Rural areas of Vermont are increasingly becoming “legal deserts,” a situation that the American Bar Association describes as a shortage of attorneys serving a particular community. According to reports published by Legal Services Corporation and Legal Aid Vermont, the rural attorney shortage limits Vermonters’ access to representation, strains public defense…
As of 2026, New Hampshire is one of twelve states that sets its minimum wage to the federal level of $7.25 per hour.1 Several attempts by New Hampshire legislators to increase the minimum wage have been unsuccessful due to partisan division. The main argument of those who oppose raising the…
In the New Hampshire court system, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) serves as an advocate for a minor’s best interest in family cases. GALs provide important neutral investigations in complex, high-conflict cases that often have seen unsuccessful mediation to help courts make more informed, fact-based decisions. This report evaluates the…
This brief examines the implementation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in correctional settings, with a focus on operational barriers, facilitators, and continuity of care following release. While MOUD has been available in Vermont correctional facilities since 2018, challenges to medication access and program success persist, leading to questions…
High-quality child care results in both significantly improved life outcomes for children as well as greater economic output at the state-level. However, child care providers in New Hampshire face a number of challenges that disrupt their ability to provide high-quality care, including high staff turnover and difficulties with staff training…
The lack of accessible housing for people with disabilities is a wide-ranging and under-addressed issue. These challenges are exacerbated in the Upper Valley region, which includes municipalities in New Hampshire and Vermont, due to its uniquely rural and aging demographics, as well as its lack of government infrastructure to address…
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are a group of medications effective at treating obesity, type-2 diabetes, and other conditions. GLP-1s are a desirable treatment option for many Americans, but they are costly. Spending from Medicaid and private payers on GLP-1s is rising at an unprecedented rate. Federal stipulations require Medicaid…
Usage of electric vehicles (EVs) has risen in states across the country. This trend, coupled with the increasing fuel efficiency standards of gas cars, means that states are suffering from the resulting decline in revenues from gas taxes, which are intended to pay for the maintenance of roads and transportation…
In 2011, the New Hampshire legislature eliminated funding for Guardian ad Litem (GAL) services for indigent families in divorce and parenting cases, creating a two-tiered system where only those who could afford GAL services had access to them. Based on extensive interviews with key stakeholders, including GALs, judges, legislators, and…
Those involved in criminal proceedings in the United States must be "competent to stand trial," meaning they must understand their charges, the consequences of the charges, legal processes and participants, and opportunities to participate in their own defense. Individuals deemed "incompetent" to stand trial have: 1) a potential mental disorder/cognitive…