Rep. Greg Burtt

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new conservation targets for Vermont: requiring 30% of the state's land to be conserved by 2030 and 50% by 2050, including public, private, and federal lands. It replaces previous conservation goals with these specific targets and mandates biennial updates to a public land conservation inventory. Key mechanisms include requiring resource mapping of forest blocks and habitat connectors to guide development decisions, and updating rules to minimize forest fragmentation while supporting agricultural and historic land uses. The bill directly affects landowners, developers, and conservation groups by changing how land use permits are reviewed and how conservation progress is tracked. These changes aim to align development with ecological goals under Vermont's Act 250 land use framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont inpatient health care facilities to allow patients to continue taking all medically necessary medications prescribed for rare diseases - even if the facility doesn’t normally stock those drugs. It directly affects hospitals and patients receiving treatment for rare conditions who enter facilities while on specific medication regimens. The key provision mandates that facilities must accommodate these medications to prevent treatment disruptions during hospital stays. This ensures continuity of care without requiring facilities to maintain stock of every rare disease medication. The bill aims to address documented shortages of rare disease drugs in hospitals.

Maddy summaryH 711 would exempt sales of gold or silver bullion and coins purchased for investment from Vermont's sales and use tax, effective July 1, 2026. The bill specifically covers refined gold/silver bullion and coins (like bars or minted coins) used as investment, excluding jewelry, art, or industrial metals. It amends Vermont law to clarify that this exemption promotes investment in precious metals and defines "precious metal bullion or coins" as items valued primarily by their metal content. This change directly affects individuals and investors buying investment-grade gold or silver.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual tax on solar power generation capacity in Vermont from $4 to $16 per kilowatt and redirects half of the new revenue to a newly created Farm Security Special Fund. The fund will provide grants covering up to 50% of uninsured financial losses for farms affected by defined weather events like floods, droughts, or extreme heat. It directly affects solar energy businesses (above 50kW capacity) and Vermont farms experiencing weather-related income loss. The fund will be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, with grants awarded after consultation with a Farm Security Review Board.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H.698) revises Vermont's 2025 education funding and policy framework. It removes provisions requiring schools to maintain minimum class sizes, eliminates a rule allowing receiving districts to charge sending districts extra fees for high school students, and reverts unused funds from a school district voting group back to the state General Fund. The bill also updates the state's education funding formula to add a "secondary student weight" for high school students and removes recent changes to property tax classifications affecting schools. These changes directly impact school districts, state education funding calculations, and the administration of public school tuition payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Vermont public schools, colleges, independent schools, and other educational programs from requiring students, staff, or visitors to wear face masks to prevent illness spread. It creates a legal right for individuals harmed by such mandates to sue for damages, including attorney fees. The law also requires the Governor’s emergency health orders to comply with this mask ban. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and Department of Financial Regulation to find ways to keep animal-derived thyroid medications - like desiccated thyroid extract - available to patients who need them. It directs these agencies to implement feasible solutions without new laws and consult with healthcare providers, insurers, and patients with thyroid conditions. The OPR must report by January 2027 with findings, implemented options, and any needed legislative changes. The bill specifically aims to maintain access for patients for whom these medications are more effective or better tolerated than synthetic alternatives. It does not create new coverage requirements but mandates agency action to preserve current access pathways.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits exposing pubic areas, genitals, or buttocks in public places where others can see, with penalties of up to six months in jail or a $500 fine. It directly affects anyone in public spaces, including private property visible to public areas like sidewalks. Key provisions include exceptions for designated changing areas and granting local municipalities authority to create ordinances or issue permits for designated nude areas or events. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers and lessors to make it significantly easier for consumers to cancel automatic renewal contracts, particularly those sold online. It mandates clear "opt-in" consent (not automatic opt-out), 30-60 day advance notices before renewal, and simple cancellation methods (like online tools matching how the contract was signed). It applies to contracts with an initial term of one month or longer, directly affecting consumers who use subscription services and the businesses offering them. The law aims to prevent surprise renewals by ensuring cancellation is as straightforward as signing up.

Maddy summaryH.675 prohibits adding fluoride to drinking water in public water systems and bans municipalities from requiring or allowing fluoridation in systems they operate. It also prevents schools from providing fluoride supplements or medicine to students. The bill directly affects public water systems (serving 15+ connections or 25+ people yearly), municipal governments, and schools. Key provisions include banning fluoride addition to public water supplies and prohibiting school-based fluoride administration, effective upon passage.