Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide registry for short-term rental properties in Vermont, requiring owners to register their units annually with the Department of Housing and Community Development. Property owners must pay a $135 annual fee per unit, though this fee is waived if they have already registered with a local municipality that maintains a comparable system. The registry will collect specific information about each property, including owner contact details, location, building characteristics, and accessibility features, while protecting the data from being used for marketing purposes. Local governments that already run rental housing registration programs will share their data with the state registry, and the bill authorizes the hiring of staff to manage the program starting in 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an Eviction Diversion Program within the Vermont State Housing Authority to help prevent evictions for nonpayment of rent. The program would provide up to $1,600,000 in funding and hire a coordinator to screen eligible tenants and landlords, connect them with financial assistance, and facilitate mediation to resolve disputes. Tenants qualify if they owe three months or less in rent, have income at or below 100% of the area median, and meet specific hardship criteria such as medical emergencies or job loss. If eligible parties agree to participate, the bill suspends legal eviction timelines while they work toward a resolution, and upon successful mediation, funds up to $3,000 can be paid directly to landlords on behalf of tenants. Additionally, the bill requires courts to seal tenant privacy records in eviction cases until a final eviction order is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Vermont schools and educational programs that receive state funding from using unlawful physical restraints, seclusion, mechanical restraints, or chemical restraints on students. It defines specific types of restraints and seclusion that are banned, while allowing certain voluntary physical contacts like escorts and prompts that do not restrict movement. Covered entities must report and document any incidents involving restraint or seclusion, notify parents within 24 hours, and hold meetings within five school days to discuss prevention strategies and potential behavioral support plans. The Agency of Education is tasked with creating a performance review system to monitor compliance and provide technical assistance to schools for implementing evidence-based programs that reduce the need for restraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of the Housing Advocate within the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development to assist landlords, tenants, and homeowners with housing-related questions and concerns. The office would be run by a nonprofit organization under contract and led by a Chief Housing Advocate who can provide information, referrals, and help with complaints or appeals related to housing services. Key provisions include educating residents on their rights, investigating housing problems, monitoring housing laws, and ensuring confidential handling of complaints while preventing conflicts of interest among staff. The office must submit annual reports to state legislators and other agencies, and all state agencies are required to cooperate with its reasonable requests for information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to cover all costs for public schools that need remediation, mitigation, reconstruction, or new construction due to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination. It applies to public schools tested by the Agency of Natural Resources after 2015 that show PCB levels exceeding the state's action threshold. The legislation defines "public school" according to existing state law and ensures eligible schools receive funding or reimbursement for necessary cleanup and rebuilding expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create a model curriculum that teaches students about hate speech, hateful imagery, and discrimination, along with training for school staff on these topics. It also mandates that all school districts adopt a racial equity policy that meets or exceeds the state's model policy, with districts that fail to do so automatically being considered to have adopted the model policy. The legislation directs the Agency to develop these resources by July 1, 2024, while working with community stakeholders and advisory groups. The bill affects elementary and secondary schools across Vermont by establishing new requirements for curriculum development, staff training, and district-level policy adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement officers to detain a driver for a primary violation before issuing a ticket for specific secondary motor vehicle violations. The changes directly affect drivers in Vermont who may be stopped for issues like expired registration, driving without a license, or broken taillights. Under the new rules, officers must have a valid reason to stop a vehicle first, such as a safety concern or another suspected offense, before addressing these secondary violations. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to ten specific categories of violations listed in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick time for reproductive health care appointments and protects their privacy by prohibiting employers from requiring specific medical details about the nature of the treatment. It also establishes a state fund to provide grants to organizations that offer practical support, such as covering travel, housing, and childcare costs, to individuals seeking abortion services. The legislation strengthens existing protections against employer retaliation and clarifies that employees do not need to find replacements for absences related to medical care. Additionally, it updates the legal framework to ensure employees can access reproductive health services without facing economic hardship or privacy violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Medicaid program to provide coverage for one breast pump per child born to Medicaid beneficiaries. It allows pregnant Medicaid recipients to order and receive a breast pump before the baby is born, but only after reaching 27 weeks of pregnancy. The legislation directs the Agency of Human Services to seek necessary federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this coverage change. If federal approval is not needed, the coverage provisions would take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Education to form a working group to study whether licensed athletic trainers should be required at all secondary school athletic events and practices. The proposed group would include representatives from various education organizations and explore cost-effective ways to share athletic trainers between school districts. The legislation does not mandate immediate changes but instead establishes a study process to evaluate the need and resources for this requirement.