Rep. Monique Priestley

Maddy summaryH.746 simplifies permitting rules for potable water and wastewater systems to support housing development in Vermont. It requires a minimum 75-foot distance between water and wastewater systems (unless site conditions require more), allows public buildings like schools to switch uses without redesign, and sets new design standards for systems under paved areas. The bill reduces required water flow rates to enable compact housing, exempts village infrastructure projects from certain permits, and removes land use taxes for water system construction on enrolled agricultural land. These changes aim to lower development costs while maintaining health and environmental protections.

Maddy summaryH 752 requires Vermont's Agency of Digital Services to annually review all state government computer systems that make decisions (like benefits or permits) for cybersecurity risks and personal data vulnerabilities. The bill amends state law (sections 3303 and 3305) to mandate that the Agency's annual inventory of these systems include assessments of privacy risks and cybersecurity safeguards. If a system is found to pose significant risks, the Agency can formally request that state agencies terminate its use. This directly affects all Vermont state departments using automated decision systems that process personal data or make government decisions.

Maddy summaryH.747, the "No Secret Police Act," requires all Vermont local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to visibly display their agency name and either their name or badge number during public interactions. It prohibits wearing masks or disguises that conceal identity, except for specific safety-related exceptions like medical masks, fire operations, or declared weather emergencies. Law enforcement agencies must create and publicly post written policies ensuring compliance with these identification standards. The bill aims to promote transparency and trust between officers and the public during routine engagements.

Maddy summaryH.730 updates Vermont's Act 250 land use law by clarifying "Tier 3" rules, which designate high-priority conservation areas (like river corridors and sensitive habitats). It requires the Land Use Review Board to define Tier 3 boundaries, explain why certain resources aren’t protected, and provide written notice to property owners in Tier 2/3 areas about upcoming rule changes. The bill also creates a de minimis construction exception (e.g., sheds under 200 sq. ft.) and temporarily exempts priority housing projects in designated downtown areas from Tier 3 rules until July 2027. These changes directly affect property owners in conservation zones, local municipalities, and developers navigating land use permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill would classify cloud computing services as public utilities in Vermont, bringing them under the regulatory oversight of the Public Utility Commission and Department of Public Service. It directly affects cloud service providers meeting specific revenue or customer thresholds (set by the Commission) and their consumers, who would benefit from regulated fair practices. Key provisions require providers to avoid unfair tactics like vendor lock-in or opaque pricing, while the Commission monitors the market to ensure reliability and security. The law aims to protect Vermont residents and businesses by applying utility-style regulations to cloud services, which the bill states are now essential to the state's economic welfare.

Maddy summaryH.705 would require Vermont public schools to adopt policies protecting students' right to practice or not practice any religion on school grounds, based on a model policy developed by the Agency of Education. The law prohibits school-sponsored religious activities and ensures students cannot be forced to participate in religious exercises. It creates a private right of action, allowing students or families to sue if schools violate these protections. The bill aims to align school policies with established Supreme Court rulings on church-state separation in education.

Maddy summaryH.714 requires Vermont state agencies to publicly disclose any automated tools (like AI or algorithms) used for employment decisions affecting wages, hiring, promotion, or discipline. Agencies must post details about these tools on their websites, including their purpose and when they began using them. The bill explicitly protects unionized state employees by ensuring these tools cannot reduce job security, benefits, or collective bargaining rights. It also creates a study committee to examine the impact on state employees and explore extending these requirements to municipal workers, teachers, and public college staff.

Maddy summaryH 706 requires internet browser developers (like companies that make Chrome or Firefox) to include a simple, easily accessible setting in their browsers. This setting lets users send a clear signal to websites that they do not want their personal data sold. The bill directly affects browser companies and aims to give consumers control over how their data is used by requiring browsers to support this opt-out functionality. It defines "personal data" broadly to include information linked to individuals or devices, and includes enforcement through the Attorney General. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses in Vermont from engaging in "abusive acts or practices" in commerce, directly affecting consumers and businesses operating within the state. It defines abusive practices as those that either materially interfere with a consumer's understanding of key risks/costs or take unreasonable advantage of a consumer's lack of understanding, inability to protect their interests, or reasonable reliance on the seller. The Attorney General is authorized to create rules enforcing these prohibitions, with violations of these rules considered evidence of unfair or deceptive conduct. The law applies to all consumer products and services, including real estate transactions, and aligns Vermont's interpretation with federal FTC Act standards.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (H 334) bans most noncompete agreements and "stay-or-pay" provisions that require employees to repay employers upon leaving a job. It prohibits agreements restricting work for competitors after separation, with limited exceptions for business sales or dissolution. Employers must notify affected employees about void agreements and cannot retaliate against workers who refuse such terms. The law applies to all Vermont employers and covers existing contracts that violate these restrictions.