Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the Governor's Institutes of Vermont on their 40th anniversary. It does not create new laws or change any policies but serves to formally recognize the organization's long history of providing educational opportunities for young Vermonters. The resolution acknowledges the institute's mission of offering diverse learning programs in areas like arts, science, and technology to students across the state. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the institute's executive director as a formal record of the legislature's appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts and agencies from denying or restricting parental, prospective parental, foster parent, or guardian rights solely because a person has a disability. It requires that any such restrictions be based only on what is in the best interests of the child, not on the parent's disability status. The law directly affects parents with disabilities who may face barriers in maintaining custody or guardianship of their children. By establishing this standard, the bill aims to prevent discrimination while still allowing decisions that prioritize child welfare.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves amendments to the City of Burlington's charter that authorize the City Council to create an ordinance preventing landlords from eviding tenants without "just cause." The just cause provisions include nonpayment of rent, material breach of the rental agreement, violation of state tenant laws, and failure to accept reasonable renewal terms, while excluding rental agreement expiration as a sole reason for termination. The bill also exempts owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes, properties being withdrawn from the rental market, and buildings needing substantial renovations, and requires landlords to provide adequate notice and reasonable relocation expenses to affected tenants.

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 creates a single statewide bargaining unit for adjunct faculty at Vermont State Colleges, excluding Vermont Technical College. It allows these part-time instructors to collectively negotiate employment terms and conditions through a unified group. The change applies to adjuncts who sign an employment agreement or begin teaching their first class, whichever happens first. This measure directly affects adjunct faculty members by organizing them into a formal labor relations structure. The legislation does not change existing employment contracts but establishes a framework for future collective bargaining.

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 clarifies that adjunct faculty members at post-secondary institutions in Vermont may qualify for unemployment insurance benefits between academic terms under specific conditions. It establishes that these educators are considered to lack reasonable assurance of future employment if the school controls whether their contract renewal conditions are met, if it is unlikely a job will be available next term, or if their position depends on events unlikely to occur. The legislation directly affects contingent faculty who experience gaps in employment between semesters or academic years. By defining these eligibility criteria, the bill aims to provide clearer access to unemployment benefits for non-tenure-track instructors during periods without guaranteed work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires students graduating from Vermont public high schools to demonstrate civics knowledge as a condition of receiving a diploma. The law offers two pathways: passing the standard U.S. citizenship civics test with a minimum score of 60 percent, or completing one semester of community service with a local government organization under a mentor's supervision. The requirement applies to all public high school and career technical center students, though students with individualized education programs may participate at the discretion of their IEP team. The measure would take effect for students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year or later.