Rep. Nelson Brownell

Maddy summaryThis bill congratulates Vermont athletes who won medals at the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh and designates March 21, 2024 as Vermont Senior Games Day at the State House. It recognizes the 86 Vermont athletes who competed in 13 sports and won a total of 33 medals, while also honoring the specific individuals who participated in the event. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the Vermont Senior Games Association and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness to promote senior fitness awareness. This is a ceremonial measure that celebrates athletic achievement rather than creating new laws or policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Sergeant at Arms Janet Miller for her service to the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her long career, which includes managing security, coordinating events, and overseeing the Legislative Council before she was elected to her current role five times. The resolution also acknowledges her specific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping the legislature transition back to in-person meetings. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this honor to Janet Miller, who has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution honoring the life and service of Kenneth Carlton O'Dell, a veteran Pownal firefighter who served for 65 years. It formally extends condolences to O'Dell's family and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to his family and the Pownal Fire Department. The document recognizes his extensive contributions to the community, including his work as a burner technician, cemetery superintendent, and volunteer firefighter. This legislative action serves as a formal acknowledgment of his public service rather than enacting new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes the week of February 26 to March 1 as Public Schools Week in Vermont. It does not create new laws or change policies but instead acknowledges the importance of public schools as community institutions and major employers. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to various education-related organizations, including the Vermont Secretary of Education and state education associations. This measure serves to honor the role of public schools in Vermont society without affecting any operational or funding aspects of the education system.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a commemorative resolution that recognizes the 200th anniversary of Mt. Anthony Masonic Lodge No. 13 in Bennington, Vermont. The resolution acknowledges the lodge's history, which began in 1823 when it was chartered and has since played a role in local civic life, including laying the cornerstone for the Battle of Bennington Monument. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the lodge as an official acknowledgment of its bicentennial milestone.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder or manslaughter if their actions result in the death of a fetus, and it would also permit charges for drunk driving or grossly negligent driving that cause fetal death. The law explicitly excludes abortions and medical procedures performed according to standard practice, as well as actions taken by a pregnant person against their own fetus. It clarifies that these provisions do not change the legal status or rights of a fetus under Vermont law. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes term limits for Vermont's state legislators and executive officers, restricting how many consecutive terms individuals can serve in these positions. It would allow state senators to serve a maximum of five consecutive two-year terms and state representatives to serve five consecutive terms, while executive officials like the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state would be limited to four or five consecutive two-year terms depending on the office. The legislation includes a provision allowing individuals who reach their term limits to run for different offices where they have not yet met the limit, and it applies these restrictions retroactively to current officeholders, permitting them to finish their current terms but preventing them from seeking re-election to the same position. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, and was introduced by four state representatives who referred it to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Department of Health to create free opioid overdose response training videos and distribute naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, to businesses and organizations likely to encounter people experiencing overdoses. The legislation also requires the department to expand community prevention programs, improve access to treatment services, educate healthcare providers and recovery program participants on overdose prevention, and establish public kiosks where naloxone can be dispensed. These measures aim to increase public awareness and access to life-saving resources for individuals at risk of opioid-related overdoses across the state. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Vermont municipalities to receive reimbursement for state education property taxes they abated for property owners affected by severe storms and flooding between July and October 2023. It also permits municipalities to be reimbursed for reasonable interest expenses incurred when borrowing funds to make these tax payments, capped at eight percent. Additionally, the bill excludes federal disaster relief payments from household income when calculating the homestead property tax credit for the 2023 and 2024 tax years, helping homeowners maintain eligibility for tax credits despite receiving disaster assistance.