Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 5 D · 1 I cosponsors

S 53 — An act relating to certification of community-based perinatal doulas and Medicaid coverage for doula services

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 9, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on June 13, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    6 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (5 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

175 added · 174 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill S.53 adds a new section that clarifies definitions related to community-based perinatal doulas. Specifically, it outlines who qualifies as a "certified community-based perinatal doula" and emphasizes the focus on providing support to under-resourced and marginalized populations. This change matters as it establishes a formal certification process for doulas, ensuring that they can be recognized and compensated for their important role in maternal health, particularly through Medicaid coverage.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 1 of 9 S.53 An act relating to certification of community-based perinatal doulas and Medicaid coverage for doula services It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 1 of 9 S.53 Introduced by Senators Gulick, Clarkson, Hardy, Vyhovsky, Watson and White Referred to Committee on Government Operations Date:
February 6, 2025 Subject:
Professions and occupations;
Office of Professional Regulation;
community-based perinatal doulas;
certification;
Medicaid Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to establish a process of voluntary certification for community-based perinatal doulas.
It would also require Medicaid coverage for doula services during labor and birth and for the prenatal and postpartum periods.
An act relating to certification of community-based perinatal doulas and Medicaid coverage for doula services It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
COMMUNITY-BASED PERINATAL DOULAS § 4171.
COMMUNITY-BASED PERINATAL DOULAS § 4171.
(2) “Community-based doula” means an individual who provides doula services to under-resourced and marginalized populations at low or no cost, often through a community-based agency.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 2 of 9 (2) “Community-based doula” means an individual who provides doula services to under-resourced and marginalized populations at low or no cost, often through a community-based agency.
VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 2 of 9 (6) “Perinatal” means the period of time encompassing pregnancy, childbirth, and up to one year postpartum.
(6) “Perinatal” means the period of time encompassing pregnancy, childbirth, and up to one year postpartum.
§ 4172.
§ 4172.
§ 4173.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 3 of 9 § 4173.
VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 3 of 9 (4) explain complaint procedures to the public;
(4) explain complaint procedures to the public;
(6) administer fees collected in accordance with this chapter and 3 V.S.A.
(6) administer fees collected in accordance with this chapter and 3 V.S.A.
§ 4174.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 4 of 9 § 4174.
§ 129b and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
§ 129b and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
Appointees shall not have less than three years’ experience providing community-based perinatal doula services immediately preceding appointment and shall be actively engaged in VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 4 of 9 delivering community-based perinatal doula services in Vermont during incumbency.
Appointees shall not have less than three years’ experience providing community-based perinatal doula services immediately preceding appointment and shall be actively engaged in delivering community-based perinatal doula services in Vermont during incumbency.
§ 4175.
§ 4175.
(2) has sufficient and appropriate competencies in community-based perinatal doula services, whether acquired through experience, mentorship, training, formal education, or a combination of these, as determined by the Director by rule;
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 5 of 9 (2) has sufficient and appropriate competencies in community-based perinatal doula services, whether acquired through experience, mentorship, training, formal education, or a combination of these, as determined by the Director by rule;
VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 5 of 9 § 4176.
§ 4176.
CERTIFICATE RENEWAL A community-based perinatal doula certification shall be renewed every two years upon application, payment of the required fee in accordance with 3 V.S.A.
CERTIFICATE RENEWAL A community-based perinatal doula certification shall be renewed every two years upon application, payment of the required fee in accordance with 3 V.S.A.
§ 125, and proof of compliance with any continuing education or demonstrated competency requirements established by rule.
§ 125, and proof of compliance with any continuing education or demonstrated competency requirements established by rule.
§ 4177.
§ 4177.
§ 129a, whether committed by a certified community-based perinatal doula or an applicant.
§ 129a, whether committed by a certified community-based perinatal doula or an applicant.
(b) The Office of Professional Regulation may discipline a certified community-based perinatal doula for unprofessional conduct as provided in 3 V.S.A.
(b) The Office of Professional Regulation may discipline a certified community-based perinatal doula for unprofessional conduct as provided in 3 V.S.A.
§ 129a.
§ 129a.
Sec.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 6 of 9 Sec.
§ 122 is amended to read:
§ 122 is amended to read:
* * * VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 6 of 9 (54) Community-Based Perinatal Doulas Sec.
* * * (54) Community-Based Perinatal Doulas Sec.
§ 123(j) is amended to read:
§ 123(j) is amended to read:
* * * Sec.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 7 of 9 * * * Sec.
§ 125 is amended to read:
§ 125 is amended to read:
* * * VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 7 of 9 (2) Application for licensure or certification, $115.00, except application for:
* * * (2) Application for licensure or certification, $115.00, except application for:
§ 1901n is added to read:
§ 1901n is added to read:
§ 1901n.
§ 1901n.
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES (a) As used in this section, “certified community-based perinatal doula” means a community-based perinatal doula who holds a certificate issued pursuant to 26 V.S.A.
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 8 of 9 (a) As used in this section, “certified community-based perinatal doula” means a community-based perinatal doula who holds a certificate issued pursuant to 26 V.S.A.
VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 8 of 9 (2) A certified community-based perinatal doula shall not receive reimbursement for travel time or mileage expenses.
(2) A certified community-based perinatal doula shall not receive reimbursement for travel time or mileage expenses.
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STATE PLAN AMENDMENT The Department of Vermont Health Access shall seek a state plan amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if needed to allow Vermont’s Medicaid program to provide coverage for doula services in accordance with 33 V.S.A.
STATE PLAN AMENDMENT The Department of Vermont Health Access shall seek a state plan amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if needed to BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 9 of 9 allow Vermont’s Medicaid program to provide coverage for doula services in accordance with 33 V.S.A.
§ 1901n, as added by this act.
§ 1901n, as added by this act.
1–4 (establishing certification program for community-based perinatal doulas) shall take effect on July 1, 2026, provided that the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation shall commence the rulemaking process VT LEG #382105 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.53 Page 9 of 9 prior to that date in order to ensure that the rules will be in effect on July 1, 2026.
1–4 (establishing certification program for community-based perinatal doulas) shall take effect on July 1, 2026, provided that the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation shall commence the rulemaking process prior to that date in order to ensure that the rules will be in effect on July 1, 2026.
§ 1901n;
§ 1901n;
VT LEG #382105 v.1
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 9, 2025

  2. Signed by Governor on June 9, 2025

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 3, 2025

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

  5. As passed by Senate and House

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

  8. Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth

  9. House proposal of amendment

  10. Entered on Notice Calendar

  11. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  12. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  13. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  14. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  15. Third Reading ordered

  16. Report of Committee on Health Care agreed to

  17. Rep. Mrowicki of Putney recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

  18. Rep. Branagan of Georgia recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means

  19. Rep. Cordes of Bristol reported for the Committee on Health Care

  20. Read second time

  21. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  22. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  23. Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

  24. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)

  25. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  26. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care

  27. Read 3rd time & passed

  28. New Business/Third Reading

  29. 3rd reading ordered

  30. Recommendation of amendment disagreed to

  31. Reported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on Appropriations

  32. Reported favorably by Senator Gulick for Committee on Finance

  33. Reported favorably by Senator Gulick for Committee on Health and Welfare with recommendation of amendment

  34. Reported favorably by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations

  35. Read 2nd time

  36. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  37. Favorable report by Committee on Finance

  38. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  39. Favorable report by Committee on Government Operations

  40. New Business/Second Reading

  41. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  42. Favorable report by Committee on Finance

  43. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  44. Favorable report by Committee on Government Operations

  45. Second Reading

  46. Entered on Notice Calendar

  47. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

  48. Favorable report by Committee on Finance

  49. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  50. Favorable report by Committee on Government Operations

  51. Second Reading

  52. Entered on Notice Calendar

  53. Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

  54. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  55. Favorable report by Committee on Government Operations

  56. Second Reading

  57. Entered on Notice Calendar

  58. Committed to Committee on Health and Welfare with report of Committee on Government Operations intact, under suspension of Senate Rule 49, on motion of Senator Collamore

  59. Favorable report by Committee on Government Operations

  60. Second Reading

  61. Entered on Notice Calendar

  62. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 184 not signed on

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (184)

184 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 184 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 53?
S 53 is sponsored by Rebecca "Becca" E White (Democrat), Anne E Watson (Democrat/Progressive), Tanya C Vyhovsky (Progressive/Democrat), Ruth E Hardy (Democrat), Alison Clarkson (Democrat), and Martine Larocque L Gulick (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 53?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track S 53?
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