Rep. Chloe Tomlinson

Maddy summaryH.704 extends and expands Vermont's Tenant Representation Pilot Program, providing free legal representation to eligible tenants facing eviction in Lamoille and Windsor counties. It targets tenants with household income at or below 120% of the state median, rent consuming 30% or more of income, or expenses exceeding income. The program offers full legal representation specifically for eviction cases (not counterclaims) and requires Vermont Legal Aid to report on outcomes, including resolutions through rental assistance programs. Implementation depends on state funding approval for fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (H 334) bans most noncompete agreements and "stay-or-pay" provisions that require employees to repay employers upon leaving a job. It prohibits agreements restricting work for competitors after separation, with limited exceptions for business sales or dissolution. Employers must notify affected employees about void agreements and cannot retaliate against workers who refuse such terms. The law applies to all Vermont employers and covers existing contracts that violate these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Department of Housing and Community Development to provide free, online resources to help the public establish collective homeownership models. It mandates the department to create and share practical materials - including guides for organization and conflict resolution, standard templates for cooperative housing articles of incorporation, and templates for tenants-in-common agreements. These resources will be made available in a user-friendly format at no cost to residents, community groups, or potential cooperative housing developers. The bill directly affects anyone seeking to form or manage collective ownership housing arrangements under Vermont law. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryVermont's H.644 prohibits mental health professionals and entities from offering, providing, or advertising mental health services delivered by artificial intelligence systems, with limited exceptions. The bill directly affects licensed mental health providers, clinics, and AI service developers operating in Vermont. It amends licensing rules to define AI misuse as unprofessional conduct and adds penalties of $10,000 per violation under the Consumer Protection Act. The law aims to prevent harm from AI systems that have been shown to give dangerous advice (e.g., encouraging self-harm or suicide) based on research cited in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont House resolution (HR 9) urges all state agencies to protect the privacy and medical confidentiality of Vermonters diagnosed with autism, specifically in response to federal plans for an autism research database. It directly affects autistic Vermonters by seeking to prevent their personal health data - like medical records, insurance claims, and wearable device information - from being collected or shared without informed consent. The resolution emphasizes that autism is a neurological difference, not a disease, and highlights concerns about federal data collection practices that lack explicit privacy safeguards. As a non-binding resolution, it directs state officials to uphold privacy rights and has been formally adopted by the House.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution congratulates Mapenzi Selemani of Winooski on winning the 2025 Poetry Out Loud Vermont State championship. It also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Poetry Out Loud program, a nationwide high school poetry recitation competition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution, HCR 81, honors the life and public service of Brenda Churchill, a former Bakersfield Select Board member and advocate for transgender rights. It extends the Vermont General Assembly's condolences to her family and recognizes her contributions to local and state government, including her work on the Vermont Commission on Women.

Maddy summaryHCR 128 is a House concurrent resolution that designates May 6, 2025, as Homelessness Awareness Day in Vermont. This resolution formally recognizes the issue of homelessness within the state and directs a copy to be sent to the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis resolution congratulates Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver of Winooski High School on her selection as the 2025 Vermont Teacher of the Year. It also recognizes Jeremy DeMink of Edmunds Middle School and Sonya Shedd of Wolcott Elementary School as Distinguished Finalists for the award.

Maddy summaryHCR 122 is a House concurrent resolution that officially recognizes the week of May 6-12 as National Nurses Week in Vermont. This resolution serves to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of nurses within the state.