Rep. Nelson Brownell

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Vermont Veterans' Home Board to establish a nursing home in Vermont that provides services and supports to Vermont veterans who do not currently reside at the Home. The legislation requires the new facility to comply with all applicable state and federal licensing and regulatory requirements. By adding a new subdivision to the relevant statute, the bill formally expands the Board's powers and duties to include this new service option. The measure was signed into law by the Governor in June 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution honoring Alexander and Marilyn Mahar, a couple who made significant contributions to the Town of Bennington community. It recognizes their legacy through their long-standing funeral home business, Alexander's charitable golf tournaments that raised over $200,000 for local hospice care, and both spouses' volunteer work and community involvement. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's condolences to the Mahar family and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to them.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill requires health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screening without any cost-sharing fees for insured individuals aged 50 and older. The law mandates that insurers offer two screening options for average-risk individuals: annual fecal occult blood testing with a sigmoidoscopy every five years, or a colonoscopy every ten years, following U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. For people at high risk due to family history, genetic conditions, prior cancer, or chronic digestive diseases, the bill requires coverage for screening and tests as recommended by their treating physician. The coverage must include all associated costs such as lab services, physician fees, and facility use without deductibles or co-pays, and applies to plans issued on or after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization founded in 1975 that supports state and territorial legislators and their staff. The resolution recognizes the group's role in advancing state legislative effectiveness, fostering cooperation between states, and providing a unified voice for state legislatures in the federal system. It directs the Vermont Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measure is a commemorative action with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the Woodford SnoBusters snowmobile club on its 40th anniversary. The resolution recognizes the club's contributions to Vermont's statewide snowmobile trail network through volunteer trail maintenance and safety programs. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the club as official acknowledgment. The measure is ceremonial and does not create new laws or change existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 Grace Christian Lions Division IV championship boys' basketball team from Bennington, Vermont. The resolution recognizes the team's unique achievement of winning the state title despite being in the program's second season, having members from different nations, and facing language barriers during play. It lists the eleven team members, coaching staff, and team managers who contributed to the victory. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Grace Christian School to officially record the General Assembly's recognition of their accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Catamount Trail, a recreational trail in Vermont. It recognizes the trail's origins in 1984 when three friends established the Catamount Trail Association and began skiing the trail's length. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Catamount Trail Association. It does not create new laws or change policies but serves to honor the trail's history and ongoing stewardship.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution commemorates Vermont's April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical event visible across much of the state. It officially recognizes the historic nature of the eclipse, noting that the last total solar eclipse visible in Vermont occurred nearly a century ago in 1932. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which are partners in educating the public about the event. This ceremonial measure serves to acknowledge the significance of the eclipse for Vermont residents and visitors rather than to change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 26, 2024, as Robert Frost Day in Vermont to honor the state's first Poet Laureate on the 150th anniversary of his birth. The resolution recognizes Frost's literary achievements, including four Pulitzer Prizes, his deep connection to Vermont landscapes, and his contributions to education at institutions like Bread Loaf School of English. The General Assembly formally acknowledges Frost's legacy by naming this specific date in his honor. The Secretary of State will send copies of the resolution to the Robert Frost Stone House in Shaftsbury and the Bread Loaf School of English in Ripton.