Rep. Jed Lipsky

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the 802 Opportunity Grant to provide tuition assistance for youth in foster care and kinship care in Vermont. It directly affects students under the custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 who were in foster care or permanent guardianship for at least six months between ages 16 and 18. The key provision increases the annual grant amount from $3,000 to $4,000 and allows eligible students to receive grants for up to six consecutive years or until they complete an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. The bill also appropriates an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2024 to fund these expanded grants and takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for recovery residences in Vermont, which are shared living spaces designed to support individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It requires these residences to be certified by recognized organizations and mandates written rental agreements that outline policies, consequences for noncompliance, and alternative housing options for temporary removals. The legislation also directs municipalities to treat recovery residences as single-family homes for zoning purposes and requires the Department of Corrections to report on furloughed individuals residing in such facilities. Additionally, the bill creates a Recovery Stabilization Study Committee to further examine recovery housing needs and the bill aims to reduce homelessness and overdose deaths by expanding access to these supportive living environments.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt all U.S. military retirement income and military survivor benefit income from Vermont state income tax. It directly affects active and retired military personnel, as well as the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased service members who receive these benefits. The legislation amends existing tax code sections to remove military retirement and survivor benefits from taxable income, while also clarifying that taxpayers can only choose one income exclusion option if they qualify for multiple types of exemptions. The bill states its purpose is to honor and thank military retirees and their families for their service, and it applies retroactively to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove existing bans and penalties on the purchase, use, and possession of tobacco products in Vermont, including electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices not approved by the FDA for medical purposes. It updates legal definitions to clarify what counts as a tobacco product and tobacco substitute, while maintaining age restrictions that prohibit anyone under 21 from buying, possessing, or attempting to purchase these items. The legislation also establishes civil penalties for retailers who sell to minors and requires annual compliance testing by the Division of Liquor Control to ensure at least 90% accuracy in age verification for buyers between 17 and 20 years old.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Vermont public high school students to complete a semester-long personal finance course in either 11th or 12th grade as a graduation requirement. The State Board of Education must develop and maintain performance standards covering topics like budgeting, credit management, investing, taxes, and retirement planning. The bill also directs the Board to oversee course implementation by establishing teacher certification requirements, approving curriculum providers, and offering professional development for educators. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, applying to students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year or later.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Transportation to study whether direct-current fast chargers can be installed at locations that previously served as welcome centers. The legislation also asks the agency to update the state's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan to include these chargers if the study finds them feasible. Additionally, the bill mandates that the agency submit a written report on the findings to the House and Senate Transportation Committees by December 15, 2023. The measure directly affects the state's transportation department and aims to improve electric vehicle charging options at former welcome center sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont State Highway Safety Office to prepare a written report by January 15, 2024, recommending how the state should adjust its approach to educating about, enforcing, and prosecuting distracted driving violations for noncommercial drivers. The report must consult with various state agencies and organizations, examine current enforcement methods like fines and license suspensions, and specifically consider strategies for drivers under 18 years old. The legislation does not change any existing laws but requires officials to analyze what is working and what needs improvement in addressing distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a default maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour for unposted and unpaved town highways in Vermont. It directly affects municipalities that maintain these roads, which are currently mapped under state law but lack posted speed limits. The law would apply automatically to these roads unless towns choose to post different limits, standardizing speed regulations for unpaved municipal routes across the state. This change aims to provide clear guidance for drivers on rural town roads that do not currently have visible speed limit signs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Green Mountain Recreation Fund to support trail development and nonprofit organizations in Vermont. The fund would be financed by taking five percent of the existing tax on beer and wine sales. Money from the fund would hire three full-time staff members to manage trail programs, administer grants, and provide technical assistance to trail groups. Additionally, the bill establishes grant programs for nonprofit trail organizations and municipalities to advance outdoor recreation initiatives. The legislation directly affects trail stewardship groups, local governments, and the organizations that manage recreational trails across the state.