Rep. Amy Sheldon

Maddy summaryThis bill commemorates the 25th anniversary of Vermont's Downtown Program and designates March 22, 2023 as Downtown Day at the State House. It recognizes the program's role in supporting downtown development through tax incentives and financial assistance to designated districts. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the Downtown Coalition and the Vermont Downtown Development Board. This is a ceremonial measure that acknowledges past investments and contributions without changing existing laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution congratulates Vermont athletes who won medals at the 2022 National Senior Games and designates March 15, 2023 as Senior Physical Fitness Day at the State House. It specifically honors 45 Vermonters who competed in 11 sports, including top finishers like 87-year-old Flo Meiler who won five gold medals. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the honored athletes, the Vermont Senior Games Association, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. This is a ceremonial measure that recognizes athletic achievement and promotes senior fitness awareness without creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to a regenerative economy by 2026, which aims to repair and restore natural and human resources rather than simply reducing harm. The legislation mandates that the state be divided into 11 regions, each forming a People's Assembly to create local plans through broad public engagement involving community members, businesses, and organizations. These regional plans must address specific goals including regenerative agriculture, food justice, waste reduction, renewable energy, and racial equity while guiding state investments and policy decisions. The bill establishes a long-term target of achieving 90 percent of a regenerative economy by December 31, 2046, and requires all state funding streams to align with the resulting roadmap.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers authority for administering and enforcing agricultural water quality regulations from the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of Natural Resources. It establishes a new subchapter defining agricultural waste, including fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock waste, and sets specific thresholds for classifying farms as small, medium, or large based on livestock numbers and land use. The legislation requires all farms to comply with water quality standards designed to prevent agricultural waste from entering state waters, drinking water, or groundwater through best management practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Vermont schools and educational programs that receive state funding from using unlawful physical restraints, seclusion, mechanical restraints, or chemical restraints on students. It defines specific types of restraints and seclusion that are banned, while allowing certain voluntary physical contacts like escorts and prompts that do not restrict movement. Covered entities must report and document any incidents involving restraint or seclusion, notify parents within 24 hours, and hold meetings within five school days to discuss prevention strategies and potential behavioral support plans. The Agency of Education is tasked with creating a performance review system to monitor compliance and provide technical assistance to schools for implementing evidence-based programs that reduce the need for restraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a pilot program offering financial assistance to farmers who adopt year-round agricultural practices across different regions of the state. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop specific standards and criteria for what qualifies as year-round agriculture and allocates funding to support the program's implementation. The legislation affects farmers and agricultural agencies by establishing a formal mechanism to encourage continuous farming activities throughout all seasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Resilient Rivers Commission, a temporary body designed to study and make recommendations about protecting Vermont's rivers, streams, and their surrounding riparian zones. The Commission would be made up of eight legislators from the Senate and House committees on natural resources and environment, who would hold at least five public meetings across different regions of the state to gather information and public input. During its existence, the Commission would review current water protection laws, compare Vermont's regulations with those of other states, and develop a draft report with legislative recommendations to improve water quality and habitat protection. The Commission would receive technical and legal assistance from state agencies, and it would cease to exist on February 1, 2024, after submitting its final report to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any expanded polystyrene foam used for flotation in buoys, docks, or floating structures on Vermont waters must be fully encapsulated in a protective barrier that prevents it from breaking apart in the water. It also prohibits the sale, distribution, or use of open-cell polystyrene foam products in or on the state's waters and declares unencapsulated foam devices a public health nuisance. The legislation includes a ban on selling unencapsulated or open-cell foam flotation devices and sets a deadline of April 1, 2026, for prohibiting the use of existing unencapsulated devices. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 to the Department of Environmental Conservation to help fund grants for lakeshore residents and businesses to replace older unencapsulated flotation equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes renaming the Natural Resources Board to the Environmental Review Board and expanding its role to include hearing appeals from District Commissions and district coordinators under Vermont's Act 250 program. The bill creates a five-member board with one full-time chair and four part-time members, all appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation, while establishing a new Nominating Committee to review candidates based on expertise in environmental science, land use planning, and related fields. The Environmental Division of the Superior Court would continue handling other environmental permit and zoning appeals, while the renamed board would retain its existing duties and gain additional authority to oversee Act 250 program staff and develop program policy.