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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont Bill H.859 Establishes Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Board and Mandates Ibogaine Clinical Trials
Last action · February 3, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health CareSponsors: Brian Cina and 5 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill creates a Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Board and requires the Department of Health to contract with a Vermont entity to conduct certified clinical drug development trials for treatment. The legislation appropriates $300,000 in 2025 from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund to support these trials and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
The measure commits state funds and establishes legal frameworks for researching as a treatment for opioid use disorder and trauma, impacting state health agencies, licensed health care professionals, and clinical trial participants.
- The 2024 Vermont General Assembly previously enacted 2024 Acts and Resolves No. 126 to establish the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Health
The Department is required to contract with a Vermont entity, oversee reporting, and administer trials and special funds.
Health care professionals
Licensed physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and pharmacists may participate in trials and receive limited liability protections.
Clinical trial participants
Vermont residents participating in clinical trials receive access to ibogaine treatments and structured aftercare support.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Board?
Who is eligible to receive liability immunity under this bill?
Where does the funding for the ibogaine clinical trials contract come from?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State-Backed Psychedelic Research
Vermont is formalizing a structured approach to evaluate and fund clinical trials for psychedelic therapy, following prior working group recommendations and developments in other states.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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