Rep. Matt Walker

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates April 18, 2023, as USS VERMONT Day in Vermont to honor the submarine and its crew. The bill formally recognizes the vessel, which was commissioned in 2020 and is the third U.S. Navy ship named after Vermont, and celebrates the service of its officers and enlisted personnel. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the USS VERMONT and its support group. This is a commemorative measure that does not change laws or policies but serves to acknowledge military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program established in 1933 to provide jobs for unemployed young men on conservation projects. The resolution honors the memory of the three million men who participated in the CCC and specifically acknowledges the program's significant impact on Vermont's natural resources, including the establishment of more than 30 camps in the state. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of the program's historical importance and legacy of forest management, park development, and trail construction.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors former President James Earl Carter as a tireless international humanitarian and public servant. The bill recognizes his post-presidential work, including conflict mediation, election monitoring, disease eradication efforts, and advocacy for affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity. It acknowledges his receipt of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize and his decision to enter hospice care. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to former President Carter.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes March 2023 as Social Work Month in Vermont to honor the contributions of social workers to improving human well-being and addressing social issues. The resolution highlights the profession's role in various settings including schools, hospitals, and government agencies, as well as its work supporting diverse communities and addressing challenges like the opioid crisis. It marks the 60th anniversary of Social Work Month and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Association of Social Workers Vermont Chapter.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires students graduating from Vermont public high schools to demonstrate civics knowledge as a condition of receiving a diploma. The law offers two pathways: passing the standard U.S. citizenship civics test with a minimum score of 60 percent, or completing one semester of community service with a local government organization under a mentor's supervision. The requirement applies to all public high school and career technical center students, though students with individualized education programs may participate at the discretion of their IEP team. The measure would take effect for students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year or later.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation benefits for Vermont firefighters who develop specific types of cancer. It creates a legal presumption that these cancers resulted from job-related exposures if the firefighter had clean cancer screening results before or within two years of starting their career, has at least five years of firefighting service in Vermont, is under 65 years old, and does not have a history of tobacco use within 10 years of diagnosis. The law covers leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the bladder, brain, colon, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, pancreas, skin, or testicles, and applies to firefighters diagnosed within 10 years of their last active duty. The bill also recommends that fire departments keep incident reports for at least 10 years to support these claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Education to form a working group to study whether licensed athletic trainers should be required at all secondary school athletic events and practices. The proposed group would include representatives from various education organizations and explore cost-effective ways to share athletic trainers between school districts. The legislation does not mandate immediate changes but instead establishes a study process to evaluate the need and resources for this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow executors or administrators of a deceased person's estate to file a lawsuit for defamation on behalf of the deceased. The key provision adds defamation actions to the list of legal claims that can survive a person's death and be pursued by their estate representatives. It permits these lawsuits to be based on defamatory statements made either before or after the person died, regardless of when the law takes effect. The change directly affects estate managers and attorneys representing deceased individuals' estates in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program by adjusting income thresholds and co-payment rules to help more families access subsidized child care. Under the new provisions, families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for subsidies, while those earning 150 percent or less would pay no co-payment regardless of family size. The bill also changes how child care providers are paid by decoupling reimbursement rates from the Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and instead tying them to market rates from the Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey with tiered caps based on provider ratings. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impact families seeking employment or training and the child care providers serving them.