Rep. Matt Birong

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 bill requires independent schools in Vermont to pay their teachers' retirement contributions and administrative expenses directly, rather than having these costs covered by the state education budget. It also clarifies that "education spending" includes the portion of retirement payments attributable to school districts, while excluding funds from other sources like endowments or federal grants. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and include requirements for independent schools to submit annual payment statements and for the state to report on implementation to relevant committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how write-in candidates win primary elections in Vermont by requiring them to receive at least half the number of petition signatures needed for their office, unless they get more votes than any printed candidate. It directly affects voters who choose write-in candidates and political parties running primary elections. The law would still allow write-in candidates to win if they receive more votes than any other candidate on the ballot, but otherwise they must meet the signature threshold. The bill also maintains the requirement that a write-in winner must still be determined the official party candidate under existing rules before the general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Departments of Health and Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to expand their public education efforts on Alzheimer's disease to also include information about brain health and reducing dementia risks. The Departments must work with the Commission on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders to create accessible educational materials in electronic, print, and in-person formats for the public, patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare providers. These resources will include information about the State Plan on Aging as well as programs focused on prevention, care, and support for individuals and communities. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a policy for the State of Vermont to allow the Abenaki people access to state-owned or leased lands for agricultural, hunting, fishing, trapping, and cultural, religious, and spiritual activities. It requires state agencies to consult with the Commission on Native American Affairs and Abenaki tribal leadership to identify suitable properties and determine appropriate access methods while protecting sacred sites. The legislation also clarifies that it does not override existing property rights or require taking vested interests, and it mandates that the Secretary of Administration create rules to implement these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to fund afterschool and summer care services for children and youth in Vermont, with priority given to programs serving underserved communities. The program will be financed using revenue from the state's cannabis sales tax, which will be deposited into a dedicated special fund managed by an advisory committee. The advisory committee, composed of representatives from various state agencies and Vermont Afterschool, Inc., will oversee grant distribution and report annually on outcomes such as the number of children served and cost savings for families. Grants can be used by program operators for technical assistance, implementation, expansion, and sustainability, with administrative costs capped at $500,000 per year. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows manufacturers of spirits and fortified wines to obtain a license for shipping their products directly to consumers in Vermont. It requires license holders to register each product, sell at state-set retail prices, and limit shipments to 12 cases of fortified wine or four cases of spirits per resident annually. The legislation also creates a special fund to offset revenue losses for the state liquor department and requires quarterly reporting from license holders.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires out-of-state breweries to meet a reciprocity condition to obtain a consumer shipping license in Vermont. Specifically, it mandates that any brewery located outside Vermont must be able to ship malt beverages to consumers in its home state for Vermont brewers to do the same. The law applies to manufacturers of malt, vinous, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages operating in the United States and directly affects their ability to sell directly to Vermont consumers. By establishing this mutual licensing requirement, the bill ensures that out-of-state brewers operate under similar consumer shipping rules as Vermont-based brewers. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's homestead property tax credit rules by excluding disability and pension income from permanently and totally disabled veterans when calculating household income. The change is made to the state's tax code definition of modified adjusted gross income, specifically removing Veterans' disability and pension payments from the list of income sources that must be added to federal adjusted gross income. This adjustment directly affects disabled veterans who receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing them to potentially qualify for or receive larger property tax credits. The law applies retroactively to January 1, 2023, and applies to property tax credit claims filed on or after January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.