The process of passing laws is a bit like making sausage, the end product is often good, but you probably don't really want to see how the product came to be. The many twists and turns the Vermont Death with Dignity bill experienced this week were no exception.

Over the course of three days, the Senate held hours of lively debate about the proposed legislation. After the bill was drastically amended, they passed Senate Bill 77 by a margin of 22 to 8. If you're curious about the minutiae of this week's proceedings, check out the Seven Days summary.

The bill now heads to the House in the next steps in its journey. Look for a major overhaul in the House where the majority of the members have said they support laws emulating the time-tested Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts.

The bill still has a long ways to go in the sausage-making process. We'll continue to keep updates coming your way through our blog and on social media through Facebook and Twitter.

After hours of discussion today, the Vermont Senate voted 17-13 to allow debate on the proposed Death with Dignity bill (Senate Bill 77) in spite of the Judiciary Committee's recommendation to the contrary. Debate on the bill will take place tomorrow at 1:30 pm ET. You can listen to the proceedings live on Vermont Public Radio. If you can't listen in, they'll likely also blog about it live like they did today.

Senators who support and oppose the bill questioned the chairs of the two committees which heard testimony on the bill, Health and Human Services and the Judiciary, with most of the questions directed at Senator Claire Ayer, the chair of Health and Human Services. She deftly and politely responded to many opponents baseless claims and assertions and presented the facts available from 15 years of data on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act.

George testified before the Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee about the proposed Death with Dignity bill (Senate Bill 77) last week. He observed the hours of hearings that went on throughout the week. Below are his observation of the proceedings.

The Vermont legislature is poised to pass an Oregon like Death with Dignity bill within the next few weeks. Attempts to enact a right to die act in Vermont have been going on since 2007, but it appears 2013 may be the year it finally passes. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin made passage of the law a high priority and has enlisted the speaker of the house and president of the senate, both Democrats, to shepherd the bill through the legislative process.