Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would require fossil fuel companies that operated in Vermont between 2000 and 2019 to pay for their share of climate change costs. The program targets entities involved in extracting coal, oil, or natural gas, charging them based on how much greenhouse gas their products contributed to global emissions. Money collected from these payments would go into a dedicated fund to finance climate resilience projects like flood protections, upgraded infrastructure, and health programs addressing climate-related health risks. The law defines specific types of infrastructure projects eligible for funding and establishes rules for determining which companies must pay and how much they owe.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts and approved independent schools to create and enforce policies for selecting library materials, guided by the First Amendment and established intellectual freedom standards. The legislation specifically prohibits removing library materials based on partisan politics, author or character demographics, personal discomfort, or content addressing sexual health and student educational needs. School library staff will be responsible for curating collections that match students' developmental levels while protecting students' First Amendment rights. The policy must be made available to the public and takes effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and access state-funded financial aid at Vermont's public colleges if they meet standard residency requirements. It prohibits the Vermont State Colleges Corporation from excluding students based solely on immigration status and requires the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to make state financial aid available to all residents regardless of immigration status. The law specifically includes protections for refugees, those granted parole to enter the U.S., and Afghan Allies Protection Act visa holders, while also clarifying residency rules for military families. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, and include provisions ensuring students can apply for and participate in financial aid programs to the full extent allowed by federal law.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to fund a community-based organization that coordinates mental wellness and climate resilience efforts across Vermont. The program would receive $100,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the state's General Fund to support activities that address how extreme weather events and other social stresses impact mental health. The coordinating body must include representatives from diverse groups including schools, faith organizations, environmental groups, disaster response agencies, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The program uses a public health approach to prevent mental health problems before they emerge and to help entire communities build resilience against various adversities.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont municipalities to dredge waterways without needing a state permit from the Agency of Natural Resources when the work is needed to remove flood or debris threats to life and property. It also permits municipalities to alter streams for maintenance of structures like dams and bridges when those changes are already exempt from federal Army Corps of Engineers permitting requirements. The legislation directly affects local governments by expanding their authority to manage waterways for public safety and infrastructure maintenance.
Maddy summaryThis bill would reinstate community restitution as a sentencing option for people convicted of crimes in Vermont. It directs the Department of Corrections to create rules for this program and ensure it is available across all 14 counties with proper staffing and funding. Under the bill, courts could order offenders to perform structured work for municipalities, state agencies, or local nonprofits as an alternative to other sentencing options like probation or jail time. The program would allow individuals to make amends to their communities through labor while remaining under correctional supervision.
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 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 establishes a comprehensive flood recovery and preparedness framework for Vermont municipalities and businesses affected by the 2023 severe storms. It provides financial relief through tax abatement reimbursements for municipalities that lost State education property tax revenue, grants to offset municipal lost revenues, and a new Flood Recovery Assistance Program offering up to $40 million for business losses including physical damage, lost revenue, and employee wages. The legislation also creates a working group to improve emergency management coordination between state agencies and municipalities, while allowing reconsideration of property tax abatement decisions made during the disaster period.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Housing Division to track and report on progress toward statewide and regional housing targets established in the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment. The legislation mandates the development of specific metrics, including timelines with deadlines and regional measures covering investment rates, price, quality, and zoning compliance. Through 2030, the Division must publish annual reports detailing progress against these targets, assess whether advancement is satisfactory, and provide recommendations to accelerate housing development if needed. The bill affects the Department of Housing and Community Development, regional planning commissions, and housing developers by creating a structured accountability system for meeting housing goals.