Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Resilient Communities Fund to provide financial assistance to Vermont municipalities for planning and responding to floods, fires, environmental hazards, and other disasters, with priority given to projects that match federal grants and serve vulnerable communities. It requires the Division of Vermont Emergency Management to identify specific areas needing additional funding based on past disasters, current risks, and local capacity, and mandates a study to improve coordination between state and local disaster response efforts. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of Natural Resources to create rules for development permits in flood hazard areas and authorizes the creation of a State Urban Search and Rescue Team for rapid emergency response.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to allow tiny houses as permitted uses in zoning regulations. It specifies that one tiny house can be placed on a lot of one acre or more, while two tiny houses are permitted on lots of two acres or more. The legislation also includes a provision that tiny houses do not need wastewater capacity if they are occupied by family members of someone living in an existing single-family home on the same lot. This change directly affects local zoning authorities and homeowners considering tiny house construction or placement.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Emergency Management agency to create and maintain a list of operational self-storage facilities during a state of emergency. The legislation mandates that storage facilities provide their name, address, contact information, and current unit availability to the state, which will then share this data through Vermont 211 or another approved agency. Facilities must update their availability information at least once every 24 hours while an emergency is in effect. Additionally, the bill prohibits storage facilities from charging unconscionably high prices during emergencies, defining such prices as those that show a gross disparity compared to normal rates charged before the emergency declaration. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill would require retail businesses in Vermont to accept cash as a payment method for goods and services. It directly affects sellers and lessors who currently refuse cash transactions, prohibiting them from doing so under this new rule. The law classifies cash refusal as an unfair business practice and would take effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Vermont to cover diagnostic tests used for screening purposes using the same terms as they cover screening tests for the same condition. It applies to all health insurance plans and ensures that cost-sharing requirements like copayments and deductibles are identical for diagnostic and screening tests. The legislation aims to eliminate disparities in coverage between diagnostic and screening tests for the same disease or illness.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities in Vermont to post speed limits below 25 miles per hour in State-designated centers, which are specific downtown development districts. The change permits local legislative bodies to set lower speed limits in these areas without requiring a formal engineering and traffic investigation, provided they consider neighborhood character, land use, and pedestrian activity. The law applies specifically to designated centers under 24 V.S.A. chapter 76A and would take effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution allows members of joint committees to vote remotely during a specific period in early 2024. It permits remote voting for up to three days if a member tests positive for COVID-19 and needs to isolate, or for any other reason for a maximum of three days total. Members must notify the committee chair and clerk when using this authority, and their votes will be recorded as remote votes while still counting toward quorum requirements. The resolution applies only through the first Friday of the 2024 Adjourned Session and requires the clerk to track how many days each member uses their non-COVID-19 remote voting option.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Prekindergarten Education Implementation Committee to develop a plan for providing full-day prekindergarten education to all four-year-old children in Vermont by July 1, 2026. The committee, composed of representatives from education agencies, school associations, private providers, and families, will examine how to expand access through public schools or contracted private providers while considering costs, quality standards, and special education needs. The committee must submit its implementation plan and draft legislative language by December 1, 2024, and will cease to exist on February 1, 2025. The bill also appropriates $107,500 in fiscal year 2024 to fund the committee's operations and potential contractor assistance.
Maddy summaryThis bill approves amendments to the City of Burlington charter that expand voting rights for certain noncitizen residents. The changes allow noncitizens who live permanently in the United States, are at least 18 years old, have taken a Voter's Oath, and are registered to vote to participate in local Burlington elections. These noncitizen voters can only vote for local city and school district officials and ballot questions specific to their ward or city district, not for state or federal offices. The bill also requires the city's administrative officer to create forms and procedures to identify these voters on registration checklists. This legislation was passed by the legislature and enacted despite a gubernatorial veto.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's apprenticeship system by updating definitions and requirements to better support workforce development. It directly affects employers, job seekers, and training programs by clarifying terms like "accessibility," "diversity," and "nontraditional apprenticeship populations" to promote inclusive hiring practices. Key provisions establish new standards for pre-apprenticeship programs, allow for advanced standing credits based on prior work experience, and require sponsors to include underserved communities in their training initiatives. The legislation also creates interim credentials to recognize specific skill completions during an apprenticeship and strengthens oversight for program registration and compliance.