Rep. Jubilee McGill

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts and agencies from denying or restricting parental, prospective parental, foster parent, or guardian rights solely because a person has a disability. It requires that any such restrictions be based only on what is in the best interests of the child, not on the parent's disability status. The law directly affects parents with disabilities who may face barriers in maintaining custody or guardianship of their children. By establishing this standard, the bill aims to prevent discrimination while still allowing decisions that prioritize child welfare.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to admit Washington, DC, as a state in the Union. The measure addresses the District's lack of full voting representation in Congress, noting that while DC residents pay federal taxes and can vote in presidential elections, they currently have no voting members in the House or Senate. The resolution supports granting DC statehood to resolve this representation issue and calls for sending the document to federal officials and committees. It does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal expression of support for statehood legislation already introduced in Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows voters in Vermont to use electronic signatures on petitions for local ballot measures, provided the signatures meet state electronic transaction standards. It directly affects residents participating in local elections by modernizing how they can gather support for ballot initiatives. The law adds a new section to the state election code permitting electronic signatures and requires petitions to include printed names, signatures, and addresses of supporters. Changes to warning notices on petitions remain, but the core update focuses on accepting digital signatures for local election petitions starting July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a moratorium on the study, design, construction, expansion, or renovation of correctional facilities in Vermont until July 1, 2028, while also ending a long-standing suspension of state aid for school construction projects. The corrections provisions prohibit the state from building new prisons, expanding existing ones beyond current capacity, converting facilities for detention purposes, or renovating them to increase bed capacity, with only basic maintenance and code compliance exceptions allowed. Simultaneously, the bill restores state funding for school construction projects starting in fiscal year 2024, allowing the state to accept and review applications that had been blocked since 2007. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and includes findings that link poor school environments to incarceration rates and that harsh prison conditions contribute to recidivism and trauma.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the University of Vermont Board of Trustees by adding two new voting faculty members and clarifying student representation requirements. The legislation expands the board to 27 members total, with two faculty positions elected by the Faculty Senate and two student positions reserved for one undergraduate and one graduate student. These student trustees serve two-year terms and must be full-time students enrolled in degree programs, while faculty members serve four-year terms with full voting rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, with a transition period for initial faculty appointments beginning in August 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires students graduating from Vermont public high schools to demonstrate civics knowledge as a condition of receiving a diploma. The law offers two pathways: passing the standard U.S. citizenship civics test with a minimum score of 60 percent, or completing one semester of community service with a local government organization under a mentor's supervision. The requirement applies to all public high school and career technical center students, though students with individualized education programs may participate at the discretion of their IEP team. The measure would take effect for students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year or later.

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 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 two-year pilot program to give youth leaving the foster care system $1,000 per month for 24 months. The program is voluntary, and participants must complete annual surveys to report on their finances, health, employment, housing, and education. The cash transfers are designed to be tax-free and will not count as income when determining eligibility for other government benefits or financial aid. A report on the program's results will be submitted to state committees by November 2025, and $650,000 is appropriated to fund the initiative in fiscal year 2024.