Rep. Leland Morgan

Maddy summaryH 303 bans the land application of septage (septic tank waste), sludge (wastewater treatment byproduct), and biosolids (treated sewage solids) for agricultural use. It also prohibits selling compost or soil products containing these materials. The law applies directly to farmers, waste treatment facilities, and businesses producing agricultural products. The ban takes effect July 1, 2025, replacing current testing requirements for land application.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Type I and II school buses in Vermont to install approved traffic cameras that capture license plates when drivers illegally pass a stopped bus with flashing lights. It allows civil penalties (not criminal charges) for such violations based solely on camera evidence, with the footage preserved for up to 90 days unless used for enforcement. The cameras must only record license plates and violation details, not occupants, and school bus operators must submit verified evidence within five days of the incident. This directly affects drivers who pass school buses illegally and school bus operators responsible for camera systems, applying to all school buses starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HCR 6), not a law. It formally congratulates the Milton High School Yellowjackets girls’ soccer team for winning their second consecutive Division II championship in 2024. The resolution directs Vermont’s Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Milton High School. It has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely serves as a formal recognition of the team’s athletic achievement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $500 refundable income tax credit for qualified emergency responders in Vermont, effective for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025 (retroactive to that date). It directly affects licensed emergency medical personnel, first responders, and volunteer firefighters meeting specific eligibility criteria under Vermont law. The credit is designed to recognize their public service, with eligibility defined by existing statutes covering their roles and volunteer status. The bill also updates related statutes to establish standards for volunteer firefighter eligibility and clarifies the credit's purpose. (3 sentences)

Maddy summaryH 295 requires Vermont employers to pay employees for unused vacation time they have earned when leaving a job, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. The bill amends state law to mandate that final wage payments include the value of accrued vacation leave, ensuring employees receive compensation for time earned but not taken. This applies to all Vermont employers and takes effect on July 1, 2025. Employees will no longer forfeit earned vacation benefits upon separation from employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's Use Value Appraisal Program, which helps farmers pay lower property taxes by valuing farmland at its agricultural use value instead of market value. It changes the eligibility requirement to require at least 25% of a farmer's annual income from farming (including a new provision for those earning 25% from raising horses) and reduces the land use change tax rate from 10% to 6% when agricultural land is developed. These changes aim to make the program more accessible to a wider range of agricultural operations, including horse-related businesses. The bill directly affects farmers and landowners seeking to enroll agricultural land in the program or develop previously enrolled land.

Maddy summaryH 272 would amend Vermont's zoning law to prevent municipalities from banning development on steep slopes. It removes a current provision (24 V.S.A. § 4411(3)(C)) that allowed towns to prohibit construction in such areas, replacing it with language permitting only regulation (like setting limits), not outright prohibition. This change directly affects local governments (municipalities) and developers seeking to build on sloped land, shifting zoning authority from local bans to regulatory standards. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Environment Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a specific right to Vermont's Patient Bill of Rights, prohibiting hospitals from denying patients admission, care, or services solely based on their vaccination status. It directly affects all hospital patients in Vermont who might otherwise face barriers to care due to their vaccination history. The key provision (Section 19) explicitly states this right within the existing Patient Bill of Rights framework. The law takes effect upon passage, ensuring hospitals must comply with this new standard.

Maddy summaryH 282 creates a new driver education program for students in Vermont's home study programs, requiring the Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Education Secretary to approve a course for parents or guardians to teach their children. The approved course must cover alcohol/drug effects on driving, motor vehicle insurance laws, and the environmental impact of vehicle idling. Parents teaching the course must not have recent DUI convictions, six or more traffic points in three years, or certain felony convictions. The bill mandates course approval by July 1, 2025, and requires a report comparing driving records of home study students with traditional program students by November 2029.

Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a symbolic resolution expressing the Vermont General Assembly's appreciation for school board members' role in public education. It formally designates February as "School Board Recognition Month" in Vermont to highlight their contributions. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely ceremonial, acknowledging school board members' civic service. The resolution was adopted by both chambers on February 7, 2025, and directs the Secretary of State to share it with the Vermont School Boards Association.