Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont state agencies to install non-fossil-fuel heating and cooling systems when replacing or installing new equipment in buildings they own or control, starting in fiscal year 2025. It directly affects the Department of Buildings and General Services, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Agency of Transportation, mandating the use of alternatives like geothermal heat pumps, electric heat pumps, or wood fuel systems instead of oil, propane, natural gas, or coal. The law includes exemptions for situations where non-fossil-fuel systems are financially impracticable based on life-cycle cost comparisons and allows agencies to keep existing fossil fuel equipment as backup systems. Agencies must also submit annual reports detailing equipment installations, fuel usage, and the reasons for any exemptions granted.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to update specific administrative rules to use respectful language and reflect current practices. It requires the agency to submit a plan by January 1, 2024, to amend rules governing intermediate care facilities, guardianship for mentally retarded persons, Medicaid regulations, long-term care services, and vocational rehabilitation. The agency must prioritize updating the rules related to intermediate care facilities and guardianship. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to the agency's rulemaking processes rather than directly changing how services are delivered to individuals.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary Building Energy Code Study Committee to address low compliance rates with Vermont's residential and commercial building energy standards. The committee will consist of 15 members representing government agencies, industry groups, and municipalities, and will study strategies to improve code enforcement and administration. Key recommendations may include designating the Division of Fire Safety as the statewide authority for energy code enforcement and developing funding mechanisms such as incentives and federal grants. The committee must submit its final report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2023, and will be funded with $125,000 for consultant services and member compensation.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission to promote trade, investment, and cultural exchange between the two regions. The commission would serve as an official body to facilitate bilateral economic and cultural cooperation. It directly affects Vermont state officials and organizations involved in international trade with Ireland. The legislation creates a new institutional framework for ongoing collaboration between Vermont and Ireland.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new employee protections in Vermont by granting workers two hours of paid leave to vote in elections and on Town Meeting Day, requiring employers to allow this time during scheduled work hours. It also creates a "good cause" standard for terminating employment, meaning employers must have a legitimate business reason to fire someone, and prohibits discrimination against employees for exercising free speech rights protected by state and federal constitutions. Additionally, the legislation bans employers from asking about employment status on job applications or interfering with workers' attempts to seek jobs elsewhere, while designating such interference as an unfair labor practice for public sector employers. Employers must post notices about these new rights in conspicuous locations at their places of business.
Maddy summaryThis bill introduces new protections for tenants in Vermont against evictions without a specific cause, such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations. It directly affects landlords and tenants in residential rental situations, particularly those living in owner-occupied buildings with two or three units. The key mechanism requires landlords to provide longer notice periods before terminating a tenancy without cause, ranging from 60 to 90 days depending on how long a tenant has lived in the unit, and restricts no-cause evictions primarily to small owner-occupied properties or situations requiring major renovations. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from terminating tenancies without just cause except in limited circumstances like owner occupancy, sale of the property, or when a written rental agreement allows it.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows collective bargaining representatives to be certified through voluntary employer recognition combined with majority employee sign-up, rather than requiring a secret ballot election. It applies to employees in Vermont who seek union representation and modifies state labor laws to provide this alternative certification path. The legislation requires employers to grant recognition if a majority of employees sign authorizations supporting a specific representative, unless the employer objects and the Labor Relations Board determines the petition should proceed to a formal election. Additionally, the bill extends this voluntary recognition process to school districts for teachers and administrators, allowing them to be recognized without a referendum when a majority signs supporting petitions. The certification valid for at least one year and allows for reelection or recertification through the same majority sign-up process.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont public schools to include Holocaust education in their curricula for grades six through twelve, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It mandates that each supervisory union provide at least six hours of age-appropriate instruction annually, integrated into global citizenship or English language arts classes, while the Agency of Education will offer technical assistance to help schools develop and implement the program. The law defines key terms like "Holocaust" and "genocide" and outlines specific learning goals, including understanding how prejudice escalates to violence, recognizing the roles of perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers, and examining how to combat discrimination in democratic societies.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the 802 Opportunity Grant to provide tuition assistance for youth in foster care and kinship care in Vermont. It directly affects students under the custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 who were in foster care or permanent guardianship for at least six months between ages 16 and 18. The key provision increases the annual grant amount from $3,000 to $4,000 and allows eligible students to receive grants for up to six consecutive years or until they complete an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. The bill also appropriates an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2024 to fund these expanded grants and takes effect on July 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for recovery residences in Vermont, which are shared living spaces designed to support individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It requires these residences to be certified by recognized organizations and mandates written rental agreements that outline policies, consequences for noncompliance, and alternative housing options for temporary removals. The legislation also directs municipalities to treat recovery residences as single-family homes for zoning purposes and requires the Department of Corrections to report on furloughed individuals residing in such facilities. Additionally, the bill creates a Recovery Stabilization Study Committee to further examine recovery housing needs and the bill aims to reduce homelessness and overdose deaths by expanding access to these supportive living environments.