Rep. Jubilee McGill

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new 11 percent excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition in Vermont, which would be paid by sellers at the time of each transaction. The tax applies to both licensed firearm dealers and ammunition vendors, with licensed dealers required to collect the tax during background checks and remit it quarterly to the state. All revenue generated from this tax would be deposited into the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund, which supports grants for domestic and sexual violence prevention services. The legislation excludes transfers exempt from background checks, such as those to law enforcement agencies or immediate family members, and would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and approved independent schools in Vermont to include instruction on the history and contributions of marginalized groups in science, arts, and humanities courses. It specifically mandates coverage of Native Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, various racial and ethnic backgrounds, different socioeconomic statuses, immigrants, refugees, and diverse religious backgrounds. The State Board of Education must develop specific standards and performance measures for this content by July 1, 2025, and schools must begin implementing these requirements in the 2025-2026 school year. The instruction must be age-appropriate and integrated into existing courses with established student performance standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to restructure the governance of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by eliminating the Chancellor position and reducing the number of legislative trustees from two to one, while adding one faculty trustee and one staff trustee to the Board of Trustees. The legislation would also remove requirements for structural deficit reductions and maintaining current campuses as educational centers, giving the Board more flexibility in managing the system. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Office of the President to oversee shared services across institutions and requires annual reporting to the General Assembly on the costs and allocation of these shared services. The changes would take effect by August 1, 2024, with the two longest-serving legislative trustees being replaced by the new faculty and staff representatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes occupancy requirements for short-term rental properties in Vermont, affecting owners who rent out homes or apartments for fewer than 30 consecutive days at least 14 times per year. The law mandates that rental owners must have lived in their property for at least 120 days in the previous year, or 33 percent of the days they owned or leased it if they have held it for less than a year. By adding these rules to existing state statutes, the legislation aims to ensure that short-term rental operators maintain a primary residence connection to their properties. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all short-term rentals meeting the specified rental frequency and duration criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to reimburse the Burlington Fire Department for emergency medical services provided to individuals experiencing drug overdoses. The money is distributed through the Department of Health as a grant to the City of Burlington, with the requirement that these funds supplement rather than replace existing city funding for the fire department. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is intended to help cover the costs associated with responding to overdose incidents in Burlington.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase fines and add more points to driving records for using portable electronic devices like phones while driving in Vermont. It directly affects all drivers who use handheld devices or text while operating a moving vehicle on highways. The bill establishes higher penalties for violations in school zones and work zones where construction or maintenance crews are present, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 and additional points on driving records. It also creates a new Distracted Driving Diversion Program to offer an alternative to traditional penalties for eligible first-time offenders. The legislation applies to both junior operators and licensed drivers, with specific provisions preventing duplicate penalties for the same incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Vermont, including Medicaid, to provide comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment. It directly affects individuals with obesity and the insurance companies that serve them. The law mandates coverage for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, lifestyle interventions like nutrition counseling and exercise planning, bariatric surgery, and ensures equal cost-sharing for obesity care compared to other medical conditions. Coverage decisions must be based on medical necessity rather than solely on body mass index calculations, and prior authorization processes should not create unnecessary barriers to care. The changes will take effect for plans issued on or after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires postsecondary schools in Vermont to designate a Student Liaison Officer to assist students experiencing homelessness and those exiting the foster care system with navigating financial aid and available services. The legislation mandates that these institutions create policies to give priority access to class enrollment and on-campus housing for these student populations, while also allowing waivers for registration and laboratory fees. Schools must ensure homeless students can access housing during school breaks and that enrollment policies account for barriers like work obligations and transportation challenges. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all postsecondary institutions operating within Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes fees for vital records, nondriver identification cards, and driver's licenses for Vermont residents experiencing homelessness and for those under 22 who were previously in foster care. To qualify, individuals experiencing homelessness must submit an affidavit confirming their status, while foster care recipients need to prove their placement history through a child-placing agency. The changes apply to certified copies of birth certificates, nondriver ID cards, and operator's privilege cards, setting their cost to zero for eligible applicants. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is intended to reduce financial barriers to obtaining essential identification documents for these specific populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that juvenile delinquency cases involving youths aged 14 to 22 begin in the Family Division of the Superior Court rather than the Criminal Division, with certain exceptions for specific serious offenses. The law allows the Family Division to transfer cases to the Criminal Division after a hearing if the youth is older or if the offense is particularly severe, and it mandates that prosecutors file felony charges for minors in the Family Division first. The changes apply to both new cases and those involving violations of release conditions, ensuring that all juvenile proceedings initially originate in the Family Division unless specific criteria for transfer are met.