Rep. Art Peterson

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to repeal all existing laws that regulate licensed cannabis establishments in Vermont. It would directly affect businesses currently operating under cannabis regulations and the state's legal framework for overseeing these operations. The legislation includes findings about potential harms of cannabis use to health, safety, employment, driving, and youth, though it does not specify new regulations or enforcement measures. If passed, the bill would remove the current legal structure governing licensed cannabis businesses without replacing it with new oversight provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt all U.S. military retirement income and military survivor benefit income from Vermont state income tax. It directly affects active and retired military personnel, as well as the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased service members who receive these benefits. The legislation amends existing tax code sections to remove military retirement and survivor benefits from taxable income, while also clarifying that taxpayers can only choose one income exclusion option if they qualify for multiple types of exemptions. The bill states its purpose is to honor and thank military retirees and their families for their service, and it applies retroactively to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont State Highway Safety Office to prepare a written report by January 15, 2024, recommending how the state should adjust its approach to educating about, enforcing, and prosecuting distracted driving violations for noncommercial drivers. The report must consult with various state agencies and organizations, examine current enforcement methods like fines and license suspensions, and specifically consider strategies for drivers under 18 years old. The legislation does not change any existing laws but requires officials to analyze what is working and what needs improvement in addressing distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow licensed security guards and private investigators to carry firearms in hospital buildings while performing their official duties, expanding current exemptions that already permit law enforcement and military personnel to do so. The legislation amends Vermont state law to add these two professional groups to the list of individuals who may legally possess firearms in healthcare facilities, provided they hold the required security or firearms certifications. Hospitals would need to post notices at public entrances informing visitors of this exception to the general prohibition on firearms in hospital buildings. The change applies only when these professionals are actively working and does not alter the existing ban on firearm possession by the general public in healthcare settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Health Care Freedom of Conscience Act, would protect the rights of health care providers and institutions in Vermont to decline participation in medical services that conflict with their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It directly affects physicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinics, hospitals, and other health care entities by establishing their right to refuse services such as abortion, contraception, assisted reproduction, and physician-assisted suicide without facing penalties. The legislation prohibits discrimination against providers or institutions who exercise this right, banning actions like termination, demotion, loss of benefits, or denial of licenses or grants as retaliation for conscientious objections. To qualify for protection, health care institutions must provide patients with a consent form stating their right to decline certain services, while individual providers receive immunity from civil, criminal, and administrative liability for refusing to participate in objectionable care.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific requirements for obtaining informed consent before administering immunizations in Vermont, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients. It mandates that providers give individuals or their guardians a copy of the immunization package insert at least 24 hours before administration, obtain prior written consent, and inform patients they can refuse immunizations without facing threats or penalties. The bill also creates a legal defense for medical malpractice claims related to informed consent in immunization cases and requires expert testimony to prove that sufficient information was not provided. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to both adults and minors with parental or guardian consent requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to grant legal personhood status to a human fetus starting at 24 weeks of development, which would affect reproductive rights and abortion access in Vermont. The legislation amends state law to recognize fetal personhood from 24 weeks after the pregnant individual's last menstrual period while simultaneously protecting abortion access before that threshold. Key provisions prohibit public entities from restricting reproductive choices prior to 24 weeks and prevent law enforcement from prosecuting individuals for abortions performed before that point. The bill directly impacts pregnant individuals, healthcare providers, and public institutions by establishing a 24-week boundary for when fetal personhood protections would apply versus when reproductive choice protections remain in full effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow children to attend school and child care facilities without required immunizations if their parents or guardians provide a signed statement affirming conscientious or personal beliefs against vaccination. To qualify, parents must annually submit a form stating they have reviewed educational materials about vaccine risks and the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly for those who cannot be vaccinated. The bill also permits exemptions when a licensed health care practitioner certifies in writing that a specific immunization could be harmful to a child's health. These provisions would take effect on July 1, 2023, and the signed exemption forms would not be used as evidence in civil proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Department of Health to submit an annual report on adverse reactions reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. The report must include data on the number of reactions, details by vaccine type and recipient age, emergency visits, hospitalizations, permanent disabilities, deaths, and information about compensation support activities. Health care practitioners administering vaccines in Vermont are also required to report all significant adverse events to the system, even if the vaccine connection is uncertain. The annual report will be sent to state health committees, posted online, and shared electronically with health care providers. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three main benefits for Vermont veterans. First, it requires the state to create and maintain a confidential database of veterans in Vermont, collecting information from various agencies while protecting personal details from public access. Second, it reduces motor vehicle registration fees for veterans with honorable discharges, offering either a 50% discount or a full waiver for vehicles purchased with VA financial assistance. Third, it increases the amount of U.S. military retirement pay exempt from Vermont state income tax, raising the exclusion limit for single filers from $10,000 to $15,000 and adjusting thresholds based on total income levels.