Rep. Jay Hooper

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the Boyd Family Farm in Wilmington on the 100th anniversary of its current location. The resolution acknowledges the farm's history, noting that the family relocated there in 1923 after a flood displaced their original farm established in 1775. It highlights the farm's current operations, which include growing flowers, offering blueberry picking, providing wedding floral services, and running a community-supported agriculture program. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the farm as a gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban advertisements for Vermont's state-run gambling operations, including the state lottery and sports wagering. It directly affects the Department of Liquor and Lottery, sports wagering operators, and any entities that currently advertise these services. The law would require the department to remove existing gambling advertisements and prevent new ones from appearing in the future. This change would modify the current advertising plan agreement between the state and its gambling partners. The bill aims to reduce the visibility of state gambling promotions without altering the operations themselves.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow incarcerated individuals in Vermont to receive time off their sentences for earning higher education degrees or credentials. Under the proposal, offenders would get six months off for completing a certificate program with at least 30 credit hours, one year for an associate or bachelor's degree, 18 months for a master's degree, and two years for a doctoral degree. The legislation also directs that any cost savings from reduced incarceration time be transferred to the state's education budget to support colleges and universities. This change directly affects the Department of Corrections and institutions of higher education in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove the mandatory retirement age requirement for certain Vermont state law enforcement officers. It directly affects state employees who work in law enforcement roles that currently have a set age limit for retirement. The key provision eliminates the specific age threshold that forces these officers to retire, allowing them to continue working past that age if they meet other employment requirements. This change would apply only to the specified law enforcement positions within the state system, leaving other state employees' retirement rules unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill would give Vermont's Attorney General new authority to regulate social media platforms in the state, specifically to protect the health and safety of users under 18. It establishes a new legal framework called the Vermont Social Media Safety Act and creates a funding structure to support enforcement efforts. The legislation is based on findings that social media design features can contribute to youth mental health issues and addiction, and it applies consumer protection principles to social media companies. The bill does not specify particular platform requirements but instead empowers regulators to oversee how these platforms operate and impact child users.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would require fossil fuel companies that operated in Vermont between 2000 and 2019 to pay for their share of climate change costs. The program targets entities involved in extracting coal, oil, or natural gas, charging them based on how much greenhouse gas their products contributed to global emissions. Money collected from these payments would go into a dedicated fund to finance climate resilience projects like flood protections, upgraded infrastructure, and health programs addressing climate-related health risks. The law defines specific types of infrastructure projects eligible for funding and establishes rules for determining which companies must pay and how much they owe.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase fines and add more points to driving records for using portable electronic devices like phones while driving in Vermont. It directly affects all drivers who use handheld devices or text while operating a moving vehicle on highways. The bill establishes higher penalties for violations in school zones and work zones where construction or maintenance crews are present, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 and additional points on driving records. It also creates a new Distracted Driving Diversion Program to offer an alternative to traditional penalties for eligible first-time offenders. The legislation applies to both junior operators and licensed drivers, with specific provisions preventing duplicate penalties for the same incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month in Vermont. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Jewish communities in the state. The measure acknowledges the historical contributions of Jewish Americans to Vermont and the nation, noting their early settlement and ongoing cultural significance. It does not change laws or policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of Jewish heritage and history.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Vermont to raise public awareness about mental health challenges. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the state's mental health needs and statistics. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to relevant mental health organizations and officials. While it highlights concerning data about suicide rates and access to care, the bill itself is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change.