Rep. Bob Hooper

Maddy summaryH 302 requires Vermont health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover specific fertility-related services. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care (all members), fertility treatment for those with infertility (including IVF procedures), and fertility preservation services (all members), while excluding experimental procedures and nonmedical donor/surrogacy costs. The law takes effect for health insurance plans on January 1, 2026, and Medicaid coverage depends on federal approval of a state plan amendment by September 1, 2025. This directly affects Vermont residents with health insurance or Medicaid seeking fertility care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $500 refundable income tax credit for qualified emergency responders in Vermont, effective for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025 (retroactive to that date). It directly affects licensed emergency medical personnel, first responders, and volunteer firefighters meeting specific eligibility criteria under Vermont law. The credit is designed to recognize their public service, with eligibility defined by existing statutes covering their roles and volunteer status. The bill also updates related statutes to establish standards for volunteer firefighter eligibility and clarifies the credit's purpose. (3 sentences)

Maddy summaryThis bill (H.288) provides reduced or waived motor vehicle registration fees for Vermont veterans with honorable discharges. Veterans who provide proof of service (via DD Form 214) qualify for either a 100% fee waiver (once per year) or a 50% reduction on registration fees for specific vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats. The exemption applies if the veteran is listed as an owner or co-owner on the registration form. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and requires veterans to submit documentation to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Maddy summaryH.287 creates the Vermont Small Nuclear Consortium to study the feasibility of reintroducing nuclear power generation in Vermont, specifically focusing on small modular reactors. The bill requires the Secretary of Administration to convene this group by August 2025, including diverse members like legislators from both parties, environmental representatives, utility companies, and state agencies. The consortium must examine past nuclear plant closures, legal barriers, stakeholder input, and financial resources, then submit a report with recommendations by August 2026. The bill appropriates $23,000 for the consortium’s operations and consultant fees.

Maddy summaryH 295 requires Vermont employers to pay employees for unused vacation time they have earned when leaving a job, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. The bill amends state law to mandate that final wage payments include the value of accrued vacation leave, ensuring employees receive compensation for time earned but not taken. This applies to all Vermont employers and takes effect on July 1, 2025. Employees will no longer forfeit earned vacation benefits upon separation from employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's Use Value Appraisal Program, which helps farmers pay lower property taxes by valuing farmland at its agricultural use value instead of market value. It changes the eligibility requirement to require at least 25% of a farmer's annual income from farming (including a new provision for those earning 25% from raising horses) and reduces the land use change tax rate from 10% to 6% when agricultural land is developed. These changes aim to make the program more accessible to a wider range of agricultural operations, including horse-related businesses. The bill directly affects farmers and landowners seeking to enroll agricultural land in the program or develop previously enrolled land.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates annual open enrollment periods for Vermonters seeking Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap), aligning with federal Medicare Part D enrollment. It prohibits insurers from charging extra fees, penalties, or higher premiums for enrolling after age 65, bans exclusions for preexisting conditions, and allows policyholders to switch to comparable or lower-benefit plans anytime. The changes apply directly to Vermont residents enrolled in or applying for Medicare supplement insurance. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, after passing committee referral on February 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (H 263) establishes a legal right for employees to ignore work communications from employers during nonworking hours, defined as times outside an employee's scheduled work hours. It directly affects all Vermont employers and their employees covered under state labor laws. Key provisions require employers to create a written policy supporting this right (with exceptions for emergencies or last-minute schedule changes), prohibit policies that reduce compensation or time-off rights, and allow employees to file complaints for repeated violations, which could result in a $100 administrative penalty per violation. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 32-hour workweek in Vermont by requiring employers to pay overtime (1.5x regular wage) for hours worked beyond 32 per week, replacing the current 40-hour standard. It also reduces the maximum weekly work limit for minors under 16 from 40 to 32 hours and adjusts earned sick time accrual rates to align with the new standard. Exemptions apply to certain healthcare workers (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.), who would follow separate overtime rules for 8-hour workdays or 64-hour biweekly periods. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 262 restricts Vermont employers from using electronic monitoring of employees (like tracking computer use or location) and automated decision systems (such as AI tools for hiring or promotions) without specific limitations. Employers may only use such monitoring if it serves one of seven defined purposes (e.g., safety, compliance, or performance assessment) and is the least invasive method necessary. The bill requires employers to justify monitoring based on objective evidence and prohibits using it for general surveillance or non-essential purposes. It directly affects all Vermont employers, including contractors and job applicants, by imposing new requirements on workplace monitoring practices.