Rep. Brian Cina

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's health insurance requirements to expand colorectal cancer screening coverage and increase funding for primary care services. It mandates that health insurers cover colorectal cancer screenings for individuals aged 50 and older in accordance with national guidelines, while also allowing for high-risk screenings as recommended by physicians. The legislation requires major health insurers, the state employee health plan, and certain educational benefit plans to increase their allocation of total health spending to primary care by at least one percentage point annually until reaching a minimum of 12 percent. Additionally, the bill establishes reporting requirements for insurers to track primary care spending and directs state officials to recommend payment increases for Patient Centered Medical Homes to support comprehensive primary care delivery.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Vermont Pension Investment Commission to review and divest state pension funds from investments in the fossil fuel industry. It directly affects the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System, the State Teachers' Retirement System, and the Municipal Employees' Retirement System. The Commission must complete an initial review by August 2023, submit a divestment plan by November 2023, and finish divesting fossil fuel holdings by December 2030, with annual progress reports required until 2031. The legislation defines fossil fuel companies based on reserves, coal plant ownership, core business activities, and revenue sources, while prohibiting new fossil fuel investments after July 2031. The bill also appropriates $100,000 in FY 2024 to support the planning and reporting process.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand health insurance eligibility in Vermont to include all income-eligible adults over 18 who are currently excluded from Medicaid and health exchange subsidies due to their immigration status. It requires the state to provide hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage for these individuals that matches the benefits available under the existing Medicaid program. The law also mandates that the state protect applicants' confidentiality and prohibits sharing their information with the federal government. Coverage would begin on July 1, 2024, and applies to Vermont residents who meet income requirements but are ineligible for current public health programs because of immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes transferring certain responsibilities from Vermont's State Board of Education to the Secretary of Education. The key changes would shift rule-making authority over educational quality standards, special education funding, and school accountability systems to the Secretary, while the Board would retain duties like establishing strategic vision and reviewing appeals. The legislation also modifies how the Board and Secretary collaborate on developing student performance standards and reporting on educational conditions across the state. These adjustments aim to reorganize how educational policy is developed and implemented within Vermont's education system.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts trapping of fur-bearing animals in Vermont to specific situations, allowing it only for property defense, agricultural crop protection, or by licensed nuisance wildlife control operators. It establishes a new nuisance wildlife trapping license and requires property owners to notify neighbors before setting traps on their land. The law also mandates that traps be checked every 24 hours, requires reporting of trapped animals within 12 hours, and limits pelt possession to personal noncommercial use when taken for property protection. Additionally, the bill requires trapping education certification for new license holders and gives the Department of Fish and Wildlife authority to inspect pelts and investigate trapping reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to gradually implement Green Mountain Care, a publicly financed health care program for all Vermont residents, over a ten-year period. It would begin with primary care coverage in the first year, add preventive dental and vision care in the second year, and expand to additional services in subsequent years based on recommendations from an advisory group. The legislation requires the Green Mountain Care Board to analyze and report on financing sustainability, economic impact, and cost containment measures before full implementation. It also seeks a federal waiver to adjust health insurance benefits and funding to avoid duplication with Green Mountain Care coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill would limit how much landlords in Vermont can raise rent each year and restrict the maximum amount of security deposits they can charge. Rent increases would be capped at the average of the Consumer Price Index over the previous 12 months or six percent, whichever is lower, unless landlords can prove higher costs for repairs or other urgent needs. Security deposits would be limited to one month's rent and could be applied as the final month's rent if the tenant leaves the property in good condition. These changes would directly affect residential tenants and property owners across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum age for juvenile delinquency proceedings from 10 to 12 years old, with exceptions for murder cases involving children under 10. It also establishes new restrictions on how children in secure facilities can be disciplined, banning solitary confinement and corporal punishment except in limited emergency situations where staff must check on the child every 15 minutes and release them within three hours. Additionally, the law requires courts to consider early childhood trauma and adverse experiences as mitigating factors when sentencing individuals under 18, allowing judges to deviate from mandatory minimum sentences. These changes directly affect how Vermont handles juvenile offenders and the conditions of their confinement.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases fines and adds more points to driving records for drivers who use portable electronic devices, such as phones, while operating a moving vehicle. It directly affects all drivers in Vermont who are caught texting or using handheld devices while driving. The law raises the minimum fine for a first violation from $25 to $100 and increases the maximum fine from $200 to $250, while also raising fines for repeat offenses and adding more points to driving records. Drivers who violate these rules in school zones or work zones face even higher penalties, including additional fines and more points on their license. The bill also clarifies that drivers who cause an accident due to texting will face a minimum $500 fine and 10 points on their driving record.