Rep. Dave Bosch

Maddy summaryHCR 178 is a ceremonial resolution honoring former Vermont State Senator William H. Carris of Wells. It commemorates his life and service, including his career as a business leader (founder of Carris Reels, which implemented an employee stock ownership plan), his philanthropy, and his three terms in the Vermont Senate (2006-2016). The resolution extends the General Assembly's sympathy to his family and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to them. As a non-binding tribute, it has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents or legislation.

Maddy summaryHCR 196 is a ceremonial resolution honoring U.S. Army Major General Gregory Knight, Vermont's Adjutant and Inspector General, for his 43-year military and public service career. It formally commends his service - including deployments to Iraq, academic achievements, leadership in the Vermont National Guard, and his seven-year tenure as the state's top military officer - and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to him and the Vermont National Guard. This resolution does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The bill was offered by all members of both the House and Senate.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution designates February 11, 2026, as "Disability Advocacy Day" at the Vermont State House. It recognizes the work of disability rights groups like the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR) and highlights ongoing challenges such as educational disparities and barriers in employment, housing, and transportation faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these issues and the contributions of people with disabilities. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to VCDR.

Maddy summaryHCR 181 is a ceremonial resolution congratulating 25 Vermont businesses and organizations that won the 2025 Spirit of the ADA Award. It formally recognizes these recipients - such as Walmart Rutland, Copley Hospital, and the Vermont Granite Museum - for their inclusive employment practices that align with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send each winner a copy of the resolution, with no policy changes or new requirements for the recipients. This is purely symbolic recognition, not a legislative action affecting laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryH.883 creates a task force to evaluate ways to simplify Vermont's state permitting processes for land use, water, and development projects. The task force will specifically consider making permits more transparent, faster, and easier to navigate, including exploring a single point of entry for all state permits. This bill directly affects Vermont residents, businesses, and developers who interact with state permitting systems. The bill does not make immediate changes but sets up a process to study potential reforms.

Maddy summaryH.871 requires individuals who receive unemployment benefits while failing to conduct required work interviews or providing false information to employers to repay those benefits. It increases penalties for fraud, including up to $5,000 fines and up to a five-year ban from benefits, and mandates quarterly data checks by the Department of Labor using state databases (like job placement records, incarceration data, and health records) to detect fraud. This bill directly affects unemployment benefit recipients who commit fraud or skip work search requirements. Key provisions include clarifying repayment obligations under §1347, strengthening penalties under §1368, and adding mandatory data cross-checks via new §1314b. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts Social Security benefits from Vermont's state income tax for most recipients, based on income levels. It fully excludes benefits for single filers earning under $55,000 or married couples filing jointly earning under $70,000 annually, with partial exemptions for higher earners up to $65,000 (single) or $80,000 (married). Additionally, it caps annual property tax increases at 1% for all homeowners. The policy directly affects Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits and homeowners, aiming to reduce tax burdens for low- to moderate-income seniors and households.

Maddy summaryH.869 requires Vermont union school districts to fill vacancies on school boards where seats are tied to specific towns by appointing an eligible person chosen by that town's selectboard. The district must notify the selectboard within five days of a vacancy, and the selectboard has 30 days to select a replacement to serve until the next election. This applies to districts using proportional representation (based on town population) or a modified at-large system for town-specific seats. The bill standardizes the vacancy-filling process for these districts, replacing prior unspecified procedures.

Maddy summaryH.854 modifies Vermont legislators' pay based on when the regular legislative session ends. It ensures members receive full salary if the session concludes before the first Friday in May. If the session extends beyond that date, members get only expense reimbursement for up to three weeks past May 1, and no pay or reimbursement for longer sessions. This directly affects all Vermont General Assembly members by tying their compensation to session timing rather than calendar dates. The bill amends existing pay statutes to create this incentive structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H.842) revises Vermont’s Commission on Public School Employee Health Benefits by reducing its membership from 10 to 9 members, making the Secretary of Education the chair, and limiting alternate members. It requires the Commission to cap the actuarial value of health benefit plans and consider specific factors when making decisions, while adding new dispute resolution options for negotiations. The bill directly affects public school employees and employers in Vermont, as the Commission manages health benefits for school staff. It also mandates that the Secretary of Education contract with a single third-party provider to oversee health savings accounts for school employees.