Rep. Jim Harrison

Maddy summaryThis bill (H 153) amends Vermont law to expand who can request certified copies of birth and death certificates. It adds aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews to the existing list of eligible family members, which previously included parents, siblings, grandparents, and other close relatives. The change directly affects these extended family members seeking official records for personal, legal, or medical purposes. The amendment to 18 V.S.A. § 5016 takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH.145 clarifies rules for public meetings under Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. It gives public body chairs authority to create reasonable rules for public comments and to remove attendees who disrupt meetings after being asked to stop. The bill also adds "substantial impairment of a meeting’s effective conduct" to Vermont’s disorderly conduct law, making such disruptions a punishable offense. Attendees removed for violations may be barred from in-person meetings for up to 60 days if the public body uses hybrid or virtual formats. The law aims to balance public participation with orderly government operations, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 128 requires the State's Attorney to request a specific release condition when someone not legally renting a dwelling is charged with unlawful drug activity there. The bill mandates that courts may prohibit such individuals from coming within a fixed distance of the dwelling as part of their release terms. This directly affects people facing drug charges in properties they do not lease or own. The provision applies to arraignment on next business day after citation or arrest for drug activity in non-tenant dwellings. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH.117 would prevent candidates who lose a major party primary election from appearing on the general election ballot as independents or for another party for the same office. This rule directly affects candidates who compete in a primary but do not win their party's nomination. The bill amends Vermont election law to explicitly bar such candidates from being listed on the general ballot under any other party or as independents. The change would take effect immediately upon the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryH 109 authorizes Vermont municipalities to create local ordinances requiring property owners in designated downtown districts to maintain their buildings to prevent decay or deterioration. This bill directly affects downtown property owners and gives towns/cities a new legal tool to enforce property maintenance standards. The key provision amends Vermont law to explicitly grant municipalities the power to regulate and compel repairs for properties within downtown districts. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025, after legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill, H.104, requires Vermont state public assistance programs to exclude veterans' disability benefits from income calculations when determining eligibility. It directly affects veterans applying for state benefits administered by the Departments of Children and Families, Vermont Health Access, and Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living. The key provision mandates that these departments must not count veterans' disability benefits toward income thresholds for programs like food assistance, healthcare, or housing support. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring veterans’ disability payments no longer reduce their eligibility for state aid.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Vermont farms to host weddings, concerts, and similar events as part of their accessory on-farm businesses. It exempts these events from requiring a state land-use permit if the local town has adopted performance standards and site plan review. The change applies to construction for event spaces and farm stays (overnight accommodations for guests participating in farm activities). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

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 summaryH 74 would phase in full exemption of Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax over eight years. Currently, Vermont partially exempts Social Security benefits for lower-income seniors, but this bill raises the income thresholds where full exemption applies - increasing the single filer threshold from $65,000 to $77,000 and married filer threshold from $80,000 to $92,000. The change applies to all Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits, with full exemption becoming effective by the eighth year. The bill amends Vermont’s tax code (32 V.S.A. § 5830e) to adjust the income-based exclusion rules. It is currently referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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.