Vermont Gov. Scott vetoes 'safe injection site' proposal
Fox News
Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed the Democratic Legislature's proposal to create a pilot "safe injection site" for drug users in Burlington.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature is expected to attempt an override next month.
The legislation — an act relating to a harm-reduction criminal justice response to drug use — would have allocated $1.1 million in fiscal year 2025 to the Vermont Department of Health to award grants to the city of Burlington to establish such a center. The money would have come from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund made up of Vermont's share of a national settlement with drug manufacturers and distribution companies. Before then, the bill required the Health Department to contract with a researcher or consultant to study the impact of the overdose prevention center pilot program.