Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont SR15: Senate resolution urging that all State agencies, departments, and offices protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, an
Status: Passed both chambers, May 30, 2025
Senate resolution urging that all State agencies, departments, and offices protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, and all aspects of personal privacy of Vermonters who have been diagnosed with autism in light of the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services’ recently announced plans to establish an autism research database and other databases related to autism
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, May 30, 2025:
State of Vermont Senate Chamber Montpelier, Vermont Senate Resolution Offered by Senators Vyhovsky, Baruth, Beck, Bongartz, Brennan, Brock, Chittenden, Clarkson, Collamore, Cummings, Douglass, Gulick, Hardy, Hart, Harrison, Hashim, Heffernan, Ingalls, Lyons, Major, Mattos, Norris, Perchlik, Plunkett, Ram Hinsdale, Watson, Westman, WhiteandWilliams, S.R. 15. Senate resolution relating to urging that all State agencies, departments, and offices protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, and all aspects of personal privacy of Vermonters who have been diagnosed with autism in light of theSecretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services' recently announced plans to establish an autism research database and otherdatabasesrelatedtoautism. Whereas, theStateofVermontis fullycommittedtoensuringtheenforcement oftherightsofindividualswith disabilities andtheprovisionofinclusiveservicesandperson-centeredsystemsofcare, and Whereas, individuals with autism contribute their talents, perspectives, and problem-solving abilities to strengthen Vermont'sworkforce;enrich familiesand communities;andadvance innovationin science, technology, the arts, and beyond, and Whereas, autism isaneurologicaldifference, notadiseaseoranepidemic, and Whereas, therisingautism identificationrates, whichtrainedcliniciansandhealthcareprofessionalsaredocumenting, are attributabletoimproveddiagnosticpractices, greaterawarenessofautism, andexpandedaccesstoscreeningtools, and Whereas, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with autism, are too often stigmatized and underestimated, andpublicpolicyshouldneverdiminishthediversestrengthsandpotentialoftheseVermonters, and Whereas, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced planstoestablishafederalresearchdatabaseintendedtobeusedtoinvestigatetherootcausesofautism, and Whereas, this new database will be a compilation of information derived from individuals' insurance claims; electronic medicalrecords;andwearabledevices, suchassmartwatches, and Whereas, although this new database is no longer characterized as an "autism registry," as Secretary Kennedy and National Institutes of Health Director, Dr. …
Sponsors
- Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Chittenden-Central District) · primary sponsor
- Philip Baruth (D, Chittenden-Central District)
- Scott Beck (R, Caledonia District)
- Seth Bongartz (D, Bennington District)
- Patrick Brennan (R, Grand Isle District)
- Randolph Brock (R, Franklin District)
- Thomas Chittenden (D, Chittenden-Southeast District)
- Alison Clarkson (D, Windsor District)
- Brian Collamore (R, Rutland District)
- Ann Cummings (D, Washington District)
- Samuel Douglass (R, Orleans District)
- Martine Gulick (D, Chittenden-Central District)
Latest actions
- : As adopted by Senate
- : Read 3rd time & adopted
- : Rules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator [Baruth]
- : Reported favorably by Senator [Lyons] for Committee on [Health and Welfare], read 2nd time and 3rd reading ordered
- : Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator [Baruth]
- : Read 1st time & treated as bill; referred to Committee on [Health and Welfare] per Rule 51
Common questions
- What is SR15?
- SR15 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Senate resolution urging that all State agencies, departments, and offices protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, an.
- What does SR15 do?
- Senate resolution urging that all State agencies, departments, and offices protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, and all aspects of personal privacy of Vermonters who have been diagnosed with autism in light of the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services’ recently announced plans to establish an autism research database and other databases related to autism
- What is the status of SR15?
- Passed both chambers as of May 30, 2025. Latest action: As adopted by Senate (May 30, 2025).
- Who sponsored SR15?
- Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Chittenden-Central District), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SR15?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.R.15
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.