Rep. Woody Page

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new driver education and training program specifically for students enrolled in Vermont's home study program, allowing their parents or guardians to teach them driving skills. The legislation requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of Education to approve at least one course that includes behind-the-wheel training, instruction on alcohol and drug effects on driving, insurance laws, and rules about vehicle idling. To qualify for a junior operator's license, home study students must complete this approved course, maintain a clean driving record, and log at least 40 hours of supervised practice driving. The bill also sets eligibility requirements for parents teaching the course, excluding those with recent traffic violations or serious criminal convictions, and mandates a report comparing driving records of students who completed home study programs versus traditional school-based programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption to Vermont's 72-hour waiting period for firearm transfers, allowing individuals who already own a gun to transfer one without waiting if they provide proof of ownership. The law establishes a new program where the Department of Public Safety can issue proof of firearms ownership cards to current gun owners, which would serve as valid documentation for this transfer exemption. To qualify for the card, applicants must submit a form under penalty of perjury confirming they own a firearm, and the department will deny applications from people prohibited from owning guns or subject to certain protective orders. The state would charge a $25 fee for each card issued, and the card must include the owner's identifying information and photograph.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a single, unified process for sealing criminal history records in Vermont, simplifying the current system where different procedures apply to expungement and sealing. It would allow certain individuals with qualifying criminal convictions to have their records sealed from general public access while still permitting specific entities like law enforcement and employers to view them for legitimate purposes. The legislation removes the requirement for people requesting criminal records to provide the date of birth of the individual they are seeking and eliminates a disclaimer that currently warns requestors that name-only searches may return multiple people. By consolidating these procedures and adjusting how records are handled, the bill aims to streamline access to criminal history information while maintaining protections for individuals with certain types of convictions.

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 requires all Type I and II school buses in Vermont to be equipped with live digital video cameras that automatically detect and record vehicles illegally passing a stopped school bus. The cameras will capture images of license plates only, not occupants, and store footage for up to 90 days unless a violation is reported, in which case images are kept until the case is resolved. If a violation is confirmed, the school bus operator can submit the recorded evidence to issue a civil traffic violation to the vehicle's registered owner, removing the need for a law enforcement officer to witness the infraction. Additionally, the bill eliminates point assessments on driving records for illegal school bus passing violations, though it does not change the underlying penalty for the offense. The changes take effect on August 1, 2025, and apply to school buses during the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Department of Health to create free opioid overdose response training videos and distribute naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, to businesses and organizations likely to encounter people experiencing overdoses. The legislation also requires the department to expand community prevention programs, improve access to treatment services, educate healthcare providers and recovery program participants on overdose prevention, and establish public kiosks where naloxone can be dispensed. These measures aim to increase public awareness and access to life-saving resources for individuals at risk of opioid-related overdoses across the state. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors Vermont National Guard Deputy Adjutant General Kenneth Gragg for his distinguished career in public service. The document recognizes his 46 years of military and civilian service, including his leadership in financial management, construction projects, and pandemic response efforts. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Gragg as a formal acknowledgment of his contributions. This is a ceremonial measure with no new laws or policy changes, serving only to publicly recognize his achievements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows two or more businesses with separate alcoholic beverage licenses to merge into a single parent corporation while keeping their individual licenses active. The key provision permits these merged entities to operate under one unified payroll and administrative system without requiring them to consolidate their licenses. It directly affects businesses in Vermont that have combined operations but wish to maintain their existing licensing structure. The legislation aims to provide flexibility for corporate mergers in the alcohol beverage industry without disrupting current regulatory compliance.

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 would remove a provision in Vermont's Public Records Act that currently allows government agencies to withhold records related to ongoing lawsuits. The change would require agencies to make litigation-related documents available to the public immediately, rather than keeping them hidden until the legal case concludes or a court orders them released. This affects state and local government agencies that handle public records and participate in legal proceedings. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, increasing transparency around government litigation activities.