Rep. Angela Arsenault

Maddy summaryH.5 amends Vermont's evidence rules to allow statements made by children aged 12-15 who are victims of specific abuse crimes (like sexual assault, cruelty, or exploitation) to be used as evidence in court. The bill requires courts to verify that such statements are trustworthy, made before legal proceedings began, and not prepared for trial. It directly affects child victims in criminal, civil, or juvenile cases involving listed abuse offenses under Vermont law. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to cases where the child’s statements relate to the alleged abuse.

Maddy summaryHCR 182 is a ceremonial resolution designating February 5, 2026, as "Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day" at the State House. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes Vermont's outdoor recreation economy and assets, including trails, forests, ski areas, and its $2.1 billion economic impact. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to share it with state agencies like Natural Resources, Forests/Parks, and Tourism. It acknowledges the role of outdoor recreation in Vermont's economy, community well-being, and workforce, without imposing any new requirements.

Maddy summaryVermont's House of Representatives passed JRH 8, a non-binding joint resolution condemning a U.S. military operation in Venezuela on January 3, 2026. The resolution demands the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from U.S. custody, the withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, and respect for Venezuela's right to political self-determination. It urges the U.S. government to abandon plans for similar interventions that disrupt other nations' sovereignty. As a symbolic resolution, it directs Vermont's Secretary of State to send a copy to President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and Defense Secretary Hegseth.

Maddy summaryH.856 establishes Vermont's Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to determine "benchmark personal use supply" amounts for regulated drugs, aiming to reduce criminal penalties for small-scale possession. The bill lowers penalties for low-level drug possession: reducing misdemeanor charges to a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail, and reclassifying some felony-level offenses as misdemeanors. The Advisory Board, composed of 13 members including people with lived drug use experience and harm reduction experts, must recommend these benchmarks by January 2027. These changes directly affect individuals possessing small, personal-use amounts of drugs like cocaine or LSD under specified thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HCR 175), not a substantive bill. It honors the late Venerable J. Stannard Baker of Shelburne, recognizing his pivotal role in Vermont's marriage equality history. The resolution commemorates his leadership in the landmark 1999 *Baker v. State* case that established marriage equality under the Vermont Constitution, leading to civil unions and later marriage rights. It expresses the legislature's condolences to his family and directs the Secretary of State to share the resolution with his family and the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.

Maddy summaryHCR 177 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Twin Valley High School's Athletic Director and boys' soccer coach Buddy Hayford for achieving 500 career coaching victories. It recognizes his 43-year coaching career, including 10 divisional titles, two state basketball titles, and his status as Vermont's first high school soccer coach to reach 500 wins. This resolution, offered by all House members and sponsoring senators, formally congratulates Hayford and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to him and his school - **it is not a law but a symbolic gesture of appreciation**.

Maddy summaryH.846 requires high-traffic online platforms to block materially deceptive election content and label inauthentic or synthetic AI-generated content during specific periods before and after Vermont elections. It prohibits knowingly distributing deceptive election ads with malice within 120 days of an election. The bill also mandates that political advertisements created or altered using AI include a clear disclosure statement. These provisions directly affect online platforms, political advertisers, and election participants in Vermont.

Maddy summaryH.823 requires social media platforms operating in Vermont to display mental health warning labels each time a user accesses the platform. These labels must warn users about potential mental health risks from social media use, provide crisis resource information (including the 988 hotline), and remain visible until the user exits or acknowledges the warning. The bill also mandates pop-up notifications every 30 minutes (customizable up to 60 minutes) showing cumulative daily usage time. The Attorney General must develop guidelines by April 2027, with the law taking full effect July 1, 2027. It applies to platforms meeting Vermont's definition of social media (user-generated content sharing sites/apps).

Maddy summaryH.829 requires businesses or organizations making robocalls with artificial voices (generated or altered using AI) to first play a natural, unrecorded voice announcement before delivering any prerecorded message. This announcement must state the call’s purpose, the caller’s name/address/phone number, ask if the recipient consents to hear the message, and disclose that an artificial voice will be used. The law applies to all robocallers in Vermont using AI-generated voices and imposes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation (rising to $1,000 for repeat offenses), plus potential criminal penalties of up to 90 days in jail or $1,000 per call for willful violations. It directly affects telemarketers, debt collectors, and other entities using automated calls with artificial voices within Vermont.

Maddy summaryH 824 requires app publishers of smartphone-connected vehicle applications (like those controlling car features or tracking location) to include a simple in-vehicle process allowing occupants to see who is connected to the vehicle and disconnect any user. The process must be as easy as connecting, work inside the vehicle without special tools, and disconnect users within 30 minutes. This directly affects app developers and vehicle app providers, ensuring drivers or passengers can quickly sever remote connections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with consumer protection standards for vehicle technology.