Rep. Barbara Rachelson

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Vermont public schools, independent schools, career and technical centers, and prequalified private prekindergarten programs to ban student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the entire school day, from arrival to dismissal. It also prohibits schools from using social media to communicate with students directly. Exceptions are permitted for students with documented medical needs (requiring physician documentation) or for those using devices as part of an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy aims to reduce distractions and support student well-being, aligning with findings about youth mental health and social media use.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit individuals from knowingly carrying firearms on premises licensed to serve alcohol in Vermont, such as bars and restaurants. Business owners would be required to post clear notices about the ban at all public entrances. Violating the possession rule could result in fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail, while failing to post notices would incur a $500 fine. Exceptions include law enforcement officers on duty, National Guard members, and venue owners who legally possess firearms. The bill is currently pending referral to the Judiciary Committee after its first reading.

Maddy summaryH 38 adds six full-time and two part-time staff positions to Vermont's Human Rights Commission, including Communications Coordinators, Intake Specialists, Staff Attorney Investigators, a Paralegal, and part-time Mediators/Social Workers. The bill allocates $794,616 in fiscal year 2026 for salaries and benefits, plus $25,000 for outreach, $18,000 for operations, and $50,000 for office space. These new roles aim to expand the Commission's capacity to handle discrimination complaints and provide support services. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting the Commission's operations and the residents it serves.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to partner with local opioid treatment programs to provide medication for opioid use disorder (like buprenorphine or methadone) in correctional facilities. It ensures inmates with opioid use disorder can continue their prescribed medication upon admission and receive at least a 28-day supply upon release to maintain treatment continuity. The law updates existing medical care standards to mandate these partnerships through memorandums of understanding with community treatment providers. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Vermont facilities who require opioid use disorder treatment, aligning their care with community-based treatment systems. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve access to evidence-based treatment during incarceration and transition to community care.

Maddy summaryH 25 amends Vermont law to replace fixed fees for the Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program with an income-based fee structure. It requires the Department of Health to set fees based on an individual’s gross income relative to the federal poverty level: people earning 175% or less of the federal poverty level pay no fees, while those earning up to 575% qualify for discounted fees. Participants must disclose income confidentially for fee assessment, and collected fees will fund the program’s operations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with implementing rules due by January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits confining egg-laying hens in spaces that prevent them from fully spreading both wings without touching enclosure sides or other hens. It requires egg producers to provide floor space per hen that meets the 2017 United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines for cage-free production. The law directly affects Vermont egg producers who house hens in confined systems, with exemptions for medical research, veterinary care, agricultural fairs, and humane slaughter. Violations may result in enforcement actions by the Secretary of Agriculture, including written warnings, corrective orders, or civil penalties.

Maddy summaryH.18 would reclassify third-time nonmoving license violations (such as parking tickets) as civil offenses instead of criminal ones for drivers with suspended licenses. Specifically, it changes penalties for individuals who operate a vehicle with a suspended license after their third nonmoving violation within a two-year period, shifting from potential jail time or large fines to civil penalties like fines and community service. This applies only to nonmoving violations (not moving traffic offenses like speeding), affecting repeat offenders who commit nonmoving violations after multiple license suspensions. The bill, if passed, would take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for overdose prevention centers in Vermont, allowing supervised spaces where individuals can consume pre-obtained drugs under the care of trained staff. The centers would provide harm reduction services such as sterile needle distribution, drug checking, overdose reversal medication, first aid, and referrals to addiction treatment. The legislation grants immunity from arrest, prosecution, and civil liability to participants, staff, and property owners for activities related to drug use within these centers, though immunity does not extend to driving violations or unrelated civil claims. A pilot program is funded with $1.1 million in 2025 to support the City of Burlington in opening a center, with ongoing funding intended through 2028. The Department of Health must develop operating guidelines by September 2024 and conduct a study on the program's impact by December 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's restorative justice program by authorizing the Attorney General to create a state-funded diversion project for juveniles charged with criminal offenses or delinquent acts. It allows law enforcement and prosecutors to refer youth to community-based restorative justice providers before formal charges are filed, and permits prosecutors to refer those charged with certain misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies after charges are filed. The Attorney General will fund these programs through grants or contracts with local municipalities and organizations, with the ability to require local financial contributions. The bill requires annual reporting on program outcomes, including data on referrals, demographics, offense types, and completion rates, while establishing policies to ensure victims are informed and can participate in the restorative process.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the 2024 Burlington-Colchester Division I championship SeaLakers girls' ice hockey team for winning their state title. The document formally recognizes the team's victory over BFA-St. Albans Comets and lists the players and coaches who contributed to the win. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Burlington and Colchester High Schools for record-keeping purposes. The bill does not create new laws or policy changes but serves as an official acknowledgment of the team's athletic achievement.