Rep. Jarrod Sammis

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2.8 million in state funding to expand supportive and transitional housing for justice-involved individuals in Vermont, with a focus on those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The funds are distributed to three agencies to provide housing grants, prioritize women and transgender individuals, and support community-based services using the Housing First model. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to submit a report by January 2025 recommending strategies to integrate housing into new developments and expand peer-based services. The legislation aims to address recidivism by reinvesting incarceration funds into community care and assessing future housing needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes eight-year term limits for both trustees and the chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation. It directly affects the 15-member Board of Trustees and the chancellor, who currently serve without fixed term limits. The legislation amends state law to prevent individuals from serving more than eight consecutive years in either role, with specific transition rules for those already serving long terms. Current trustees who have served eight or more years can finish their current terms but cannot be reappointed, while the chancellor's term ends September 1, 2024 if they have already served eight years. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder or manslaughter if their actions result in the death of a fetus, and it would also permit charges for drunk driving or grossly negligent driving that cause fetal death. The law explicitly excludes abortions and medical procedures performed according to standard practice, as well as actions taken by a pregnant person against their own fetus. It clarifies that these provisions do not change the legal status or rights of a fetus under Vermont law. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Vermont Defend the Guard Act, would require the Governor of Vermont to review every federal order placing the Vermont National Guard on active duty for combat to ensure it complies with the U.S. Constitution. The law specifically mandates that deployment only occur if Congress has declared war or explicitly called the Guard for specific purposes like repelling invasions, suppressing insurrections, or executing constitutional laws. If the Governor determines an order does not meet these requirements, the bill authorizes the Governor to take action to prevent deployment and requires a written report to state legislative committees within 30 days. The Attorney General would also be authorized to represent the state in legal challenges to prevent unconstitutional federal deployment orders. This measure directly affects the Vermont National Guard and the state's executive and legal branches by establishing new review procedures for federal military orders.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill aims to simplify bail and pretrial release procedures by narrowing the focus to ensuring defendants appear in court rather than considering other factors. It eliminates the requirement to set bail for most misdemeanor cases at initial appearances and limits bail for expungible misdemeanors to a maximum of $200. The legislation allows judges to impose release conditions such as supervision, travel restrictions, or treatment programs when necessary to mitigate flight risk or protect the public. Defendants charged with nonviolent offenses may be released on personal recognizance or unsecured bonds unless a judge determines stricter conditions are needed. The bill also clarifies that financial ability to post bail should be considered when setting conditions but does not mandate cash bail as the primary release method.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes term limits for Vermont's state legislators and executive officers, restricting how many consecutive terms individuals can serve in these positions. It would allow state senators to serve a maximum of five consecutive two-year terms and state representatives to serve five consecutive terms, while executive officials like the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state would be limited to four or five consecutive two-year terms depending on the office. The legislation includes a provision allowing individuals who reach their term limits to run for different offices where they have not yet met the limit, and it applies these restrictions retroactively to current officeholders, permitting them to finish their current terms but preventing them from seeking re-election to the same position. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, and was introduced by four state representatives who referred it to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 10 as Ken Squier Day to honor the late Vermont broadcaster and auto racing commentator. The legislation recognizes Squier's contributions to radio through his ownership of WDEV and founding of the Radio Vermont Group, as well as his pioneering work with the Motor Racing Network and NASCAR Hall of Fame induction. It also acknowledges his community leadership roles, including chairing the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Board and his extensive involvement in local sports broadcasting. The bill adds a new section to Vermont's statutes formally establishing the commemorative day without requiring any additional government funding or administrative changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects school district and supervisory union employees from disciplinary action when they testify before school boards, supervisory union boards, or state education agencies. It amends existing state law to explicitly include these local and state education venues where employees can speak without fear of punishment from their employers. However, the law maintains that employees cannot share confidential information about the school district or its students and staff, and they must clarify they are not speaking on behalf of their employer unless authorized to do so. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, ensuring employees can participate in public testimony while protecting sensitive information.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of a pedestrian in Vermont to include individuals using wheelchairs or other personal mobility devices, including electric personal assistive mobility devices for those aged 16 and older, unless they have an ambulatory disability. It also establishes a new traffic requirement mandating that drivers maintain at least four feet of clearance when passing vulnerable users or stationary vehicles with flashing lights, such as sanitation, maintenance, utility, or delivery trucks. Violations of these clearance rules would result in a civil penalty of at least $200. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all motor vehicle operators on Vermont roads.

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.