Legislative updates and NHNPA Skills conference

VNPA Members,

This week marked meaningful progress for patient care and Advanced Practice Nursing in Vermont.

S.163 – An act relating to the role of advanced practice registered nurses in hospital care

S.163 received strong support in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, passed out of committee, and subsequently passed on the Senate floor. This is a significant milestone. The bill modernizes statutory language to accurately reflect the role APRNs already play in hospital care and brings clarity to hospital operations statewide. Its advancement signals legislative recognition of the essential contributions of nurse practitioners and strengthens continuity of care, workforce stability, and rural hospital sustainability. This is a major win for APRNs and the patients we serve.

H.573 – An act relating to the first certification of an emergency examination

H.573 also moved forward this week. While APRNs already have authority within our scope of practice to complete first certifications for emergency examination, this bill removes statutory barriers preventing Physician Assistants from doing the same. Despite often being the first provider to evaluate patients in Rural Emergency Departments who are in mental health crisis. VNPA supported this legislation to ensure patients in crisis receive timely evaluation without unnecessary delays. When qualified clinicians can act immediately, care is safer, more efficient, and more equitable.

Why This Matters

These victories did not happen by accident. They reflect coordinated advocacy, professional credibility, thoughtful testimony, and sustained engagement from the Vermont Nurse and Nurse Practitioners Coalition.

When APRNs show up: policy moves.
When we stay engaged: systems improve.
When we advocate together: patients benefit.

Momentum is building, and continued engagement will be critical as these bills move forward.

SAVE THE DATES

VNPA at the Capitol – Card Room
Thursday, January 21, 2027

Legislative Advocacy Days
February 1 & 2, 2027
Montpelier

33rd Annual VNPA Conference
November 12 & 13, 2026
Stoweflake, Stowe, VT

Thank you for your leadership, your voice, and your commitment to advancing patient care in Vermont. We will continue to move forward together.

Local April hands-on Conference opportunity: 

Join us on April 24, 2026 for the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioners Association (NHNPA) Skills Conference. Welcome spring with a high-energy day of hands-on training, practical workshops, and networking, held at beautiful Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, in its new state-of-the-art skills facility. We’ve kept registration rates low to help make this training accessible for NHNPA members as well as nurse practitioners from throughout the region. To learn more, visit nhnpa.net.

— Michelle Wade, MSN, Ed, APRN, AGNP-C, ACNPC-AG, FAANP
President, Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association