Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a moratorium on the study, design, construction, expansion, or renovation of correctional facilities in Vermont until July 1, 2028, while also ending a long-standing suspension of state aid for school construction projects. The corrections provisions prohibit the state from building new prisons, expanding existing ones beyond current capacity, converting facilities for detention purposes, or renovating them to increase bed capacity, with only basic maintenance and code compliance exceptions allowed. Simultaneously, the bill restores state funding for school construction projects starting in fiscal year 2024, allowing the state to accept and review applications that had been blocked since 2007. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and includes findings that link poor school environments to incarceration rates and that harsh prison conditions contribute to recidivism and trauma.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's electric utilities to create and submit a detailed plan by December 2024 that maps out where energy storage facilities and flexible load management projects would provide the most benefit for grid reliability, affordability, community resilience, and sustainability. The plan must include cost-benefit analyses, estimates of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and identification of areas where storage could help keep critical facilities like hospitals online during outages. The Clean Energy Development Board will use this map to guide grant awards for energy storage projects in the identified locations, and the plan will be updated every two years with new data.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.
Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the University of Vermont Board of Trustees by adding two new voting faculty members and clarifying student representation requirements. The legislation expands the board to 27 members total, with two faculty positions elected by the Faculty Senate and two student positions reserved for one undergraduate and one graduate student. These student trustees serve two-year terms and must be full-time students enrolled in degree programs, while faculty members serve four-year terms with full voting rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, with a transition period for initial faculty appointments beginning in August 2023.
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 directs Vermont's Secretary of Education to create a plan for consolidating the state's 54 local school districts into one statewide district, similar to the system used in Hawaii. The proposal would affect all students, school administrators, and taxpayers by centralizing education governance and potentially changing how school budgets and teacher contracts are managed. The Secretary must submit a detailed report with a timeline by January 15, 2024, outlining how the transition would occur by fiscal year 2027, while considering federal legal requirements. The legislation cites Vermont's unusually small average district size and declining student population as reasons for exploring this structural change to improve efficiency and equity.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Vermont's public policy to encourage parents to share rights and responsibilities for raising their children after separation or divorce, unless there is a risk of harm to the child or a parent. It creates a rebuttable presumption that shared parental arrangements serve the child's best interests and requires courts to consider specific factors when making custody decisions, including each parent's ability to foster a positive relationship between the child and the other parent. The legislation also clarifies definitions of legal and physical responsibility, prohibits courts from favoring one parent based on gender or financial resources, and sets an effective date of July 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to decriminalize the possession of a personal supply of regulated drugs in Vermont, changing penalties from criminal charges to a civil offense with a $50 fee. The legislation would establish a Drug Use Standards Advisory Board to set benchmarks for what constitutes a personal use supply and allow individuals with prior possession convictions to have their criminal records sealed if their amounts fall below these benchmarks. It also authorizes pilot drug-checking programs that let individuals test substances for chemical composition and contaminants to reduce overdose risks. The bill aims to shift Vermont's approach from criminal prosecution to public health strategies, redirecting resources toward prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.
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.