The bill amends various sections of Vermont law to strengthen protections for individuals involved in legally protected health care activities, particularly focusing on reproductive and gender-affirming services. It introduces new provisions that extend protections to individuals who have engaged in such activities in other U.S. jurisdictions, provided those actions were legal. Additionally, the bill ensures the confidentiality of licensed professionals' personal contact information and broadens the definitions related to health care services. It also addresses unprofessional conduct by prohibiting misleading advertising and clarifying that public agencies cannot assist in investigations that could impose liability on individuals for engaging in these protected activities.

Moreover, the bill enhances the confidentiality of protected health information, specifying the conditions under which disclosures can occur, such as court orders or health regulatory investigations. It updates definitions to include naturopathic physicians and modifies reporting requirements for fetal deaths, shifting responsibility from "physician" to "licensed health care professional." The legislation emphasizes maintaining proper provider-patient relationships, particularly in electronic communications, and introduces measures to protect the identities of prescribers and pharmacists involved in gender-affirming and reproductive health care services by allowing for the redaction of their names from prescriptions. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 18-4999, 18-5200, 26-1658, 26-2858
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1658, 26-1736, 26-2858
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 18-4999, 18-5200, 26-1658, 26-2858, 1-150, 12-7306, 18-1881
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 1-150, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 12-7306, 18-1881, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1736
As Enacted: 1-150, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 12-7306, 18-1881, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1736