Progressive Chittenden County senator votes no

By Guy Page

Prompted by a mother of a Bennington murder victim, the Vermont Senate Wednesday approved S.193 by a 29-1 roll call vote. 

Titled “establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons,” S.193 has awaited Senate action due in part to Senate Judiciary’s strong focus on the anti-ICE bills and hearings. The vote was held Wednesday with only Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (D/P Chittenden) voting no.

Its foremost advocate is now pushing for it to move through the House before adjournment. The suspect in the murder of Kelly Carroll’s daughter reportedly suffers from mental illness, but the state has no secure facility to hold and assess his fitness to stand trial. 

“This bill has already experienced delays in the Senate, and while it has now passed, the shortened timeline places added pressure on the House to act quickly. I understand the demands on your committees, but I hope this legislation will be treated with the urgency it deserves,” Carroll of Bennington said in an op-ed published in VDC today.

“S.193 addresses a long-standing gap in Vermont’s system — the lack of a true forensic facility and a consistent path for competency restoration. Without that structure, individuals who are clearly in crisis and have demonstrated dangerous behavior often move through a cycle of short-term intervention and eventual release back into the community without meaningful supervision or restoration.”

Lt. Gov. John Rodgers told VDC today it’s unclear how much the facility would cost, or where it would be located. The Berlin psychiatric facility or a state prison are possible candidates for the (estimated) six-bed facility, he said. 

State capital budget adjustment goes to floor Friday – H.952, the capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment bill for maintaining state buildings and property goes to the House floor tomorrow. It adds about $11 million to the 2026 budget passed last year, raising the total to $123 million. 

The House today will honor:

• Stephen Bissette as the sixth Vermont Cartoonist Laureate
• Climatologist Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Girous for winning the Mani Bhaumik award
• The Mt. Anthony Union High School team for winning the Division 1 Boys Nordic Skiing Championship.