Rep. Kate Logan

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont to use ranked-choice voting for all major political party presidential primary elections, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting only one. Under the new system, ballots would be processed in rounds where votes for eliminated candidates are transferred to the voter's next preferred choice until one candidate achieves a majority. The legislation also establishes rules for handling incomplete ballots and gives political parties the option to choose between winner-take-all or proportional delegate allocation methods. If a party does not specify its delegate allocation method, the election would default to a winner-take-all system. This change would directly affect all voters participating in Vermont's presidential primaries and election officials administering those votes.

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 state agencies to install non-fossil-fuel heating and cooling systems when replacing or installing new equipment in buildings they own or control, starting in fiscal year 2025. It directly affects the Department of Buildings and General Services, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Agency of Transportation, mandating the use of alternatives like geothermal heat pumps, electric heat pumps, or wood fuel systems instead of oil, propane, natural gas, or coal. The law includes exemptions for situations where non-fossil-fuel systems are financially impracticable based on life-cycle cost comparisons and allows agencies to keep existing fossil fuel equipment as backup systems. Agencies must also submit annual reports detailing equipment installations, fuel usage, and the reasons for any exemptions granted.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit individuals from knowingly possessing firearms or deadly weapons on school property, including school buildings and buses. It directly affects students, staff, visitors, and anyone else who might enter school grounds. The law allows exceptions for law enforcement officers performing their duties or when school officials specifically authorize weapon possession for instructional purposes. Violations would result in criminal penalties, with first-time offenders facing up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, and repeat offenders facing up to three years in jail or a $5,000 fine. The bill defines school property broadly to include any property owned, leased, controlled, or subcontracted by a school.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary Building Energy Code Study Committee to address low compliance rates with Vermont's residential and commercial building energy standards. The committee will consist of 15 members representing government agencies, industry groups, and municipalities, and will study strategies to improve code enforcement and administration. Key recommendations may include designating the Division of Fire Safety as the statewide authority for energy code enforcement and developing funding mechanisms such as incentives and federal grants. The committee must submit its final report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2023, and will be funded with $125,000 for consultant services and member compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College to cap student enrollment at the level recorded on July 1, 2023, until Burlington's rental vacancy rate reaches five percent. It also mandates that the university guarantee each on-campus student at least 93 square feet of living space in all residential buildings, including new construction and repurposed spaces. The university must prioritize current students with insufficient space for relocation before offering compliant housing to new students, while reserving non-compliant two-person spaces for those with documented medical accommodation needs. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase pay and expand benefits for Vermont state legislators by making them eligible for the state employees' health insurance plan at no cost to themselves. It would establish an annual salary equal to half the statewide average wage, with higher amounts for the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore, and include reimbursements for child care, dependent care, and overnight parking for those with mobility limitations. The legislation also provides per diem compensation and expense reimbursement for legislators-elect attending pre-session training and meetings, while updating rules for out-of-state committee business to include mileage, lodging, and meal reimbursement. These changes would be implemented through amendments to existing state statutes governing legislative compensation and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for recovery residences in Vermont, which are shared living spaces designed to support individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It requires these residences to be certified by recognized organizations and mandates written rental agreements that outline policies, consequences for noncompliance, and alternative housing options for temporary removals. The legislation also directs municipalities to treat recovery residences as single-family homes for zoning purposes and requires the Department of Corrections to report on furloughed individuals residing in such facilities. Additionally, the bill creates a Recovery Stabilization Study Committee to further examine recovery housing needs and the bill aims to reduce homelessness and overdose deaths by expanding access to these supportive living environments.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Thermal Energy Network Act, would bring thermal energy networks under the regulatory authority of Vermont's Public Utility Commission. It directly affects companies and organizations that build or operate systems that distribute heat from noncombustion sources like geothermal energy to buildings for heating, cooling, and hot water. The legislation requires a certificate of public good from the commission before anyone can construct such networks, and it grants these networks the same rights as electric and gas utilities to place infrastructure on private or public land. The commission must also create rules to simplify permitting, prioritize serving low and moderate income customers, and allow small networks serving fewer than 50 people to receive approval within 31 days.