Rep. Mari Cordes

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand health insurance eligibility in Vermont to include all income-eligible adults over 18 who are currently excluded from Medicaid and health exchange subsidies due to their immigration status. It requires the state to provide hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage for these individuals that matches the benefits available under the existing Medicaid program. The law also mandates that the state protect applicants' confidentiality and prohibits sharing their information with the federal government. Coverage would begin on July 1, 2024, and applies to Vermont residents who meet income requirements but are ineligible for current public health programs because of immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to standardize the opening time for all polling places across Vermont, which currently have a uniform closing time of 7:00 p.m. The legislation would establish a specific opening hour that all polling locations must follow, ensuring consistency statewide. It directly affects election officials and voters who rely on polling place hours for planning. The bill would require all polling places to open at the same designated time, creating uniformity in election day procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to gradually implement Green Mountain Care, a publicly financed health care program for all Vermont residents, over a ten-year period. It would begin with primary care coverage in the first year, add preventive dental and vision care in the second year, and expand to additional services in subsequent years based on recommendations from an advisory group. The legislation requires the Green Mountain Care Board to analyze and report on financing sustainability, economic impact, and cost containment measures before full implementation. It also seeks a federal waiver to adjust health insurance benefits and funding to avoid duplication with Green Mountain Care coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors organizations and individuals working to improve rural broadband access in Vermont. It recognizes the Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and related groups like the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association and the Vermont Community Broadband Board for their efforts in building broadband networks. The resolution acknowledges past legislative actions that created funding and oversight structures to support these broadband initiatives. It does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally recognize the achievements of these groups in expanding internet access to over 200 municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans and Vermont's Medicaid program to cover pasteurized donated human breast milk for infants under 12 months old when medically necessary. The coverage applies when a licensed healthcare professional prescribes the milk, it is obtained from a certified human milk bank, and the infant's parent or guardian cannot produce sufficient milk due to medical or physical reasons. Covered conditions include premature birth, low birth weight, failure to thrive, and other medical needs determined by a prescriber. The law takes effect on January 1, 2024, for private health insurance plans and upon federal approval for Medicaid coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Department of Mental Health to work with the Department of Health on studying suicide rates in the state. The study will focus on ways to reduce access to lethal means, identify gaps in prevention services, and gather data on suicide methods used in Vermont. The legislation requires these departments to examine current suicide incidence and develop strategies to decrease suicide rates through evidence-based analysis. This measure affects state health agencies and aims to improve suicide prevention efforts through systematic data collection and service gap identification.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adjust income eligibility limits for Vermont's Medicare Savings Programs, which help low-income individuals pay Medicare premiums and deductibles. It raises the income threshold for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program to 150% of the federal poverty level and increases the limit for the Qualifying Individual program to 185% of the federal poverty level. The bill also eliminates the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program entirely. These changes would require approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces several employment protections for workers in Vermont, including requirements for pay transparency, anti-discrimination measures, schedule stability, and expense reimbursement. It mandates that employers disclose pay scales to job applicants and current employees, prohibits using past salary information to limit new offers, and requires companies with 10 or more employees to submit gender and race breakdowns of employee compensation to the Department of Labor. The legislation also expands wage discrimination protections to include race and gender identity, requires employers to provide at least 14 days notice of work schedules with specific exceptions for changes, and obligates employers to reimburse necessary work-related expenses. These changes directly affect employers and employees across various industries in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to Vermont's housing programs to increase funding and expand eligibility for rental housing improvements, primarily affecting private landlords and nonprofit housing organizations. It would amend existing programs to allow grants and forgivable loans for rehabilitating non-compliant units, building new accessory dwelling units, and creating new rental units, with a cap of $50,000 per unit and a requirement for landlords to contribute at least 20% in matching funds or services. The legislation also creates a new Middle-Income Rental Housing Revolving Loan Program to provide subsidized loans for rental developments serving middle-income households, while exempting smaller municipalities from certain zoning requirements and allowing towns to register with state agencies to issue wastewater permits without full state permits. Additionally, it would reduce the number of residents who can appeal zoning decisions from 10 to a lower threshold and exempt certain downtown housing projects from state environmental review requirements.