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.
Sponsored bills
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.
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 requires law enforcement officers to detain a driver for a primary violation before issuing a ticket for specific secondary motor vehicle violations. The changes directly affect drivers in Vermont who may be stopped for issues like expired registration, driving without a license, or broken taillights. Under the new rules, officers must have a valid reason to stop a vehicle first, such as a safety concern or another suspected offense, before addressing these secondary violations. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to ten specific categories of violations listed in the bill text.
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's Medicaid program to provide coverage for one breast pump per child born to Medicaid beneficiaries. It allows pregnant Medicaid recipients to order and receive a breast pump before the baby is born, but only after reaching 27 weeks of pregnancy. The legislation directs the Agency of Human Services to seek necessary federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this coverage change. If federal approval is not needed, the coverage provisions would take effect on July 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits settlement agreements in employment discrimination cases from preventing an employee from continuing to work for their employer or any affiliated company. It makes any clause in such agreements that restricts an employee's ability to work void and unenforceable, ensuring that resolving a discrimination claim does not result in the employee being barred from their job. The law applies to agreements entered into after June 30, 2023, while leaving earlier settlements unaffected. Employers and employees affected by discrimination claims will need to ensure settlement terms do not include restrictions on future employment.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Vermont state laws to lower the threshold for what constitutes unlawful harassment in employment, schools, and public accommodations. It directly affects employers, employees, educational institutions, and businesses by changing how harassment cases are evaluated. The key provision removes the requirement that harassment must be "severe or pervasive" to be illegal, allowing a single incident to potentially qualify as unlawful if it creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Additionally, the bill clarifies that harassment can be determined based on the totality of circumstances rather than isolated incidents, and it protects individuals even if they participated in or continued working despite the conduct.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes funding for a new full-time litigator position within Vermont's Human Rights Commission. It allocates $120,000 from the state's General Fund in fiscal year 2024 to cover the salary and benefits for this role. The legislation aims to strengthen the commission's capacity to handle legal cases related to human rights violations. The funding takes effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impacts the commission's operational resources and staffing levels.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow unionized state employees in Vermont's Executive Branch and Judiciary to go on strike, changing current rules that prohibit such actions. The legislation removes existing prohibitions on striking and picketing found in state statutes, permitting these employees to exercise their right to strike during labor disputes. The changes would apply to those covered by collective bargaining agreements and would take effect on July 1, 2023.