Rep. Saudia Lamont

Maddy summaryH.826 creates the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB) to administer a new Land Access and Opportunity Fund, funded partly by cannabis tax revenue. The bill requires the Department of Taxes to submit an annual affordable housing tax report and establishes a Land Security Working Group. It directs the fund to provide down payment assistance for homeownership (including for farmland access), technical support for BIPOC developers, and grants for community-led housing projects like land trusts. The bill directly affects Vermonters facing housing affordability challenges, particularly disadvantaged communities and people with developmental disabilities, by aiming to expand access to land and housing resources.

Maddy summaryH 813 requires approved independent schools receiving public funding to meet the same education quality standards, transparency rules, and accountability measures as Vermont public schools. It mandates these schools to develop annual improvement plans, publicly report student performance data (including graduation rates and cost-per-pupil), maintain safe facilities, employ licensed special educators, follow open meeting and public records laws, and not charge extra fees to publicly funded students. The bill directly affects independent schools that accept state tuition payments, ensuring they operate with comparable standards to public schools. Key provisions include standardized reporting formats, safety regulations, and prohibitions on charging additional fees beyond state funding. This extends Vermont’s public school accountability framework to all schools using public funds.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 165) commemorates Micheline Lemay of Stowe for her leadership in outdoor recreation and mindfulness. It specifically recognizes her work as a co-owner of Rugged Adventures Summer Camp, her personal journey overcoming serious health challenges including cancer, and her "Mansfield Million" ski challenge to ascend Mount Mansfield. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Micheline Lemay, with no policy changes or direct effects on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryHCR 172 is a commemorative resolution honoring Jon Gailmor, a Vermont folk singer and former Elmore Town Moderator who died in 2025. The resolution expresses the Vermont General Assembly’s condolences to his family and Elmore residents, recognizing his contributions as a musician who celebrated Vermont through songs like "A Town Meeting Tune" and his 15+ years serving as Elmore's town moderator. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Gailmor’s family and the Elmore Town Clerk. This is a ceremonial measure with no policy impact.

Maddy summaryH.704 extends and expands Vermont's Tenant Representation Pilot Program, providing free legal representation to eligible tenants facing eviction in Lamoille and Windsor counties. It targets tenants with household income at or below 120% of the state median, rent consuming 30% or more of income, or expenses exceeding income. The program offers full legal representation specifically for eviction cases (not counterclaims) and requires Vermont Legal Aid to report on outcomes, including resolutions through rental assistance programs. Implementation depends on state funding approval for fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H.689) requires service providers to adjust financial aid applications for housing, hospital, and surgical care so that only the income of an individual with a disability - not their entire household - is used to determine eligibility and benefit levels. It directly affects Vermont residents with disabilities who apply for these specific types of financial assistance. The key change is modifying how income is calculated during the application process, focusing solely on the applicant's earnings rather than household income. This aims to ensure fairer access to aid by accounting for the individual's personal financial situation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Vermont school districts providing secondary education to add voting student members for grades 9-12 (one student per grade, totaling four voting members) and nonvoting student members for grades 7-8 (one student per grade, totaling two nonvoting members). Student members must be enrolled in and attending a school within the district during their term, and appointments would be made by the superintendent using a process involving student input. The bill applies to all town, city, and regional school districts operating secondary schools and takes effect July 1, 2026. It does not change the term length for student members, who serve the same term as other board members.

Maddy summaryH 397 updates Vermont's emergency management and flood response systems. It requires the Division of Emergency Management to annually report on mitigation plans to legislative committees and revise the State Emergency Management Plan every five years to cover response coordination, preparedness, and local planning templates. The bill expands grant funding for flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts for flood-affected properties, and mandates new assistance for municipalities to access river monitoring and weather alert systems. It also provides municipalities with greater flexibility to borrow funds for emergency-related expenses and manage unspent budget balances. These changes directly affect state agencies, local governments, and communities in flood-prone areas.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont House resolution (HR 9) urges all state agencies to protect the privacy and medical confidentiality of Vermonters diagnosed with autism, specifically in response to federal plans for an autism research database. It directly affects autistic Vermonters by seeking to prevent their personal health data - like medical records, insurance claims, and wearable device information - from being collected or shared without informed consent. The resolution emphasizes that autism is a neurological difference, not a disease, and highlights concerns about federal data collection practices that lack explicit privacy safeguards. As a non-binding resolution, it directs state officials to uphold privacy rights and has been formally adopted by the House.

Maddy summaryHCR 110 is a House concurrent resolution that designates April 2025 as Black Maternal Care Awareness Month in Vermont. This resolution aims to raise awareness about racial inequities in maternal health outcomes and celebrates efforts to address these disparities, and directs a copy to be sent to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.