Rep. Mari Cordes

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that honors Karen Horn of Moretown for her leadership in strengthening local government in Vermont. It recognizes her decades of work with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, where she advised officials on municipal issues and helped secure transportation funding and tax authority for local governments. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions to municipal policy and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to both Horn and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution expresses support for Abenaki communities in Vermont and encourages greater appreciation of Abenaki culture during Abenaki Recognition and Heritage Week and throughout the year. The bill directly affects the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and the four state-recognized Abenaki tribes and bands by directing the House Clerk to send copies of the resolution to these entities. The resolution acknowledges past injustices, including state-sanctioned eugenics and sterilizations, and recognizes existing legislative efforts such as free hunting and fishing licenses for certified Native Americans and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It serves as a formal statement of support rather than creating new policy requirements or funding allocations.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution congratulates Mikaela Shiffrin on her historic 2022-2023 World Cup Alpine ski racing achievements, including becoming the winningest female Alpine racer of all time with 88 victories and setting a new all-time World Cup record with 87 event wins. The resolution recognizes her accomplishments, which include winning races in all six World Cup Alpine disciplines and accumulating 138 career podiums. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Shiffrin and U.S. Ski & Snowboard as a formal acknowledgment of her record-setting performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the winning teams of the 2023 15th Jr Iron Chef VT competition, a culinary event for middle and high school students in Vermont. The resolution acknowledges the competition's return after a pandemic-related pause and recognizes the three award categories: Crowd Pleaser, Lively Local, and Mise en Place. It specifically names the six winning teams that received awards in both morning and afternoon rounds across middle and high school divisions. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to each winning team and to Vermont Afterschool, which oversees the event.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes that Vermont adopt and join the Social Work Licensure Compact, an agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. The legislation would update Vermont's current social work licensing laws to align with this interstate compact framework, enabling social workers to move between participating states more easily. Directly affected individuals include social workers seeking to practice in multiple jurisdictions and the state's licensing board overseeing credentialing. The bill does not change existing requirements for initial licensure but would facilitate reciprocity among member states. It is currently under review by the Committee on Health Care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers in Vermont to complete training on cultural competency, cultural humility, and antiracism as recommended by the Health Equity Advisory Commission. The legislation establishes both initial training requirements for new providers and continuing education mandates for existing practitioners working within the state's healthcare system. By implementing these educational standards, the bill aims to improve healthcare delivery through enhanced provider understanding of diverse patient needs and backgrounds. The measure directly affects medical professionals, nurses, and other healthcare workers licensed to practice in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution officially recognizes March 31, 2023, as Transgender Day of Visibility in Vermont. It expresses the state's support for the rights of all transgender Vermonters and opposes any legislation that would restrict those rights regardless of age. The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal statement of support from the General Assembly. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to three LGBTQ+ organizations in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 4, 2023, as Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Day in Vermont to raise awareness about mental health challenges among young people. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial recognition to highlight the importance of supporting teen and young adult mental well-being. The resolution cites research showing increased rates of anxiety and depression among students and notes that the prefrontal cortex does not fully develop until the mid-20s. The measure was adopted by both the Senate and House of Representatives as a symbolic gesture rather than a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the involuntary sterilization of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Vermont. It directly affects people with intellectual disabilities and healthcare providers who might otherwise perform such procedures. The law would make it illegal to sterilize these individuals without their full consent, ensuring their reproductive rights are protected. This change removes the legal authority for forced sterilization procedures targeting this specific population. The measure aims to align Vermont's laws with human rights standards regarding bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a paid family and medical leave insurance program in Vermont, allowing eligible employees to take time off work for specific life events while receiving wage replacement benefits. It directly affects workers employed by companies with at least 10 to 15 employees, depending on the type of leave, and defines covered situations including parental leave for birth or adoption, family leave for serious health conditions, bereavement leave, safe leave for domestic violence victims, and leave for military family members. The legislation sets clear definitions for who qualifies as an employee, employer, and family member, including provisions for domestic partners and individuals with significant personal bonds beyond traditional family relationships. Key provisions include requirements for employers to fund the insurance program and establish policies that allow workers to take approved leave without losing their jobs.