Rep. Chris Taylor

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state to refund $437,028 to the City of Barre and $184,451 to the Town of Milton for overpaid education property taxes. The refunds correct miscalculations from 2016-2020 (Barre) and 2017-2023 (Milton) related to how much tax increment each municipality retained from their local tax districts. The funds will come from the state’s Education Fund and must be transferred by fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically addresses past overpayments, not new tax policies.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 12) is a non-binding ceremonial resolution expressing legislative congratulations to the University of Vermont (UVM) men's soccer team for winning their first NCAA Division I men's soccer championship (College Cup) in 2024. It formally recognizes the team's achievement, including their "Cardiac Cats" nickname and championship victory over Marshall University. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to UVM Athletics but does not create any new policy, funding, or legal obligations. It is purely symbolic recognition of the team's athletic accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover biomarker testing when supported by specific evidence, such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or nationally recognized clinical guidelines. It directly affects patients needing these tests (e.g., for cancer diagnosis or treatment) and insurers/Medicaid, mandating coverage for tests analyzing genes, proteins, or other biological markers in blood or tissue. Key provisions include limiting disruptions in care (e.g., avoiding repeated biopsies) and defining biomarker testing broadly to include advanced genetic sequencing. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2026, for new plans, with Medicaid coverage pending CMS approval.

Maddy summaryH 129 creates a new State Aid for School Construction Program under Vermont's Agency of Education to help school districts cover costs for building or modernizing schools. The program provides state subsidies for debt service on eligible projects, with extra funding available for projects meeting criteria like modern facilities, cost efficiency, and geographic accessibility. The Agency of Education will manage the program, including reviewing applications, setting priorities, collecting quarterly project updates, and maintaining public data on approved projects. This directly affects Vermont school districts seeking funding for construction, renovations, or consolidation projects, with oversight by a new advisory board including education and finance experts.

Maddy summaryH 74 would phase in full exemption of Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax over eight years. Currently, Vermont partially exempts Social Security benefits for lower-income seniors, but this bill raises the income thresholds where full exemption applies - increasing the single filer threshold from $65,000 to $77,000 and married filer threshold from $80,000 to $92,000. The change applies to all Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits, with full exemption becoming effective by the eighth year. The bill amends Vermont’s tax code (32 V.S.A. § 5830e) to adjust the income-based exclusion rules. It is currently referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Maddy summaryH 62 repeals Vermont's Global Warming Solutions Act, specifically removing the Vermont Climate Council and replacing mandatory greenhouse gas reduction requirements with voluntary "goals." It amends state law to change emissions targets from legally binding requirements to non-binding goals, removes the requirement for state agencies to consider emissions in decisions, and repeals the Low Emission Vehicle Rules. These changes would shift climate policy from a structured, mandated approach to a more flexible framework without oversight. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 65 revokes Vermont's adoption of California's Clean Air Act waiver for vehicle emissions, prohibiting the state from using California's standards for new motor vehicles. The bill amends Vermont law to explicitly ban the adoption of California's emission rules (42 U.S.C. § 7507) and repeals existing Vermont Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) rules. This directly affects how Vermont regulates vehicle emissions, shifting away from California's standards to potentially adopt alternative state rules. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop new emission control requirements without California's framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont Medicaid to cover medically necessary play therapy services for eligible patients. It directly affects Vermont Medicaid recipients, particularly children and adolescents receiving mental health treatment. The law mandates coverage for play therapy provided by specific licensed professionals (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers) and defines play therapy as using toys, games, and role-playing to address mental health challenges. The coverage becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts U.S. military retirement income and survivor benefit payments from Vermont income tax for eligible residents. It adds these income types to Vermont’s list of excluded income in the tax code (specifically amending 32 V.S.A. § 5811), meaning military retirees and surviving spouses won’t pay state tax on these payments. The change applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026. It directly affects Vermont taxpayers who receive military retirement or survivor benefits, providing them tax relief on this specific income source.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H.39) would repeal Vermont's legal protections for overdose prevention centers (OPCs), removing immunity from drug possession charges and civil liability for users, staff, and operators. Currently, OPCs - safe spaces offering harm reduction services like naloxone and sterile supplies - are shielded from prosecution under state law. The repeal would mean participants and providers could face drug possession charges for activities within these centers, and centers could lose legal protection against civil claims. The bill targets the specific immunity provisions (Section 4256(c)), not the centers themselves, and would take effect July 1, 2025.