Rep. Rodney Graham

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates April 18, 2023, as USS VERMONT Day in Vermont to honor the submarine and its crew. The bill formally recognizes the vessel, which was commissioned in 2020 and is the third U.S. Navy ship named after Vermont, and celebrates the service of its officers and enlisted personnel. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the USS VERMONT and its support group. This is a commemorative measure that does not change laws or policies but serves to acknowledge military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program established in 1933 to provide jobs for unemployed young men on conservation projects. The resolution honors the memory of the three million men who participated in the CCC and specifically acknowledges the program's significant impact on Vermont's natural resources, including the establishment of more than 30 camps in the state. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of the program's historical importance and legacy of forest management, park development, and trail construction.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors former President James Earl Carter as a tireless international humanitarian and public servant. The bill recognizes his post-presidential work, including conflict mediation, election monitoring, disease eradication efforts, and advocacy for affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity. It acknowledges his receipt of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize and his decision to enter hospice care. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to former President Carter.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes March 2023 as Social Work Month in Vermont to honor the contributions of social workers to improving human well-being and addressing social issues. The resolution highlights the profession's role in various settings including schools, hospitals, and government agencies, as well as its work supporting diverse communities and addressing challenges like the opioid crisis. It marks the 60th anniversary of Social Work Month and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Association of Social Workers Vermont Chapter.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Departments of Health and for Children and Families to submit a report on how to enable WIC card users to pay at farmers' markets. The report must outline the feasibility, timeline, and costs for providing farmers' market vendors with payment devices that work with electronic benefit transfer cards. The bill affects WIC program participants, farmers' market vendors, and state agencies responsible for nutrition programs. It takes effect on July 1, 2023, and directs the report to be submitted by January 15, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that municipal zoning rules limiting the number of group homes do not apply to facilities housing high-risk, justice-involved youth. It amends state law to exclude such facilities from the definition of group homes that are permitted as single-family residential uses, while maintaining existing limits on the number of homes per lot. The change directly affects municipalities, zoning authorities, and operators of residential care facilities by creating a specific exemption for youth justice facilities. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and aims to provide clearer guidance on how different types of group homes are treated under local zoning regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives Vermont towns the option to maintain legal trails without requiring them to do so, while also granting local selectboards the authority to regulate how these trails are used. It defines legal trails as public rights-of-way that were formerly town highways or were newly designated for access or recreation, and clarifies that towns are not required to maintain them or owe a duty of care to trail users. The legislation allows selectboards to set rules on permitted vehicle types, install gates, and establish penalties for noncompliance, but does not authorize land condemnation for recreational trail purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program by adjusting income thresholds and co-payment rules to help more families access subsidized child care. Under the new provisions, families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for subsidies, while those earning 150 percent or less would pay no co-payment regardless of family size. The bill also changes how child care providers are paid by decoupling reimbursement rates from the Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and instead tying them to market rates from the Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey with tiered caps based on provider ratings. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impact families seeking employment or training and the child care providers serving them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont to give admission preference to in-state students who have completed career technical education programs in fields that the institutions offer. The law applies to eligible residents who have finished relevant CTE training and seeks to create a direct pathway for these students into postsecondary programs aligned with their technical background. The preference would be implemented starting July 1, 2023, and applies specifically to both the state college system and the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.