Rep. Troy Headrick

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to raise Vermont's minimum wage to $19.45 per hour starting July 1, 2023, and removes several exemptions that currently allow certain workers, such as taxi drivers and outside salespeople, to be paid less than the standard minimum wage. It also establishes a grant program for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees to offset payroll costs resulting from the wage increase, requiring applicants to demonstrate that their business revenue would decline due to the higher wages. Additionally, the legislation directs the Joint Fiscal Office to conduct a study comparing Vermont's wage policies to those of countries with high minimum wages and high standards of living, with the goal of identifying successful practices that could be adopted in the state.

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'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.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove Vermont's current laws that criminalize consensual adult sex work while keeping strict criminal penalties for human trafficking. It directly affects adults who engage in sex work for hire by decriminalizing their voluntary participation, but it continues to prohibit recruiting, transporting, or forcing anyone into sex work through force, fraud, or coercion. The key provision repeals the section of the state code that defines prostitution to include consensual sexual acts for hire, while maintaining detailed definitions and severe penalties for trafficking offenses. The bill also clarifies what constitutes coercion, including threats of harm, withholding documents, or controlling finances, and sets specific prison terms for different trafficking-related crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Governor to review every federal order deploying the National Guard into armed hostilities to verify it has proper Congressional authorization for war or military force. If the Governor finds the order lacks such authorization, the bill empowers the Governor to block the deployment and mandates legal action by the Attorney General to prevent it. The legislation also establishes a policy that Vermont National Guard members should only serve in military conflicts with specific Congressional approval and requires the Governor to report review findings to state legislative committees within 30 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in Vermont to offer the same Medicare supplemental insurance policies to people eligible for Medicare due to end-stage renal disease as they offer to those eligible by age or disability. The law mandates that insurers use community rating methods without medical underwriting or screening for these plans, ensuring equal access regardless of health status. It also establishes a six-month initial enrollment period for affected individuals and requires the state to collaborate with advocates to educate the public about Medicare supplemental insurance options. The changes take effect on January 1, 2024, and apply to all plans issued or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to eliminate Vermont's state laws against disorderly conduct and aggravated disorderly conduct, which currently allow for criminal charges against individuals who create public inconvenience, make unreasonable noise, use abusive language, or obstruct traffic. The legislation would directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and citizens who might otherwise face arrest or fines under these statutes. By repealing sections 1026 and 1026a of the Vermont Statutes, the bill removes the legal basis for charging people with these offenses, regardless of whether they engage in fighting, threatening behavior, or other disruptive actions in public spaces. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would prevent future convictions and penalties that currently carry up to 180 days of imprisonment or fines of up to $2,000 for aggravated cases.

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 would remove criminal penalties for possessing, dispensing, or selling psilocybin in Vermont and create a Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group to study the potential for regulated therapeutic use. The legislation cites research suggesting psilocybin may help treat mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders, and it amends state law to exclude psilocybin from the definition of hallucinogenic drugs. The newly formed working group would include legislators, medical professionals, researchers, and community members to review evidence, examine programs in other states, and recommend whether Vermont should establish a regulated system for healthcare providers to administer psychedelics therapeutically. The group must submit its findings and recommendations by November 15, 2024, to relevant legislative committees.