So, I read this article by Rep. Daisy Berbeco, who is a Democrat from Winooski. She’s like a big deal in the House Committee on Health Care and also part of the House Discrimination Panel. Basically, she’s all about fighting for people’s rights. In 2022, the Supreme Court made this big decision called Dobbs that overturned Roe v. Wade. That’s like a huge deal because it’s been around for almost 50 years. It basically took away a really important civil right from people. But Vermont wasn’t having it. They passed Article 22 to protect people’s right to make decisions about their own bodies. And then they passed these shield laws (Acts 14 and 15) in 2024 to protect gender-affirming care as well. So, in Vermont, you can still get an abortion and gender-affirming care without any problems. It’s all about you and your doctor making decisions together.
These shield laws are so important because they protect people from being harassed or harmed when they’re trying to get reproductive or gender-affirming care. There are like 23 states and D.C. that have shield laws for reproductive health care, and 17 states and D.C. that have them for gender-affirming care. Vermont is really standing up for what’s right in the middle of all this chaos. And they’re not stopping there. They just passed this new law, S.28, to make sure the shield laws are even better. They want to make sure that the laws are clear, strong, and can actually be enforced.
One of the most important things about S.28 is that it protects people’s privacy. It stops any health information from being shared that could get someone in trouble for getting care that is totally legal. It also sets rules for what can be shared in public records and federal investigations. It’s all about making sure that patients feel safe and that doctors know they’re supported too. This law is like a big hug to everyone involved in health care.
S.28 is all about fixing some technical stuff in the shield laws. It makes sure that if a doctor is doing something legal in another state with shield laws, they’re still protected when they come to Vermont. For example, if getting an abortion is okay in New York and a doctor does it there, they won’t get in trouble when they come to Vermont. It also lays out what counts as being unprofessional, like lying in ads or pretending to offer services that you don’t. These rules apply to everyone in the health care world because we all deserve good, honest care.
While other states are making it harder for people to get care, Vermont is going in the opposite direction. They’re showing that everyone’s rights matter, no matter what. They’re saying that your gender, your choices, and your health care shouldn’t make you a target. They’re standing up for the people who need help and the people who help them. That’s the kind of leadership that Vermonters deserve. And that’s why Rep. Berbeco is all in for S.28. She’s like, “Come on, governor, sign this thing already!”
So, yeah, Vermont is leading the way in protecting people’s rights when it comes to health care. They’re not messing around, and they’re not backing down. It’s pretty cool to see a state taking such a strong stand for what’s right. And hopefully, other places will follow their lead. Because everyone deserves to get the care they need without any drama.
