Rep. Jarrod Sammis

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring Honoree Fleming, a former Dean of Education at Castleton State College who was tragically killed in 2023. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's sympathy to her family and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to her family, the Castleton Town Clerk, and the university president. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of her life and contributions to education and science. The measure was adopted by both the House and Senate without requiring a vote on the main text.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of U.S. Navy Torpedoman 2nd Class Henry Breault becoming the first submariner to receive the Medal of Honor. The document honors Breault's heroic act of returning to a sinking submarine to rescue a trapped crewmate, an event that occurred on October 28, 1923, when his vessel collided with a commercial ship in the Panama Canal. The resolution formally recognizes this historical milestone and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Submarine Force Library and Museum and to historian Ryan Walker. This legislative action serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Breault's service and sacrifice rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 13, 2024, as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont to honor military working dogs and their handlers. It recognizes the contributions of approximately 1,600 trained dogs who serve in roles such as patrol, drug detection, and explosives detection across the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron in San Antonio, Texas. This measure is ceremonial and does not change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Sergeant at Arms Janet Miller for her service to the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her long career, which includes managing security, coordinating events, and overseeing the Legislative Council before she was elected to her current role five times. The resolution also acknowledges her specific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping the legislature transition back to in-person meetings. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this honor to Janet Miller, who has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes the week of February 26 to March 1 as Public Schools Week in Vermont. It does not create new laws or change policies but instead acknowledges the importance of public schools as community institutions and major employers. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to various education-related organizations, including the Vermont Secretary of Education and state education associations. This measure serves to honor the role of public schools in Vermont society without affecting any operational or funding aspects of the education system.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates February 16, 2024, as Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House to honor the state's natural landscape and outdoor activities. The measure recognizes Vermont's extensive trail systems, wildlife areas, and ski resorts as important assets for the economy, community well-being, and quality of life. While the resolution does not create new laws or funding, it formally acknowledges the value of outdoor recreation and directs state officials to be notified of the designation. The bill was passed by both the Senate and House without requiring a vote, following standard procedure for ceremonial resolutions.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-part pilot program to improve health outcomes for people involved with the justice system in Vermont. The first part provides $50,000 to train all correctional facility staff, contractors, and grant recipients in health equity practices, starting at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. The second part allocates $1 million to fund community-based mental health and substance use disorder services for detained or incarcerated individuals, including telehealth visits, on-site case management, and support for reentry into the community. The pilot will run for three years with a required report submitted by October 1, 2025, to evaluate progress and recommend potential expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an earned allowance program for incarcerated individuals in Vermont's correctional facilities, allowing them to earn money through compliant behavior and participation in programs to cover educational costs, medication, housing, and work-related expenses. The program uses a contingency management approach that rewards positive behavior rather than punishing rule violations, with allowances calculated based on successful drug screenings and months without disciplinary infractions. It also expands workforce development opportunities by enabling partnerships with nonprofit and for-profit businesses to provide vocational training in Vermont's most needed industries such as healthcare, construction, and agriculture. The Department of Corrections must establish rules for the program by September 2025, with implementation beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont state agencies to create a pilot program for a 16-bed secure recovery residence designed for justice-involved individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. It requires the Agency of Human Services to partner with stakeholders who have lived experience in the criminal justice system to design this facility and integrate community-based services. By January 15, 2025, the agencies must submit a comprehensive report assessing current and future needs for secure residential recovery facilities across Vermont, including cost-benefit analyses comparing these facilities to traditional correctional centers. Additionally, the Coordinated Justice Reform Advisory Council is tasked with examining how to replace existing correctional facilities with a continuum of short-term and long-term residential options that use evidence-based rehabilitation approaches. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and aims to improve recovery outcomes while reducing recidivism through specialized care in secure settings.