Rep. Saudia Lamont

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 directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to update specific administrative rules to use respectful language and reflect current practices. It requires the agency to submit a plan by January 1, 2024, to amend rules governing intermediate care facilities, guardianship for mentally retarded persons, Medicaid regulations, long-term care services, and vocational rehabilitation. The agency must prioritize updating the rules related to intermediate care facilities and guardianship. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to the agency's rulemaking processes rather than directly changing how services are delivered to individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase pay and expand benefits for Vermont state legislators by making them eligible for the state employees' health insurance plan at no cost to themselves. It would establish an annual salary equal to half the statewide average wage, with higher amounts for the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore, and include reimbursements for child care, dependent care, and overnight parking for those with mobility limitations. The legislation also provides per diem compensation and expense reimbursement for legislators-elect attending pre-session training and meetings, while updating rules for out-of-state committee business to include mileage, lodging, and meal reimbursement. These changes would be implemented through amendments to existing state statutes governing legislative compensation and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires secondary school districts in Vermont to include at least two nonvoting student members on their school boards, allowing students to participate in board discussions and provide input on policies and budgets without casting votes. Student members would be appointed by the board based on applications submitted by district residents, receive the same compensation as voting members, and attend all regular meetings with specialized training on board procedures. Additionally, serving as a student school board member would count toward flexible graduation pathways, recognizing this experience as applied or work-based learning. The bill applies only to districts providing secondary education, while elementary-only districts are encouraged but not required to include student representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.

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 would require employers in Vermont to have good cause before terminating employees who have worked for at least 60 days, while exempting casual employees and those with fewer than 60 days of employment. The legislation defines good cause as failure to perform job duties after progressive discipline, egregious misconduct, or legitimate business reasons, and limits termination based on off-duty conduct to situations with a clear connection to job performance. Employers would need to follow a progressive discipline process including verbal warnings, written warnings, and written reprimands before termination, except in cases of egregious misconduct or legitimate business reasons. The bill also allows employees or representative organizations to bring enforcement actions on behalf of the state for violations of these termination requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands labor protections for agricultural and domestic workers in Vermont by granting them the right to collectively bargain and extending minimum wage, overtime pay, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance benefits to these groups. It also establishes a "good cause" standard for terminating employment, requires employers to provide severance pay, and allows employees to sue on behalf of the state for violations of this termination requirement. Additionally, the bill protects workers from adverse employment actions related to their exercise of First Amendment rights and permits collective bargaining representatives to be certified through voluntary employer recognition or majority employee sign-up. These changes directly affect employers of agricultural and domestic workers while providing new legal rights and protections for those workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand health insurance eligibility in Vermont to include all income-eligible adults over 18 who are currently excluded from Medicaid and health exchange subsidies due to their immigration status. It requires the state to provide hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage for these individuals that matches the benefits available under the existing Medicaid program. The law also mandates that the state protect applicants' confidentiality and prohibits sharing their information with the federal government. Coverage would begin on July 1, 2024, and applies to Vermont residents who meet income requirements but are ineligible for current public health programs because of immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to standardize the opening time for all polling places across Vermont, which currently have a uniform closing time of 7:00 p.m. The legislation would establish a specific opening hour that all polling locations must follow, ensuring consistency statewide. It directly affects election officials and voters who rely on polling place hours for planning. The bill would require all polling places to open at the same designated time, creating uniformity in election day procedures.