This bill modifies Vermont's sports wagering laws to strengthen oversight and consumer protections. It requires sports wagering operators to pay annual fees and mandates stricter criminal background checks for applicants and company principals. The legislation also updates penalties for illegal wagering operations and directs funds toward problem gambling prevention programs. Additionally, it adds restrictions on advertising aimed at minors and requires a report on how problem gambling funding aligns with similar state programs.
This bill appropriates $29 million from the Education Fund for fiscal year 2024 to reimburse schools for providing meals under Vermont's existing school meal program. The funding is directed to the Agency of Education to support reimbursement for school meals as outlined in state law. This financial provision ensures schools can continue offering meals to students without additional cost burdens. The bill became law without the Governor's signature after both legislative chambers concurred on the amendment.
This bill updates Vermont's adult protective services laws to clarify how caregivers are defined and held accountable. It expands the legal definition of a caregiver to include anyone voluntarily or contractually responsible for providing care to elders or people with disabilities, while also removing "negligently" from certain misconduct descriptions to focus on reckless behavior. The legislation adds protections for personal health information by explicitly referencing federal privacy laws alongside state regulations. These changes directly affect agencies, facilities, and individuals providing care to vulnerable adults, ensuring clearer standards for who qualifies as a caregiver and how their actions are evaluated.
This bill modernizes Vermont's Children and Family Council for Prevention Programs by renaming it the Council for Equitable Youth Justice and expanding its membership to up to 25 members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval. The Council will focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system, coordinating primary prevention efforts to address issues like delinquency and substance abuse before they require intervention, and ensuring compliance with federal juvenile justice requirements. Key provisions include establishing a State Primary Prevention Plan, requiring regular reports on federal fund usage and progress toward equity goals, and mandating that the Council include youth and family voices in its work. The Council will operate under the Agency of Human Services and may apply for federal and private funding to support its prevention and coordination activities.
This bill makes several changes to Vermont's adult-use and medical cannabis programs, primarily focusing on how the system is governed and regulated. It creates a new advisory committee for the Cannabis Control Board with 14 members representing various areas of expertise, including public health, social justice, and business, who will provide recommendations to the state legislature. The bill also clarifies what counts as advertising for cannabis businesses while excluding educational materials and standard product labels, and it establishes rules for how local municipalities can issue their own cannabis licenses without charging fees. Additionally, the legislation defines how cannabis cultivation is classified under state law, ensuring it is treated differently from traditional farming activities.
This bill creates the Cybersecurity Advisory Council to advise Vermont on protecting its digital infrastructure and systems from cyberattacks. The Council will include representatives from government agencies, critical infrastructure sectors like utilities and hospitals, private businesses, and cybersecurity professionals. Its main duties include developing a state cybersecurity strategy, evaluating readiness levels, sharing best practices with businesses and local governments, and recommending ways to improve cybersecurity standards and workforce development. The Council will meet at least quarterly, submit annual reports to legislative committees, and can hold closed sessions to discuss sensitive cybersecurity information that could compromise public safety if disclosed.
This bill establishes an unused drug repository program in Vermont to collect and distribute unused medications to patients who cannot afford them. The Agency of Human Services will manage the program, accepting donations from sources like pharmacies, hospitals, and individuals, while setting rules for drug safety and eligibility. Priority is given to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients, as well as those facing high out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions. The legislation also provides liability protection for donors, recipients, and healthcare providers involved in the program, and requires the agency to report on rulemaking progress during the 2024 budget process.
This bill approves the merger of the Village of Lyndonville with the Town of Lyndon in Vermont, creating a single unified municipality. The legislation amends the Town of Lyndon's governing laws to allow the town attorney to review and make technical corrections to proposed ordinances before they are voted on at town meetings, ensuring legal accuracy without changing the ordinance's meaning. It also updates terminology by replacing "ballot boxes" with "polling places" in town meeting procedures and makes minor grammatical adjustments to the Board of Electric Commissioners section. These changes streamline local governance processes and formalize the administrative structure of the newly merged town.
This bill authorizes approximately $122.7 million in state funding for capital construction and building projects across Vermont, primarily affecting the Department of Buildings and General Services. The legislation allocates specific amounts for maintenance, security upgrades, and renovations at state facilities including courthouses, correctional centers, and the State House, with funding distributed over two fiscal years. Key provisions include replacing HVAC systems in correctional facilities to improve conditions, upgrading security measures, and preserving historic sites and buildings. The bill establishes a process for adjusting appropriations in the second year through a separate adjustment bill and requires notification to legislative committee chairs before canceling correctional facility projects.
This bill updates Vermont law enforcement training requirements and misconduct policies to better address domestic violence situations. It mandates that all state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as well as certified constables, adopt a domestic violence model policy by July 1, 2024, and requires the Vermont Law Enforcement Advisory Board to issue an updated version by January 1, 2024 that includes provisions for survivor needs, officer support, and privacy protections. The legislation also clarifies that causing physical harm to family members or violating the domestic violence policy constitutes serious misconduct subject to disciplinary action, while requiring officers subject to abuse orders to immediately surrender their service weapons. Additionally, the bill directs the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to report on whether current misconduct statutes should apply to off-duty officer conduct and expands data collection requirements for domestic and sexual violence complaints.
This bill approves Vermont's Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation Program and adjusts funding for various transportation projects and initiatives. It authorizes investments in public transit, including zero-fare and tiered-fare services, and expands grant programs for rail trails, electric vehicle incentives, and micromobility safety improvements. The legislation also modifies funding sources for specific projects like the St. Albans District Maintenance Facility and Rail Trail Community Connectivity Grants, while reducing Highway Maintenance authorization by $850,000 with conditions for restoration. Additionally, it authorizes the sale or lease of the Caledonia County State Airport through a competitive process and cancels the Bennington Bypass project while adding a new bridge project in Sheldon.
This bill amends Vermont's alcoholic beverage laws to update definitions, licensing fees, and permit requirements for various alcohol-related events and sales. It clarifies the definition of hard cider, sets specific fees for different license types and permits, and establishes rules for how much alcohol can be sold or sampled at farmers markets, tasting rooms, and special events. The legislation also creates new permit categories for educational sampling events and festival sampling, outlining application deadlines, serving limits, and tax obligations for alcohol distributed at these gatherings.
