Rep. Tom Oliver

Maddy summaryThis bill requires independent schools in Vermont to pay their teachers' retirement contributions and administrative expenses directly, rather than having these costs covered by the state education budget. It also clarifies that "education spending" includes the portion of retirement payments attributable to school districts, while excluding funds from other sources like endowments or federal grants. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and include requirements for independent schools to submit annual payment statements and for the state to report on implementation to relevant committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the transportation of catalytic converters in Vermont by prohibiting movement between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. During regular hours, it requires anyone transporting a used catalytic converter to have a bill of sale that includes the vehicle's VIN number. The law directly affects individuals and businesses moving catalytic converters within the state and aims to prevent theft by limiting transport times and requiring documentation. It takes effect on July 1, 2023, and is intended to strengthen consumer protection and commerce regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add immunization status to the list of protected characteristics in Vermont's anti-discrimination laws, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on whether a person has been vaccinated. The legislation defines immunization status as an individual's vaccination history against infectious diseases and makes it unlawful for employers, landlords, and public accommodation operators to refuse services, housing, or employment opportunities because of this status. Key provisions amend existing state statutes to explicitly include immunization status alongside other protected categories such as race, sex, and disability, preventing discriminatory practices in hiring, renting, selling property, and accessing public facilities. The bill applies to employers, employment agencies, housing providers, and operators of public places, ensuring that decisions about jobs, housing, and services cannot be influenced by a person's vaccination history.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new income tax deduction in Vermont for parents who pay for home study programs for their dependents. It allows taxpayers to deduct up to $1,000 of qualified expenses per dependent, covering costs for educational instruction, materials, equipment, software, and computer hardware used during normal school hours. The deduction applies to expenses incurred for students who are claimed as dependents on the taxpayer's return and are not dependents of another taxpayer. The bill would take effect retroactively starting January 1, 2023, and applies to taxable years beginning on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Medicaid program to provide coverage for one breast pump per child born to Medicaid beneficiaries. It allows pregnant Medicaid recipients to order and receive a breast pump before the baby is born, but only after reaching 27 weeks of pregnancy. The legislation directs the Agency of Human Services to seek necessary federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this coverage change. If federal approval is not needed, the coverage provisions would take effect on July 1, 2023.

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 proposes changes to Vermont's laws on criminal violence, bail procedures, and mental health evaluations for defendants. It increases penalties for carrying weapons while committing felonies and using firearms during drug sales, while also designating these actions as violent acts for bail decisions. The legislation also updates rules for determining a defendant's mental competency to stand trial and sanity at the time of an offense, including requirements for psychiatric examinations and who bears the cost of evaluations. Additionally, it clarifies procedures for ordering mental health screenings and ensures that relevant records are released to examiners when assessing competency or sanity.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Genetic Information Privacy Act, establishes new privacy protections for consumers who use direct-to-consumer genetic testing services. It requires these companies to obtain clear, specific consent from customers before collecting, using, or sharing their genetic data, and mandates transparent privacy policies that explain how data will be handled. The law also prohibits companies from sharing genetic information with health insurers, life insurers, or employers without explicit customer permission, while requiring robust security measures and giving consumers the right to access, delete, or destroy their genetic data and biological samples.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act by legally defining "constructive discharge" to include situations where working conditions are so difficult or conduct is so outrageous that a reasonable employee would feel forced to resign. It also updates the state's legislative leave law to ensure all employed legislators can take time off for official duties without losing job status, seniority, or benefits, while requiring employers to maintain insurance and benefits at the same level as if the legislator were working. Employers must provide written notice within 14 days of filing for election or accepting a new position, and may appeal to the State Labor Relations Board if they can demonstrate that granting leave would cause unreasonable hardship. The changes apply to employers with more than five employees and take effect on July 1, 2023.

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.