Caregiving, Crypto Fraud on 2026 Legislative Agenda

With the legislative session underway, AARP Vermont is working on several key issues for older adults and their families.

Top items on the list are support for Vermont’s unpaid family caregivers and fraud protection.

“We’re at a point right now … where affordability is such a critical issue for folks,” says Colin Hilliard, who leads AARP Vermont’s advocacy efforts. “Putting money back in the pockets of family caregivers ... would be a really great way to support them.”

The total of family caregivers has risen nationally as the population ages and people live longer, according to AARP research. Vermont had 70,000 family caregivers, according to AARP’s 2023 Valuing the Invaluable report.

Last year, a family caregiver tax break passed the state Senate, but the final budget signed by the governor did not include the $1,000 credit. The credit would help qualifying caregivers cover expenses.

Also during the legislative session, AARP Vermont will focus on cryptocurrency kiosk fraud to see whether lawmakers extend a moratorium on new crypto ATMs that expires later this year. The machines look like regular ATMs but are often found in convenience stores and bars.

AARP Vermont also plans to work on legislation to give banks and credit unions more power to protect customers from fraud by imposing holds on suspicious transactions. That would allow banks to reach out to a trusted contact on an account and “slow things down, which we know is really critical in these fraud situations,” says Hilliard.

To learn more or get involved, email chilliard@aarp.org. Sign up for a monthly email newsletter and advocacy alerts at action.aarp.org/sign or by texting “JOIN” to 22777.