Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the Governor's Institutes of Vermont on their 40th anniversary. It does not create new laws or change any policies but serves to formally recognize the organization's long history of providing educational opportunities for young Vermonters. The resolution acknowledges the institute's mission of offering diverse learning programs in areas like arts, science, and technology to students across the state. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the institute's executive director as a formal record of the legislature's appreciation.

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 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 proposes to remove certain plant and fungi-derived substances from Vermont's list of regulated drugs, meaning they would no longer be subject to criminal penalties for possession or use. Specifically, it excludes peyote, ayahuasca, mescaline, psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine from the legal definition of regulated drugs under state law. The legislation applies to these specific compounds and the plants or fungi that contain them, regardless of whether they are used for medicinal, spiritual, religious, or other purposes. If passed, the changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would be implemented by the state Board of Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide registry for short-term rental properties in Vermont, requiring owners to register their units annually with the Department of Housing and Community Development. Property owners must pay a $135 annual fee per unit, though this fee is waived if they have already registered with a local municipality that maintains a comparable system. The registry will collect specific information about each property, including owner contact details, location, building characteristics, and accessibility features, while protecting the data from being used for marketing purposes. Local governments that already run rental housing registration programs will share their data with the state registry, and the bill authorizes the hiring of staff to manage the program starting in 2024.

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 expands protections for Medicaid beneficiaries' estates by limiting when the state can recover medical costs from their assets after death. It directly affects families of deceased Medicaid recipients in Vermont, particularly those with low income or caregiving contributions to the decedent. The law prohibits estate recovery against homesteads that pass to heirs with income below 300% of the federal poverty level or to siblings who financially supported the decedent to avoid nursing home placement. It also protects sole income-producing assets of heirs and homesteads belonging to refugees. The changes apply immediately upon passage and require state funding to cover certain homestead recoveries that would otherwise be owed to the federal government.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent health insurers from listing specific mental health or substance use treatment services on explanation of benefits forms for adult dependents. It directly affects young adults aged 18 to 26 who are covered under their parents' health insurance plans and are unmarried with no dependents of their own. The law requires the Department of Financial Regulation to define which services count as mental health or substance use treatment, while consulting with health and mental health experts. The bill also clarifies that "adult dependent" includes full-time students at out-of-state colleges and those living in Vermont. These changes would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont state agencies to create and complete a one-stop online portal designed to help small businesses with fewer than 20 employees navigate state requirements. It establishes a steering committee led by the Secretary of State to develop a plan that consolidates business registration, permits, licenses, and payments into a single digital system. The portal will also include features for demographic self-identification, simplified annual filings, and access to state and federal business programs. Agencies must submit a detailed proposal with timelines and funding plans by December 15, 2023, and designate staff to support the committee's work.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a pilot program offering financial assistance to farmers who adopt year-round agricultural practices across different regions of the state. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop specific standards and criteria for what qualifies as year-round agriculture and allocates funding to support the program's implementation. The legislation affects farmers and agricultural agencies by establishing a formal mechanism to encourage continuous farming activities throughout all seasons.