Rep. Karen Dolan

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Vermont to raise public awareness about mental health challenges. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the state's mental health needs and statistics. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to relevant mental health organizations and officials. While it highlights concerning data about suicide rates and access to care, the bill itself is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid traffic fines that were committed before the law takes effect. It applies to all drivers who owe penalties for traffic violations that occurred prior to the implementation date. The law requires the Motor Vehicles Commissioner to stop suspending licenses solely due to nonpayment of these pre-existing civil penalties. The changes become active 30 days after the bill is passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Vermont state law to improve oversight and compensation for various government boards and commissions. It directs the Summer Government Accountability Committee to study ways to measure legislative accountability, ensure fair pay across commissions, support equitable participation through compensation, and control the growing number of such groups. The legislation also updates rules for the Vermont Pension Investment Commission regarding member compensation and administrative support, adjusts quorum requirements for the Commission on Women, sets interim quorum rules for regional emergency management committees, and requires the State Ethics Commission to report recommendations for municipal ethics frameworks by January 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the date for the Reach Up ratable reduction, a tax benefit for low-income households in Vermont, from January to March. The amendment affects the timing of when eligible residents can receive their tax reduction, allowing them to claim the benefit later in the year. By moving the start date to March, the bill adjusts the administrative schedule for processing these tax reductions without changing the underlying eligibility requirements or benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont law requires firearm owners to securely store guns in locked containers or with safety devices to prevent children and prohibited individuals from accessing them, with criminal penalties for negligent storage that results in harm. Gun dealers must display warning signs about suicide and domestic violence risks associated with firearm access, while the law also expands the definition of household members to include dating partners for certain protective order provisions. The legislation aims to reduce suicide and community violence by limiting impulsive access to firearms, particularly in homes where children or prohibited persons might otherwise gain unauthorized access.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces overdose risks in Vermont by expanding access to buprenorphine treatment, legalizing drug-checking services, and creating a dedicated funding stream for opioid prevention. It allows healthcare providers to prescribe up to 24 milligrams of buprenorphine without prior authorization, permits community organizations to test substances for contaminants without fear of legal penalties, and establishes an Opioid Abatement Special Fund to finance naloxone distribution and treatment programs. The legislation also clarifies that drug-checking results cannot be used as evidence in court and ensures that individuals seeking these services face no arrest or prosecution for possession of the substances being tested.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines and protects certain health care activities related to reproductive health and gender-affirming care from civil and criminal liability. It establishes that licensed health care providers in Vermont can legally offer these services to patients regardless of where the patient is located, as long as the services are permitted under Vermont law. The law also protects insurance coverage for these services and prohibits conversion therapy from being classified as gender-affirming care. The protections apply to the provision, prescription, distribution, and use of FDA-approved medications for pregnancy termination as of January 1, 2023. The bill became effective immediately upon passage and was signed into law by the Governor in May 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that honors Karen Horn of Moretown for her leadership in strengthening local government in Vermont. It recognizes her decades of work with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, where she advised officials on municipal issues and helped secure transportation funding and tax authority for local governments. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions to municipal policy and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to both Horn and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Community Justice Unit to work with community justice centers and law enforcement to refer domestic and sexual violence cases to these centers. It mandates that the Attorney General's office submit two reports to the state legislature by December 2025 and July 2028 to track the program's implementation, effectiveness, and available resources. The legislation updates existing laws to include law enforcement and prosecutors as referral sources while maintaining oversight through required reporting to judicial committees.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution expresses support for Abenaki communities in Vermont and encourages greater appreciation of Abenaki culture during Abenaki Recognition and Heritage Week and throughout the year. The bill directly affects the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and the four state-recognized Abenaki tribes and bands by directing the House Clerk to send copies of the resolution to these entities. The resolution acknowledges past injustices, including state-sanctioned eugenics and sterilizations, and recognizes existing legislative efforts such as free hunting and fishing licenses for certified Native Americans and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It serves as a formal statement of support rather than creating new policy requirements or funding allocations.