Rep. Mark Higley

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 29) is a ceremonial gesture congratulating Montgomery runner Elinor Purrier St. Pierre on her eighth-place finish in the women's 1500m at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It recognizes her athletic achievements, including American records and prior Olympic participation, as detailed in the resolution's "whereas" clauses. The resolution directs Vermont's Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Ms. Purrier St. Pierre. As a symbolic tribute with no policy changes or direct effects, it does not alter laws or affect any constituents beyond expressing legislative recognition.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution honors the Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) for its 65+ years of preserving Vermont's historic cemeteries. VOCA provides restoration grants, veteran burial support, and educational resources (like its newsletter and book *Burial Grounds of Vermont*) to local cemetery groups and municipalities. The resolution formally recognizes VOCA's work without creating new laws, funding, or policy changes. It serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the organization's contributions to cemetery preservation and public education.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans all forms of geoengineering in Vermont, including solar radiation modification (like stratospheric aerosol injection), cloud seeding, and other atmospheric experiments that release pollutants. It directly affects anyone conducting such activities - individuals, companies, or government entities - within Vermont's airspace or territory. Key provisions require Vermont State Police or sheriffs to issue immediate cease-and-desist orders for violations and mandate reports of suspected violations to law enforcement. The bill defines prohibited activities broadly to cover interventions using aerosols, chemicals, electromagnetic radiation, or "chaff" (including PFAS-containing materials) that could harm health, environment, or agriculture.

Maddy summaryH 162 would repeal Vermont's requirement for the Agency of Natural Resources to issue permits for stormwater discharges from impervious surfaces of three or more acres. This directly affects property owners and developers with large impervious surfaces (like commercial sites or subdivisions) who previously needed permits for such discharges, particularly for sites not covered by earlier regulations. The bill removes the permit obligation for stormwater discharges that were either never permitted or were permitted under the outdated 2002 Stormwater Management Manual. The bill is currently pending in the Environment Committee after its first reading on February 7, 2025.

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 (H.150) reinstates an exemption allowing firearm transfers at gun shows to bypass Vermont's standard 72-hour waiting period. It directly affects gun show organizers, vendors, and attendees participating in firearm transactions at events sponsored by firearm-focused organizations (like competitive shooting clubs or collector groups). The key mechanism adds a specific exemption to Vermont law, stating that firearm transfers at qualifying gun shows are not subject to the 72-hour waiting period requirement. This policy change reverses a prior removal of this exemption, returning to a previous regulatory approach for gun show transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows qualifying Vermont towns with approved local plans to designate certain areas (Tier 1A and Tier 1B) as exempt from Act 250 land use regulations until December 31, 2029. It also shifts stormwater permitting authority from the state to certified professional engineers, who would design and permit projects themselves under state oversight. Towns meeting specific zoning and planning requirements could use these exemptions for development projects. The state would periodically review engineers' work and could revoke certification if standards aren't met.

Maddy summaryH 159 proposes to repeal Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which required electricity providers to source increasing percentages of renewable energy. If passed, this bill would eliminate the legal requirement for Vermont's electricity providers to meet specific renewable energy procurement targets. The repeal would remove provisions mandating that providers purchase renewable energy to meet the RES, effectively ending the state's mandatory renewable energy goals. This directly affects all Vermont electricity providers subject to the RES, though it does not address existing renewable energy projects or contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Vermont Secretary of Natural Resources to authorize temporary pilot projects (up to one year) that treat or destroy "emerging contaminants" without requiring standard permits. It directly affects researchers, companies, or organizations testing new methods to address pollutants like hazardous chemicals or substances with health advisories. Key provisions include requiring detailed environmental impact assessments in applications, mandating monitoring during the project, and requiring post-project reports on effectiveness and any unexpected discharges. The Secretary can deny authorization if risks to health or the environment are unreasonable, ensuring safeguards while accelerating innovation for future cleanup solutions.

Maddy summaryVermont's JRH 1 is a joint resolution applying to Congress for a Convention of the States under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It requests that such a convention propose constitutional amendments specifically focused on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and establishing term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution states this application remains active until two-thirds of U.S. states apply for the same purpose, and directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials and other state legislatures. This is a procedural step seeking to initiate a potential constitutional convention, not a direct policy change affecting residents.