Rep. Sarita Austin

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to improve emergency medical services in Vermont by providing $20 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to support ambulance operations, training, and equipment. It requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover emergency medical services for patients who do not need to be transported to a hospital. The legislation also establishes a refundable income tax credit for qualified emergency responders and creates a study committee to examine the EMS system. Additionally, the bill sets requirements for Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulance services and restricts transporting patients to destinations where the ambulance service has a financial interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the 802 Opportunity Grant to provide tuition assistance for youth in foster care and kinship care in Vermont. It directly affects students under the custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 who were in foster care or permanent guardianship for at least six months between ages 16 and 18. The key provision increases the annual grant amount from $3,000 to $4,000 and allows eligible students to receive grants for up to six consecutive years or until they complete an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. The bill also appropriates an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2024 to fund these expanded grants and takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill would reduce a school district's reported education spending by 75% of salary and wage increases for licensed teachers and other school employees, but only if the district meets specific eligibility requirements. To qualify, a school district must be located in a rural area or have at least 40% of students from low-income families, and it must pay all salaried staff at least $50,000 annually or hourly workers at least $20 per hour during fiscal years 2025 through 2027. The calculation determines the amount of increase above these minimum thresholds that would be excluded from the district's spending totals. Districts currently bound by collective bargaining agreements that prevent them from meeting the minimum pay requirements would need to negotiate changes to those agreements to become eligible for the spending exclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a new Vermont Climate Infrastructure Fund to support climate-related projects and investments across the state. Administered by the State Treasurer's Office with an advisory board, the fund would coordinate financing efforts with existing agencies like the Vermont Economic Development Authority and Vermont Bond Bank to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience. The fund would invest in clean energy solutions, forest and agricultural land improvements, watershed health, and projects that benefit underserved communities while also seeking federal funding opportunities and stimulating private investment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Vermont public high school students to complete a semester-long personal finance course in either 11th or 12th grade as a graduation requirement. The State Board of Education must develop and maintain performance standards covering topics like budgeting, credit management, investing, taxes, and retirement planning. The bill also directs the Board to oversee course implementation by establishing teacher certification requirements, approving curriculum providers, and offering professional development for educators. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, applying to students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year or later.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow licensed security guards and private investigators to carry firearms in hospital buildings while performing their official duties, expanding current exemptions that already permit law enforcement and military personnel to do so. The legislation amends Vermont state law to add these two professional groups to the list of individuals who may legally possess firearms in healthcare facilities, provided they hold the required security or firearms certifications. Hospitals would need to post notices at public entrances informing visitors of this exception to the general prohibition on firearms in hospital buildings. The change applies only when these professionals are actively working and does not alter the existing ban on firearm possession by the general public in healthcare settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to issue permits for dredging public waters to improve navigation for vessels, provided the work does not harm the public interest. It also creates a temporary Working Group on Navigation of Lake Champlain to evaluate and plan a specific dredging project between Mallet's Bay and the Inland Sea to enhance public safety, emergency response, and environmental protection. The Working Group will include representatives from natural resources, public safety agencies, marina operators, and dredging companies, and must submit a report with cost and timeline estimates by January 15, 2024, before ceasing operations on February 15, 2024. Any permitted dredging must comply with federal Clean Water Act requirements, and the department may seek federal or other funding for approved projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three main benefits for Vermont veterans. First, it requires the state to create and maintain a confidential database of veterans in Vermont, collecting information from various agencies while protecting personal details from public access. Second, it reduces motor vehicle registration fees for veterans with honorable discharges, offering either a 50% discount or a full waiver for vehicles purchased with VA financial assistance. Third, it increases the amount of U.S. military retirement pay exempt from Vermont state income tax, raising the exclusion limit for single filers from $10,000 to $15,000 and adjusting thresholds based on total income levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires write-in candidates in Vermont state elections to file a consent form with the Secretary of State or municipal clerk before their votes can be counted. The form must include the candidate's name, the office they seek, their town of residence, and mailing address, and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday before primary and general elections. If a write-in candidate does not file this consent form, their votes will be treated as blank and not counted toward their candidacy. The bill also establishes that write-in candidates must receive at least half the number of petition signatures required for their office to qualify as a primary winner, unless they receive more votes than a printed ballot candidate. These changes take effect on July 1, 2023.