Lawmakers in Vermont have passed a first-of-its-kind bill expanding protections for transgender people in prison, in what advocates describe as one of the strongest state-level responses yet to Trump administration policies affecting trans inmates. The legislation, known as H.550, recognizes that incarcerated transgender people face higher risks of abuse, harassment, and sexual violence. The bill requires prison staff to respect inmates’ gender identities and complete gender-responsive training.
Under the measure, transgender prisoners can request transfers to facilities that align with their gender identity. Those requests would be reviewed with input from medical and mental health professionals with experience in gender-affirming care. In some cases, the state could transfer inmates to prisons in other states, including Colorado, which recently created dedicated housing units for trans women. The move comes as the Trump administration continues advancing policies that put transgender people in federal custody at greater risk, including efforts to limit gender-affirming care access and weaken Prison Rape Elimination Act protections.
Vermont’s legislation also directs the state to continue following pre-Trump federal protections for transgender inmates and creates a framework for future legal protections tied to gender-affirming care in prisons. The bill passed with bipartisan support and now heads to Republican Governor Phil Scott, who is expected to sign it into law.
