Rep. Chea Evans

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's school branding and mascot laws to improve how complaints are handled and enforce compliance. It directly affects school districts, the Agency of Education, and private individuals or groups who may file complaints about school mascots or branding. The bill requires the Agency of Education to respond to complaints within a set timeframe and allows the agency to withhold public education funding if a school district fails to meet branding requirements. It also addresses legal resource imbalances between school districts and private complainants by creating an appeal process for decisions made by the Secretary of Education.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require annual mental health screenings for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among school-aged youth in Vermont. The screenings would be implemented as part of existing school health services, directly affecting students and school districts. The legislation mandates that these assessments occur regularly to identify mental health concerns early, without specifying additional funding or enforcement details.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow incarcerated individuals in Vermont to receive time off their sentences for earning higher education degrees or credentials. Under the proposal, offenders would get six months off for completing a certificate program with at least 30 credit hours, one year for an associate or bachelor's degree, 18 months for a master's degree, and two years for a doctoral degree. The legislation also directs that any cost savings from reduced incarceration time be transferred to the state's education budget to support colleges and universities. This change directly affects the Department of Corrections and institutions of higher education in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the installation of new speed bumps and speed humps on public highways in Vermont unless officials determine no other traffic calming options exist and the devices meet national standards. It applies to both state and town roads, requiring the Agency of Transportation or local selectboards to verify that alternative measures are unavailable before allowing installation. Existing speed bumps and humps installed before July 1, 2024, that comply with current standards may remain in place but cannot be replaced with new ones unless they meet the new requirements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is intended to standardize traffic calming practices across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits modifying a motor vehicle's exhaust system to produce noise levels exceeding 95 decibels, affecting all vehicle owners and operators in Vermont. It establishes a specific measurement standard using SAE International guidelines to determine compliance and allows for dismissal of violations if the operator had reasonable grounds to believe the vehicle was legal. The law includes an exemption for vehicles used in authorized racing or speed demonstrations and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's rules for registering exhibition and antique vehicles by changing how usage is measured and adjusting fees. It allows owners to qualify for special plates if their vehicle is driven up to 1,000 miles per year, regardless of how often they drive, and raises the registration fee from $26 to $50 for a five-year period. Owners can choose to display plates marked "exhibition" or "antique" if their vehicle is at least 25 years old, and older pre-1968 plates may continue to be used if kept in the vehicle and shown to law enforcement when requested. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

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 proposes a new 11 percent excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition in Vermont, which would be paid by sellers at the time of each transaction. The tax applies to both licensed firearm dealers and ammunition vendors, with licensed dealers required to collect the tax during background checks and remit it quarterly to the state. All revenue generated from this tax would be deposited into the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund, which supports grants for domestic and sexual violence prevention services. The legislation excludes transfers exempt from background checks, such as those to law enforcement agencies or immediate family members, and would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to reimburse the Burlington Fire Department for emergency medical services provided to individuals experiencing drug overdoses. The money is distributed through the Department of Health as a grant to the City of Burlington, with the requirement that these funds supplement rather than replace existing city funding for the fire department. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is intended to help cover the costs associated with responding to overdose incidents in Burlington.