake boatsSimsDemocratTransportation
H.631/18/2023Marriage/family therapists licensed clinical social workersCoffeyDemocratHealth Care
H.621/18/2023Interstate Counseling CompactHoughton/ DurfeeDemocratHealth Care
H.611/18/2023Elective income tax and creditHarrisonRepublicanWays and Means
H.601/18/2023More 4th classes licenses for alcohol manufacturersBirongDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.591/18/2023Amending veterans‘ death certificatesCoffeyDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.581/18/2023Unbiased appointment of zoning administratorsPetersonRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.571/18/2023Dog trainers, client consentCoffeyDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.561/18/2023Ban natural gas line extensionCordes/ ElderDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.551/18/2023Unemployment insurance amendmentsMarcotteRepublicanCommerce and Economic Development
H.541/17/2023Municipal services supportAnthonyDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.531/17/2023Eliminate driver’s license suspension for some nonpaymentDolan/ LaLondeDem./ Rep.Transportation
H.521/13/2023Retirement benefits for temporary state employeesCaseyDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.511/13/2023Boaters pay $20 for aquatic nuisance passesDolanDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.501/13/2023Ban on sale of PFA productsDolan/ WhitmanDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.491/13/2023Retirement plan for volunteer firefightersNicollDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.481/12/2023Find new landfill siteSims/ PageDem./ Rep.Environment and Energy
H.471/12/2023Disposal of solar panelsHarrisonRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.461/12/2023Dissolution of Colchester Fire District No. 3TaylorDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.451/12/2023Restrict litigation against abuse survivorsDonnallyDemocratJudiciary
H.441/12/2023Small town local option taxDolanDemocratWays and Means
H.431/12/2023Military protection ordersOdeDemocratJudiciary
H.421/11/2023Public meetings alternativesGov. Ops.referralWays and Means
H.411/11/2023Domestic-/sex-assault cases to community justice centersDolanDemocratJudiciary
H.401/11/2023Make contraceptive tampering a crimeRachelsonDemocratJudiciary
H.391/11/2023New plan for State distributing revenues to municipalitiesAnthonyDemocratWays and Means
H.381/11/2023Device-distracted drivingShawRepublicanTransportation
H.371/11/2023Require winter tires on rental carsPattDemocratTransportation
H.361/11/2023Exempt forests from small town planningParsonsRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.351/10/2023Responsibility for Victims Assistance ProgramRachelsonDemocratJudiciary
H.341/10/2023State-owned public restroom near CapitolCaseyDemocratCorrections and Institutions
H.331/10/2023Legislator expenses: reimbursement or allowanceHarrisonRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.321/10/2023Social Security benefits exemptionHarrisonRepublicanWays and Means
H.311/10/2023Aquatic nuisance control moratoriumBongartzDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.301/10/2023Increase acreage of wetlandsSheldonDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.291/10/2023Restrict all mapped river corridor developmentSheldonDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.281/10/2023Expand expungement of court diversion casesLaLondeDemocratJudiciary
H.271/10/2023Coercive controlling behavior basis for abuse orderDonnallyDemocratJudiciary
H.261/10/2023National Guard income tax exemptionBirongDemocratWays and Means
H.251/6/2023Feasibility study for child care facility in a State buildingAnthonyDemocratCorrections and Institutions
H.241/6/2023State Auditor examining State contractor recordsPageRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.231/6/2023Mail-in ballots upon request only for general electionsLaborRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.221/6/2023Sexual exploitation by policeSmallProg./ DemocratJudiciary
H.211/6/2023Require utility to notify landlord of disconnectionsPageRepublicanGeneral and Housing
H.201/5/2023One person, one vote’ reapportionment studySimsDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.191/5/2023Municipal boards of abatementArrisonDemocratGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.181/5/2023Ban sale of single-use-filter cannabis and tobacco productsPageRepublicanHuman Services
H.171/5/2023More time, money for towing abandoned vehiclesPageRepublicanTransportation
H.161/5/2023Study to expand passenger, freight rail servicePageRepublicanTransportation
H.151/5/2023Protecting golf courses from developmentPageRepublicanEnvironment and Energy
H.141/5/2023More pay for jurorsCoffeyDemocratJudiciary
H.131/5/2023Legalizing switchblade knivesBrennanRepublicanJudiciary
H.121/5/2023Dismiss nonviolent misdemeanors to reduce court backlogLaLonde/ Burditt/ ChristieRep./ Dem.Judiciary
H.111/5/2023Insurance for epinephrine auto-injectorsHangoRepublicanHealth Care
H.101/5/2023Create VEGI oversight boardKornheiser/ MarcotteDem./ Rep.Commerce and Economic Development
H.91/5/2023Exempt EVs from inspection for 40 monthsAnthonyDemocratTransportation
H.81/5/2023Repeal statute of limitations for childhood emotional abuseAustinDemocratJudiciary
H.71/5/2023Replacing term “cider” with “hard cider“DonahueRepublicanGovernment Operations and Military Affairs
H.61/5/2023Expand development ban down to 1,500 ft.AnthonyDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.51/5/2023Regional plan reformBongartzDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.41/5/2023Removal of pilings causing ice jams at Barre bridgeAnthonyDemocratTransportation
H.31/5/2023$800K for mental health providers working with policeAnthonyDemocratHealth Care
H.21/5/2023Exempt aircraft hangars from Act 250 reviewCorcoranDemocratEnvironment and Energy
H.11/5/2023Payment, case management for developmental disability servicesMcFaun/ WoodRep./ Dem.Human Services

Categories: Legislation

18 replies »

  2. Welcome to crazy town, Vermont. These insane legislators want us working people to pay for their healthcare and ILLEGAL immigrant healthcare. Look at the list, nothing for the average person. More unenforceable laws. The Vermont statutes already look like the Britannica Encyclopedia. These people should not be elected to anything above dog catcher.

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  3. 110% lunacy. The children and monkeys are have the run of the dome and are stopping at nothing to destroy us.

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  5. This is pure insanity – until you start paying for ALL Vermonters health care stop wasting our tax dollars on illegals

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  8. My wife and I are going broke paying over 1,000 dollars a month “each” for this abomination known as Obama Care. Now you want to give to people that break our laws for free!!! You should give it to Vermont residents who pay outrageous property taxes and other taxes free before you even think about giving it to illegals. There is no such thing as free! You will just pass those expenses along to us in the form of tax hikes. How do you people get elected when you are this fiscally irresponsible?

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    • I agree with you Wade but would like to ask what you did to help keep them from getting elected. We must work together to stop this insanity. It will get a lot worse!

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    • You must have responded here before reading about the legislators working to give themselves FREE Healthcare. It seems, from a quick search, that state workers in Vermont pay at least a small portion on premiums for Healthcare provided by a state employer, yet the court jesters in Montpelier want to have that for FREE. WELL, not FREE, on us.

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  9. These people must subscribe to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, see article 22. Everything that is happening in this country, including our schools, is a result of the the United Nations and their influence, which is tricked top down from the Biden Administration and bottom up from the NEA and NEAF through their partnership with UNESCO. The concept of Social Justice is connected to the United Nations, along with gender theory and queer theory.

    Biden signed the executive order to investigate Central Bank Digital Currency, a WEF goal, which is being beta tested now. I read the executive order, the new CBDC has to address Human Rights and Equity. To understand the definition of equity, you need to look at the USAID and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10.3, which states “reduce inequalities of outcomes.” I can only assume wealth will be redistributed in the name of equity when the old Fiat system is converted to digital currency. I recommend also looking up the Declaration of Human Rights.

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  10. Vermont has long ago said goodbye to any semblance of a merit-based society. Now one’s stature in society and eligibility for the overflowing cornucopia of handouts is based purely on where you fall on the victimhood/intersectionality scale. In the case of migrants who have violated the sanctity of our immigration laws, their “oppression” puts them at the top of the eligibility list. We voted for this.

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    • Dem/progs voted for this collection of incompetents and Joe Biden. It reaffirms that liberalism is a mental disorder. How can you explain that those voting for this legislature and the Biden lawless administration are not crazy. The liberal hive mind is dangerous for Vermont and the country. We are living the idiot apocalypse. The dystopian existence is nearing, let that sink in.

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  11. I wish I could say, only in Vermont would the the needs of illegal immigrants be put before those required to pay for them, but this whole country is an enigma, wrapped in stupidity, covered in feces.

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  12. I speculate that the people who support this law are neither crazy, lunatic, or stupid.
    On the contrary they are working methodically, intentionally, and ruthlessly to bring down our state and our republic. They are not working for the America that we once knew, but a utopia that has eluded these dreamers for decades, the foundations of which have no basis in reality. If it weren’t for their delusions I would label them as traitors, but I am not ruling out that possibility.

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  13. How better to draw more illegals here? They can then take the jobs going unfilled due to so many VT residents seemingly not needing to work anymore, not to forget the steady influx of wealthy retirees and the outflow of people of working age who just can’t afford housing here .

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  14. Did anyone ask the good “leaders” here in Vermont who sponsored this bill how they intend to pay for it? If not, put this bill on the wall where it belongs and leave it there.

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  15. I’m discouraged by media description of people who violate the borders of my country as illegal IMMIGRANTS! That description is an oxymoron! They are in fact an immigrant, having applied for and met requirements for US citizenship, or an illegal ALIEN. They cannot be both!

    Reply

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