Rep. Monique Priestley

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Protecting Soils and Waters from Forever Chemicals Act, prohibits the land application of septage throughout Vermont and restricts landfill disposal of waste containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when state standards are exceeded or when facilities lack proper certification. The legislation requires all solid waste management facilities to obtain state certification before operating, with specific exemptions for certain domestic wastewater treatment plants that meet defined conditions. Additionally, the bill bans the use of sludge as daily cover at landfills and mandates that the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets develop a memorandum of understanding by January 15, 2025, to enforce PFAS soil standards. These changes directly affect wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and municipalities that manage septage and sludge waste.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 26, 2024, as Mesothelioma Awareness Day in Vermont to raise public awareness about the disease. It directly affects Vermont residents who may be impacted by mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, particularly those living near former mining sites or in older buildings containing asbestos materials. The resolution includes background information on the disease's symptoms, prevalence, and Vermont's historical connection to asbestos mining and use. The General Assembly formally recognizes this date to encourage education and support for those affected by mesothelioma.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Resilient Communities Fund to provide financial assistance to Vermont municipalities for planning and responding to floods, fires, environmental hazards, and other disasters, with priority given to projects that match federal grants and serve vulnerable communities. It requires the Division of Vermont Emergency Management to identify specific areas needing additional funding based on past disasters, current risks, and local capacity, and mandates a study to improve coordination between state and local disaster response efforts. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of Natural Resources to create rules for development permits in flood hazard areas and authorizes the creation of a State Urban Search and Rescue Team for rapid emergency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an extended producer responsibility program in Vermont to manage the collection and recycling of waste motor vehicle tires. It requires tire manufacturers to register with the state and either join an approved waste tire stewardship organization or implement their own plan before selling tires beginning in 2026. The program includes a fee system and mandates that manufacturers contribute to tire recycling efforts, with the Agency of Natural Resources overseeing compliance. Covered entities, such as tire retailers, must deliver waste tires to approved collection facilities to participate in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a study committee to examine how Vermont could distribute sales and use tax revenue equally among all municipalities. The committee will also investigate other methods for sharing state revenue with local communities. The legislation does not change any current tax laws or revenue distributions but instead creates a group to research and recommend options for future policy changes. The bill affects state government structure by adding a committee tasked with analyzing revenue sharing mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurance companies in Vermont from discriminating against homeowners based solely on owning specific dog breeds or mixed breeds. It makes such discrimination an unfair practice under state insurance law, preventing insurers from using breed alone to deny coverage, cancel policies, or charge higher rates. The law allows insurers to still refuse coverage or increase rates if a specific dog has a documented history of causing significant property damage or serious bodily injury, provided the decision is based on sound underwriting principles. The policy applies to all homeowners' insurance policies offered, issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2024, and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a study committee to examine how Vermont could create supplemental funding for its Unemployment Insurance Program. The committee will analyze different funding options, such as enterprise funds or special accounts, to help the Department of Labor manage reserves during high unemployment periods and cover costs for IT upgrades, service improvements, and fraud prevention. The bill does not authorize any funding changes itself but instead focuses on researching the best financial mechanisms to support the program's future needs. It directly affects state officials responsible for unemployment insurance administration and the committee members tasked with conducting the analysis.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to allow tiny houses as permitted uses in zoning regulations. It specifies that one tiny house can be placed on a lot of one acre or more, while two tiny houses are permitted on lots of two acres or more. The legislation also includes a provision that tiny houses do not need wastewater capacity if they are occupied by family members of someone living in an existing single-family home on the same lot. This change directly affects local zoning authorities and homeowners considering tiny house construction or placement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Emergency Management agency to create and maintain a list of operational self-storage facilities during a state of emergency. The legislation mandates that storage facilities provide their name, address, contact information, and current unit availability to the state, which will then share this data through Vermont 211 or another approved agency. Facilities must update their availability information at least once every 24 hours while an emergency is in effect. Additionally, the bill prohibits storage facilities from charging unconscionably high prices during emergencies, defining such prices as those that show a gross disparity compared to normal rates charged before the emergency declaration. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates and expands the Municipal Planning and Resilience Grant Program to help Vermont towns and regional planning commissions prepare for climate-related hazards like flooding. The program will receive funding from a dedicated state fund, with 20 percent of revenues going to municipalities and 70 percent to regional planning commissions for performance-based contracts. Municipalities must vote to allocate local funds for planning purposes and submit plans for approval to qualify for grants, which can be used for acquiring development rights, conservation easements, or implementing climate resilience projects. The bill also establishes two new permanent full-time positions to administer the grants and assist with financing climate resilience projects.