Rep. Larry Satcowitz

Maddy summaryH 198 increases the University of Vermont Board of Trustees from 25 to 27 members by adding one voting faculty member (elected by the faculty) and one voting staff member (appointed with broad representation). It also requires that the two student trustee positions be filled by one full-time undergraduate student and one full-time graduate student, specifying their eligibility and term structure. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with new appointments needed by July 31, 2025. This bill directly affects the governance of the University of Vermont by expanding representation from faculty, staff, and students on the board.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 12) is a non-binding ceremonial resolution expressing legislative congratulations to the University of Vermont (UVM) men's soccer team for winning their first NCAA Division I men's soccer championship (College Cup) in 2024. It formally recognizes the team's achievement, including their "Cardiac Cats" nickname and championship victory over Marshall University. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to UVM Athletics but does not create any new policy, funding, or legal obligations. It is purely symbolic recognition of the team's athletic accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits using bait to hunt fur-bearing animals (such as raccoons or foxes) with guns, bows, or crossbows. It defines "bait" broadly as any animal, vegetable, or mineral matter placed to attract wildlife, excluding standard farm produce used in regular agriculture. Violations will now carry 10 penalty points instead of 5 under Vermont's hunting regulations. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH.112 provides medical debt relief for Vermont residents by appropriating $1 million to contract with a nonprofit to purchase and erase qualifying medical debt. It directly affects Vermonters with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their household income. The bill prohibits credit bureaus from reporting medical debt on credit reports and bans healthcare providers from submitting such debt to credit agencies. It requires debt relief contractors to remove adverse credit information after debt abolition, ensuring no cost or tax impact for affected residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Office of Veterans Affairs to create and maintain a database of state veterans, collecting personal information from state agencies. It mandates that all state agencies provide veteran data "to the maximum extent practicable" while keeping all personally identifying details exempt from public records requests under Vermont law. The database will be confidential, with information protected from public inspection or copying, even overriding standard public records exemptions. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and directly affects Vermont veterans whose personal details are collected, as well as state agencies responsible for sharing that data.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Vermont municipalities to treat properties with accumulated junk, scrap, abandoned vehicles, or rubbish as public nuisances. Towns can create local rules requiring owners to clean such properties within 90 days or face fines, with unpaid fines becoming property liens collected like taxes. It specifically targets unlicensed salvage operations and sites violating nuisance standards, while ensuring local rules align with state law. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Vermont public schools, independent schools, career and technical centers, and prequalified private prekindergarten programs to ban student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the entire school day, from arrival to dismissal. It also prohibits schools from using social media to communicate with students directly. Exceptions are permitted for students with documented medical needs (requiring physician documentation) or for those using devices as part of an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy aims to reduce distractions and support student well-being, aligning with findings about youth mental health and social media use.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill bans the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds for soybeans and cereal grains, aiming to protect pollinators like bees that are essential to the state's agriculture and ecosystems. The law prohibits dealers and farmers from selling or planting these treated seeds, with an exemption process available for specific agricultural emergencies that requires pest management training, risk assessments, and record-keeping. Neonicotinoids are a widely used class of insecticides known to be highly toxic to pollinators, and the legislation aligns Vermont with similar restrictions adopted by other states and regions. The bill amends state pesticide laws to define neonicotinoid-treated articles and establishes the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to issue limited exemptions under strict conditions.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution officially recognizes May 6-12, 2024, as National Nurses Week in Vermont and designates May 9, 2024, as ANA-Vermont Hill Day at the State House. The measure honors the nursing profession by acknowledging nurses' contributions to healthcare, particularly during the pandemic, and invites the public to express gratitude to nurses on that date. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to ANA-Vermont, the organization overseeing the commemoration. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the nursing profession's importance.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization founded in 1975 that supports state and territorial legislators and their staff. The resolution recognizes the group's role in advancing state legislative effectiveness, fostering cooperation between states, and providing a unified voice for state legislatures in the federal system. It directs the Vermont Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measure is a commemorative action with no policy changes or budgetary impact.