Vermont JRH9: Joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompt

What the bill says

From the introduced text, March 19, 2026:

State of Vermont House of Representatives Montpelier, Vermont Joint House Resolution J.R.H. 9 Offered by Representatives Burtt of Cabot, Higley of Lowell, Howland of Rutland Town, Labor of Morgan, Lipsky of Stowe, Masland of Thetford, Micklus of Milton, Morrissey of Bennington, Nelson of Derby, North of Ferrisburgh, O'Brien of Tunbridge, Page of Newport City, Pinsonault of Dorset, Pritchard of Pawlet, Tagliavia of Corinth, and Wood of Waterbury Joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) of communication instruction for students with apraxia of speech (AOS) or autism Whereas, Vermont State law requires school districts to develop and maintain "a comprehensive system of education [that] includes a full range of services and accommodations that are needed by students in the district," but this statute does not mandate the provision of a service that is not generally available for students, and Whereas, apraxia is a neurological disorder resulting from damage to the brain that impedes "motor planning to perform tasks or movements"; it can occur with different degrees of severity, may often but not necessarily be concurrent with autism, and exists in several different variants, and Whereas, one type of the disorder is known as apraxia of speech; this version of the disorder may result in a person experiencing challenges "planning and …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Gregory Burtt (R, Caledonia-Washington) · primary sponsor
• Mark Higley (R, Orleans-Lamoille)
• Christopher Howland (R, Rutland-4)
• Larry Labor (R, Essex-Orleans)
• Jed Lipsky (I, Lamoille-1)
• James Masland (D, Windsor-Orange-2)
• Anthony Micklus (R, Chittenden-Franklin)
• Mary Morrissey (R, Bennington-5)
• Richard Nelson (R, Orleans-1)
• Robert North (R, Addison-3)
• John O'Brien (D, Windsor-Orange-1)
• Woodman Page (R, Orleans-2)

Latest actions

1. March 19, 2026: Read first time, treated as a bill, and referred to the Committee on [Human Services]

Common questions

What is JRH9?

JRH9 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompt.

What does JRH9 do?

Joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) of communication instruction for students with apraxia of speech (AOS) or autism

What is the status of JRH9?

Introduced as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Read first time, treated as a bill, and referred to the Committee on [Human Services] (March 19, 2026).

Who sponsored JRH9?

Gregory Burtt (R, Caledonia-Washington), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for JRH9?

On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/J.R.H.9