Rep. Tom Burditt

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to restructure the governance of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by eliminating the Chancellor position and reducing the number of legislative trustees from two to one, while adding one faculty trustee and one staff trustee to the Board of Trustees. The legislation would also remove requirements for structural deficit reductions and maintaining current campuses as educational centers, giving the Board more flexibility in managing the system. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Office of the President to oversee shared services across institutions and requires annual reporting to the General Assembly on the costs and allocation of these shared services. The changes would take effect by August 1, 2024, with the two longest-serving legislative trustees being replaced by the new faculty and staff representatives.

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 seeks to repeal two Vermont climate laws: the Affordable Heat Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act. It directly affects state agencies, utility regulators, and businesses subject to these regulations by removing requirements related to clean heat standards, greenhouse gas inventories, and climate action planning. The legislation would eliminate the Clean Heat Standard, repeal the Vermont Climate Council, and modify state energy policy sections to remove references to specific emissions reduction goals tied to those repealed acts. While some sections retain general greenhouse gas reporting requirements, the bill removes mandates for implementing specific climate mitigation strategies and the associated regulatory frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's bail and release procedures by removing the $200 limit on bail amounts for individuals charged with violating court orders, skipping bail hearings, or failing to appear in court. It also expands the factors judges can consider when setting release conditions, such as whether a person is already under community supervision or has other pending charges. Additionally, the legislation creates a new criminal offense for bail jumping and adjusts evidentiary standards for certain hearings to align them with other bail proceedings. These changes directly affect judges, defendants, and law enforcement by altering how pretrial release is managed and enforced.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's unlawful trespass laws to include entering another person's vehicle without permission or legal authority. It establishes a new criminal offense for unauthorized vehicle entry, punishable by a fine of up to $500 for first offenses, with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to $500 for repeat offenders. The legislation also increases penalties for subsequent trespassing in buildings from a maximum of one year to three years imprisonment or a $2,000 fine. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and includes protections for law enforcement officers serving legal process.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates three new criminal offenses in Vermont: organized retail theft, aggravated retail theft, and retail theft with intent to resell. It directly affects individuals who steal merchandise from retail stores, with penalties based on the value of stolen goods and specific circumstances of the theft. Organized retail theft applies when thefts occur in groups or multiple times within 180 days, while aggravated retail theft involves using emergency exits or security-bypassing tools. Retail theft with intent to resell targets those who plan to sell stolen items to others. All three offenses carry fines up to $2,500 and potential prison sentences of up to 15 years if the stolen merchandise value exceeds $900.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Donor Intent Protection Act to give charitable donors legal options when their endowment restrictions are not followed by recipient organizations. It establishes a private right of action allowing donors to sue in state court within six years of discovering a breach, without seeking monetary damages. The law also permits charitable organizations to seek court declarations about how to interpret or enforce their endowment agreements. Importantly, if a violation is found, courts can order remedies consistent with the donor's original purpose but cannot require the return of donated funds. The bill applies to tax-exempt charitable organizations that manage endowment funds with written donor restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution congratulates St. Peter Roman Catholic Church of Rutland on the 150th anniversary of its church building's construction. The document acknowledges the church's history, noting it was built in 1869 and consecrated in 1873 to serve the growing Catholic community in the Rutland area. It recognizes the contributions of parishioners who helped construct the building and subsequent restoration efforts over the decades. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the church as a formal acknowledgment of this milestone.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month in Vermont. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Jewish communities in the state. The measure acknowledges the historical contributions of Jewish Americans to Vermont and the nation, noting their early settlement and ongoing cultural significance. It does not change laws or policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of Jewish heritage and history.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Vermont to raise public awareness about mental health challenges. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the state's mental health needs and statistics. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to relevant mental health organizations and officials. While it highlights concerning data about suicide rates and access to care, the bill itself is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change.