Rep. Edye Graning

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase pay and expand benefits for Vermont state legislators by making them eligible for the state employees' health insurance plan at no cost to themselves. It would establish an annual salary equal to half the statewide average wage, with higher amounts for the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore, and include reimbursements for child care, dependent care, and overnight parking for those with mobility limitations. The legislation also provides per diem compensation and expense reimbursement for legislators-elect attending pre-session training and meetings, while updating rules for out-of-state committee business to include mileage, lodging, and meal reimbursement. These changes would be implemented through amendments to existing state statutes governing legislative compensation and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires secondary school districts in Vermont to include at least two nonvoting student members on their school boards, allowing students to participate in board discussions and provide input on policies and budgets without casting votes. Student members would be appointed by the board based on applications submitted by district residents, receive the same compensation as voting members, and attend all regular meetings with specialized training on board procedures. Additionally, serving as a student school board member would count toward flexible graduation pathways, recognizing this experience as applied or work-based learning. The bill applies only to districts providing secondary education, while elementary-only districts are encouraged but not required to include student representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the 802 Opportunity Grant to provide tuition assistance for youth in foster care and kinship care in Vermont. It directly affects students under the custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 who were in foster care or permanent guardianship for at least six months between ages 16 and 18. The key provision increases the annual grant amount from $3,000 to $4,000 and allows eligible students to receive grants for up to six consecutive years or until they complete an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. The bill also appropriates an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2024 to fund these expanded grants and takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits crisis pregnancy centers from advertising services they do not provide or that are designed to mislead the public, particularly regarding medical care availability and timing. It directly affects crisis pregnancy centers in Vermont by requiring them to clearly disclose whether they are licensed medical facilities and what services they actually offer. The legislation treats false advertising by these centers as an unfair or deceptive practice subject to existing consumer protection enforcement. Additionally, the bill addresses data privacy concerns by regulating how these centers collect and share personal information from visitors who may believe they are seeking medical care.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove existing bans and penalties on the purchase, use, and possession of tobacco products in Vermont, including electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices not approved by the FDA for medical purposes. It updates legal definitions to clarify what counts as a tobacco product and tobacco substitute, while maintaining age restrictions that prohibit anyone under 21 from buying, possessing, or attempting to purchase these items. The legislation also establishes civil penalties for retailers who sell to minors and requires annual compliance testing by the Division of Liquor Control to ensure at least 90% accuracy in age verification for buyers between 17 and 20 years old.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Vermont public high school students to complete a semester-long personal finance course in either 11th or 12th grade as a graduation requirement. The State Board of Education must develop and maintain performance standards covering topics like budgeting, credit management, investing, taxes, and retirement planning. The bill also directs the Board to oversee course implementation by establishing teacher certification requirements, approving curriculum providers, and offering professional development for educators. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, applying to students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year or later.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Vermont state legislators to take temporary or partial leave from their full-time or part-time jobs while serving in the General Assembly. It directly affects employees who must leave their current positions to take legislative office. The key provision ensures that taking this leave does not result in loss of job status, seniority, or eligibility for insurance and other employee benefits. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand health insurance eligibility in Vermont to include all income-eligible adults over 18 who are currently excluded from Medicaid and health exchange subsidies due to their immigration status. It requires the state to provide hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage for these individuals that matches the benefits available under the existing Medicaid program. The law also mandates that the state protect applicants' confidentiality and prohibits sharing their information with the federal government. Coverage would begin on July 1, 2024, and applies to Vermont residents who meet income requirements but are ineligible for current public health programs because of immigration status.