Rep. Daisy Berbeco

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a study committee to examine whether Vermont should adopt a statewide residential building code, specifically the International Residential Code, to address the current lack of uniform construction standards for single-family homes. The committee will include representatives from government agencies, construction industry groups, housing organizations, and insurance associations who will assess how a standardized code would impact safety, compliance, disaster resilience, sustainability, and housing affordability. The group must submit a written report with its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 15, 2024, after holding meetings starting by July 15, 2024, and will cease to exist on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes building safety oversight in Vermont by renaming the Division of Fire Safety to the Division of Fire and Building Safety and transferring authority over residential and commercial building energy standards from the Department of Public Service to this new division. The legislation also requires the Office of Professional Regulation to update its building contractor registry with more detailed information and mandates that energy code compliance certificates be issued before buildings can receive occupancy permits. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Public Service to create an online application and certification tool for small residential projects and calls for the adoption of a statewide residential building construction code to improve enforcement and compliance with energy standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Vermont state law to clarify how harassment is defined and evaluated in schools, directly affecting students, families, and school administrators. It removes the requirement that harassment must be "severe or pervasive" to be unlawful, allowing a single incident to constitute harassment if it objectively undermines a student's education or creates an intimidating environment. The law also specifies that harassment can be determined by looking at all circumstances together rather than isolating individual incidents, and it clarifies that harassment can occur even if the student continues their education or if the conduct happens outside school grounds. However, the bill maintains that behavior considered a petty slight or trivial inconvenience by a reasonable person would not qualify as harassment. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public and school libraries in Vermont from banning or removing books and other library materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval. It requires the State Librarian to create rules that protect library collections, aligning with the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, and mandates that each library adopt a materials retention policy complying with these rules. Libraries that violate these retention rules would lose eligibility for state grants and funding, as they must submit an affidavit confirming compliance before receiving any state financial support. The legislation applies to both public and school libraries and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would require fossil fuel companies that operated in Vermont between 2000 and 2019 to pay for their share of climate change costs. The program targets entities involved in extracting coal, oil, or natural gas, charging them based on how much greenhouse gas their products contributed to global emissions. Money collected from these payments would go into a dedicated fund to finance climate resilience projects like flood protections, upgraded infrastructure, and health programs addressing climate-related health risks. The law defines specific types of infrastructure projects eligible for funding and establishes rules for determining which companies must pay and how much they owe.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts and approved independent schools to create and enforce policies for selecting library materials, guided by the First Amendment and established intellectual freedom standards. The legislation specifically prohibits removing library materials based on partisan politics, author or character demographics, personal discomfort, or content addressing sexual health and student educational needs. School library staff will be responsible for curating collections that match students' developmental levels while protecting students' First Amendment rights. The policy must be made available to the public and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's laws to strengthen protections for threatened and endangered species by requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to revise the state species list every three years and to designate critical habitat for each listed species. It prohibits the sale, transport, or import of these species within the state and restricts their taking to specific purposes like scientific research or enhancing their survival. The legislation also mandates that the Secretary develop rules to help farmers and foresters avoid harming species or their habitats while consulting with affected landowners and neighboring jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and access state-funded financial aid at Vermont's public colleges if they meet standard residency requirements. It prohibits the Vermont State Colleges Corporation from excluding students based solely on immigration status and requires the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to make state financial aid available to all residents regardless of immigration status. The law specifically includes protections for refugees, those granted parole to enter the U.S., and Afghan Allies Protection Act visa holders, while also clarifying residency rules for military families. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, and include provisions ensuring students can apply for and participate in financial aid programs to the full extent allowed by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to fund a community-based organization that coordinates mental wellness and climate resilience efforts across Vermont. The program would receive $100,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the state's General Fund to support activities that address how extreme weather events and other social stresses impact mental health. The coordinating body must include representatives from diverse groups including schools, faith organizations, environmental groups, disaster response agencies, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The program uses a public health approach to prevent mental health problems before they emerge and to help entire communities build resilience against various adversities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont residents who are not U.S. citizens to qualify for scholarships and operate regulated child care facilities. It removes citizenship requirements for two specific programs: scholarships for current early childhood providers and scholarships for those seeking to become providers, as well as the ability to run a licensed child care center. The changes apply to both existing providers and those looking to enter the field, regardless of their immigration status.