Rep. Kate Logan

Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to admit Washington, DC, as a state in the Union. The measure addresses the District's lack of full voting representation in Congress, noting that while DC residents pay federal taxes and can vote in presidential elections, they currently have no voting members in the House or Senate. The resolution supports granting DC statehood to resolve this representation issue and calls for sending the document to federal officials and committees. It does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal expression of support for statehood legislation already introduced in Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the use, sale, and application of the pesticide chlorpyrifos and the herbicides glyphosate and atrazine in Vermont. It directly affects farmers, agricultural businesses, and anyone involved in applying these chemicals by prohibiting their use across the state. The legislation removes these specific substances from the list of allowed agricultural products without requiring additional permits or exemptions. By eliminating these chemicals, the bill aims to improve water quality and reduce potential environmental exposure. The measure does not address alternative pest control methods or provide funding for transition assistance to affected industries.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows voters in Vermont to use electronic signatures on petitions for local ballot measures, provided the signatures meet state electronic transaction standards. It directly affects residents participating in local elections by modernizing how they can gather support for ballot initiatives. The law adds a new section to the state election code permitting electronic signatures and requires petitions to include printed names, signatures, and addresses of supporters. Changes to warning notices on petitions remain, but the core update focuses on accepting digital signatures for local election petitions starting July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require landlords in Vermont to notify tenants before selling a residential rental building, giving tenants the opportunity to purchase the property themselves. The law establishes a 45-day period after notice for tenants to decide if they want to buy the building, during which the landlord cannot accept a final sale offer. If a majority of tenants express interest, the landlord must negotiate in good faith and cannot sell to another buyer for an additional 120 days, and must accept an offer from tenants if it matches the property's appraised value or third-party offers. The bill applies to most residential building sales but excludes foreclosures, family transfers, and certain other exceptions, and it includes penalties for landlords who fail to follow the required procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a moratorium on the study, design, construction, expansion, or renovation of correctional facilities in Vermont until July 1, 2028, while also ending a long-standing suspension of state aid for school construction projects. The corrections provisions prohibit the state from building new prisons, expanding existing ones beyond current capacity, converting facilities for detention purposes, or renovating them to increase bed capacity, with only basic maintenance and code compliance exceptions allowed. Simultaneously, the bill restores state funding for school construction projects starting in fiscal year 2024, allowing the state to accept and review applications that had been blocked since 2007. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and includes findings that link poor school environments to incarceration rates and that harsh prison conditions contribute to recidivism and trauma.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the University of Vermont Board of Trustees by adding two new voting faculty members and clarifying student representation requirements. The legislation expands the board to 27 members total, with two faculty positions elected by the Faculty Senate and two student positions reserved for one undergraduate and one graduate student. These student trustees serve two-year terms and must be full-time students enrolled in degree programs, while faculty members serve four-year terms with full voting rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, with a transition period for initial faculty appointments beginning in August 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to a regenerative economy by 2026, which aims to repair and restore natural and human resources rather than simply reducing harm. The legislation mandates that the state be divided into 11 regions, each forming a People's Assembly to create local plans through broad public engagement involving community members, businesses, and organizations. These regional plans must address specific goals including regenerative agriculture, food justice, waste reduction, renewable energy, and racial equity while guiding state investments and policy decisions. The bill establishes a long-term target of achieving 90 percent of a regenerative economy by December 31, 2046, and requires all state funding streams to align with the resulting roadmap.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Education to create a plan for consolidating the state's 54 local school districts into one statewide district, similar to the system used in Hawaii. The proposal would affect all students, school administrators, and taxpayers by centralizing education governance and potentially changing how school budgets and teacher contracts are managed. The Secretary must submit a detailed report with a timeline by January 15, 2024, outlining how the transition would occur by fiscal year 2027, while considering federal legal requirements. The legislation cites Vermont's unusually small average district size and declining student population as reasons for exploring this structural change to improve efficiency and equity.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to update drinking water standards for specific chemicals known as PFAS. It requires setting a maximum contaminant level of zero parts per trillion for six named PFAS compounds and a combined limit of 20 parts per trillion for all other testable PFAS. The Department of Environmental Conservation must finalize these rules by July 1, 2024, affecting water treatment facilities and public water systems in the state. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, giving agencies time to develop the necessary regulatory framework.