Rep. Charles Wilson

Maddy summaryThis bill protects employees from being fired, discriminated against, or retaliated against for taking time off to serve as volunteer firefighters or volunteer emergency medical personnel. It also allows employers to claim a $500 tax credit for each volunteer firefighter or emergency medical personnel they employ for at least 12 weeks during the tax year. To qualify for protections, employees must provide written proof from their volunteer department to their employer, and employers are not required to pay employees for time spent on volunteer duties. The tax credit is available to private employers who maintain workers' compensation insurance and meet state registration requirements. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide tax benefits to individuals who officiate K-12 school athletic events in Vermont. It would exclude income earned from officiating these events from personal income tax and create a sales tax exemption for equipment purchased by officials for use in their work. The income exclusion applies retroactively to January 1, 2024, while the sales tax exemption would begin immediately upon passage. These changes aim to support school sports officials by reducing their tax burden on earnings and equipment costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt Social Security income from Vermont state income tax for eligible residents. It directly affects Vermonters who receive Social Security benefits and pay state income tax. The law establishes income thresholds where lower-income taxpayers receive full exemptions, while those with higher incomes receive partial exemptions based on a sliding scale. Single filers qualify for full exemption with federal adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and married couples filing jointly qualify with income of $65,000 or less. The exemption applies retroactively to January 1, 2024, and continues for future taxable years.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution in Vermont of cosmetic and menstrual products containing specific harmful chemicals, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ortho-phthalates, formaldehyde, lead, and asbestos. It also bans textiles and athletic turf fields that contain PFAS, with a provision for future restrictions on any product using PFAS if their use is deemed unavoidable. The law includes a one-year waiver system for manufacturers who cannot immediately eliminate certain chemicals due to technical limitations, and requires the Department of Health to develop a community engagement plan to address outreach to vulnerable populations. Violations of the ban are treated as violations of Vermont's Consumer Protection Act, giving the Attorney General and private parties the authority to pursue civil actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's landfill disposal requirements by adding new restrictions on specific waste materials and establishing stricter rules for facilities receiving waste from municipalities without approved waste management plans. It directly affects landfill operators, waste management facilities, and municipalities by prohibiting the disposal of items such as leaf and yard residuals, wood waste, and food residuals in landfills starting in 2016 and 2020, respectively. The legislation also requires facilities to remove mandated recyclables and hazardous materials from waste streams when receiving material from municipalities lacking approved implementation plans, while allowing for separate storage areas for these materials. Additionally, the bill clarifies certification requirements for solid waste management facilities and includes exemptions for waste collected during nonprofit litter cleanup events.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves the merger of the Village of Lyndonville with the Town of Lyndon in Vermont, creating a single unified municipality. The legislation amends the Town of Lyndon's governing laws to allow the town attorney to review and make technical corrections to proposed ordinances before they are voted on at town meetings, ensuring legal accuracy without changing the ordinance's meaning. It also updates terminology by replacing "ballot boxes" with "polling places" in town meeting procedures and makes minor grammatical adjustments to the Board of Electric Commissioners section. These changes streamline local governance processes and formalize the administrative structure of the newly merged town.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month in Vermont. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Jewish communities in the state. The measure acknowledges the historical contributions of Jewish Americans to Vermont and the nation, noting their early settlement and ongoing cultural significance. It does not change laws or policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of Jewish heritage and history.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Vermont to raise public awareness about mental health challenges. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the state's mental health needs and statistics. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to relevant mental health organizations and officials. While it highlights concerning data about suicide rates and access to care, the bill itself is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution congratulates Sophia R. Boyle Hall, a school nurse at Miller's Run School in Sheffield, Vermont, for receiving the 2022 State and national school nursing awards. The document recognizes her 42 years of service, leadership in the Vermont School Nurses Association, and receipt of the National Board for Certification of School Nurses' 2022 NCSN of the Year Award. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to Sophia Hall and her school, serving as an official acknowledgment of her professional achievements.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that honors Karen Horn of Moretown for her leadership in strengthening local government in Vermont. It recognizes her decades of work with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, where she advised officials on municipal issues and helped secure transportation funding and tax authority for local governments. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions to municipal policy and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to both Horn and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.