Rep. Barbara Rachelson

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces overdose risks in Vermont by expanding access to buprenorphine treatment, legalizing drug-checking services, and creating a dedicated funding stream for opioid prevention. It allows healthcare providers to prescribe up to 24 milligrams of buprenorphine without prior authorization, permits community organizations to test substances for contaminants without fear of legal penalties, and establishes an Opioid Abatement Special Fund to finance naloxone distribution and treatment programs. The legislation also clarifies that drug-checking results cannot be used as evidence in court and ensures that individuals seeking these services face no arrest or prosecution for possession of the substances being tested.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves a charter amendment for the City of Burlington that implements ranked choice voting for local elections. It directly affects voters in Burlington who will now be able to rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting only one. The key provision requires candidates to receive at least 40 percent of the vote to win, with lower-preference votes transferred to remaining candidates if no one reaches that threshold. Once enacted, this system eliminates the need for separate runoff elections for Mayor, City Councilors, school commissioners, and ward election officers. The change takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally approves a charter amendment for the City of Burlington that was previously voted on by residents in March 2023. The amendment establishes rules for where Burlington voters can cast early or absentee ballots and determines how polling places are located within the city's wards. Specifically, it requires the City Council to decide on the number and location of polling places in consultation with election officials, ensuring each ward has a polling place unless a more accessible facility exists nearby. The law also mandates that multiple polling places in the same building must be kept separate from one another.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves amendments to the City of Burlington's charter that establish new election boundaries for the city's four electoral districts. The changes, which were previously voted on by Burlington voters in March 2023, update the legal map used to divide the city into districts for the 2024 annual meeting and all future elections. The bill incorporates specific geographic descriptions and street boundaries to define the East and Central districts, with similar detailed provisions for the remaining two districts. Once signed into law, these boundary changes will guide how the city is organized for voting purposes in upcoming elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines and protects certain health care activities related to reproductive health and gender-affirming care from civil and criminal liability. It establishes that licensed health care providers in Vermont can legally offer these services to patients regardless of where the patient is located, as long as the services are permitted under Vermont law. The law also protects insurance coverage for these services and prohibits conversion therapy from being classified as gender-affirming care. The protections apply to the provision, prescription, distribution, and use of FDA-approved medications for pregnancy termination as of January 1, 2023. The bill became effective immediately upon passage and was signed into law by the Governor in May 2023.

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.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution expresses support for Abenaki communities in Vermont and encourages greater appreciation of Abenaki culture during Abenaki Recognition and Heritage Week and throughout the year. The bill directly affects the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and the four state-recognized Abenaki tribes and bands by directing the House Clerk to send copies of the resolution to these entities. The resolution acknowledges past injustices, including state-sanctioned eugenics and sterilizations, and recognizes existing legislative efforts such as free hunting and fishing licenses for certified Native Americans and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It serves as a formal statement of support rather than creating new policy requirements or funding allocations.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution congratulates Mikaela Shiffrin on her historic 2022-2023 World Cup Alpine ski racing achievements, including becoming the winningest female Alpine racer of all time with 88 victories and setting a new all-time World Cup record with 87 event wins. The resolution recognizes her accomplishments, which include winning races in all six World Cup Alpine disciplines and accumulating 138 career podiums. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Shiffrin and U.S. Ski & Snowboard as a formal acknowledgment of her record-setting performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal Victims Assistance and Victim Advocate Program within Vermont's Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs to provide support services to victims of crime. The program requires victim advocates to offer information about legal rights, timely notifications of court proceedings, and practical assistance including counseling, financial guidance, restitution help, protection services, property recovery, and transportation to court. State's Attorneys are authorized to hire victim advocates who will deliver these services according to established job descriptions, while victims retain the right to decline any assistance. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, creating a structured framework for victim support throughout the criminal justice process.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2023 as Donate Life Awareness Month in Vermont to raise public awareness about organ and tissue donation. It directly affects Vermont residents by encouraging them to register as organ donors through the Department of Motor Vehicles. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to relevant health and motor vehicle officials and Donate Life Vermont to coordinate awareness activities. The bill highlights the national need for organ donors, noting that many people wait for transplants while others die daily, and celebrates Vermont's high rate of donor registration.