Rep. Lori Houghton

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors the professional achievements of child and victim advocate Sally Borden. It recognizes her decades of work supporting victims of criminal acts, domestic violence, and child abuse through leadership roles at organizations like KidSafe Collaborative in Vermont. The resolution formally acknowledges her career accomplishments and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Borden and her organization. This legislative action serves as a ceremonial tribute rather than changing any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Medicaid Expansion Act of 2024, expands eligibility for Vermont's Dr. Dynasaur children's health insurance program to include young adults up to age 26, in addition to the current age limit of 21. The expansion applies to residents whose family income is at or below 312 percent of the federal poverty level, and it also extends coverage to pregnant individuals of any age. The legislation authorizes the state to charge monthly premiums for pregnant women and young adults whose family income exceeds 195 percent of the federal poverty level, with collected fees directed toward offsetting program costs. By aligning Dr. Dynasaur eligibility with federal Medicaid standards for young adults, the bill aims to reduce the number of uninsured and underinsured Vermonters in this age group.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Robert Bick for his three decades of leadership at the Howard Center, a mental health and substance abuse service organization in Vermont. The resolution recognizes his specific contributions, including starting Vermont's first methadone clinic, establishing harm reduction services, and expanding the organization's reach to 19,000 people through organizational improvements. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to both Bick and the Howard Center, serving as an official acknowledgment of his achievements rather than changing any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 3, 2024, as Prevention Day in Vermont to recognize efforts to prevent substance misuse. It directly affects community organizations, youth, and prevention groups working to address alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other substance use issues. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Prevention Works!VT, the organization that hosts the annual event. This is a ceremonial measure that acknowledges the importance of substance misuse prevention rather than creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill congratulates Vermont athletes who won medals at the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh and designates March 21, 2024 as Vermont Senior Games Day at the State House. It recognizes the 86 Vermont athletes who competed in 13 sports and won a total of 33 medals, while also honoring the specific individuals who participated in the event. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the Vermont Senior Games Association and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness to promote senior fitness awareness. This is a ceremonial measure that celebrates athletic achievement rather than creating new laws or policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's existing medical leave laws to clarify definitions and requirements for unpaid leave related to serious health conditions. It directly affects employees working for employers with at least 10 to 15 employees, depending on whether the leave is for family or parental reasons. The legislation defines a serious illness health condition as one posing imminent danger of death, requiring inpatient care, or needing continuing in-home care, and includes rehabilitation from such conditions including substance use disorder treatment. Key provisions allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for their own serious illness or that of certain family members, with requirements for reasonable notice and medical certification from a health care provider. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Vermont Baby Bond Trust, a state-administered fund designed to provide financial support to children born on or after July 1, 2024, who qualify for Medicaid or similar health coverage at birth. The program would allow eligible children to receive bonds that can be used for education, purchasing a home, starting a business, or contributing to retirement accounts once they reach adulthood. The trust would be managed by the State Treasurer, who would invest the funds to generate earnings while keeping the assets separate from general state funds and exempt from state taxes. Money in the trust would only be disbursed for approved purposes and would not count as income or assets when determining eligibility for other assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill formalizes amendments to the City of Essex Junction's charter that were previously approved by local voters in April 2023. The changes include stricter conflict of interest rules for city council members, who are now prohibited from holding city employment during their term and must wait one year before taking other compensated municipal roles. The bill also establishes a new one-year Moderator position to preside over annual meetings and clarifies the timing for scheduling annual council meetings and elections. Once signed into law, these provisions will update the official city charter to reflect the voters' decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 Essex High School Hornets boys' indoor track and field team for winning the Division I championship. The resolution recognizes the team's athletic achievements, including their performance in various events and their narrow victory over St. Johnsbury Academy. It also acknowledges the contributions of the team members and their coaching staff. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to Essex High School.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution formally congratulates the Essex High School Hornets girls' volleyball team on winning their third consecutive state championship. The document acknowledges the team's achievement of winning 51 straight games and lists the players and coaches who earned this honor. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Essex High School as a gesture of recognition.