Rep. Chris Keyser

Maddy summaryThis bill declares Lake Memphremagog a "lake in crisis" under Vermont law, directly affecting the lake and communities relying on it for drinking water (serving 175,000 people), recreation, and economic activity. It eliminates the requirement that a municipality must have reduced real property valuations due to the lake's condition for a "lake in crisis" designation. The bill mandates a crisis response plan including controls on discharges of effluent to the lake's tributaries. The measure takes effect immediately for the declaration but changes to the designation criteria will apply starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 109 authorizes Vermont municipalities to create local ordinances requiring property owners in designated downtown districts to maintain their buildings to prevent decay or deterioration. This bill directly affects downtown property owners and gives towns/cities a new legal tool to enforce property maintenance standards. The key provision amends Vermont law to explicitly grant municipalities the power to regulate and compel repairs for properties within downtown districts. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025, after legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill, H.104, requires Vermont state public assistance programs to exclude veterans' disability benefits from income calculations when determining eligibility. It directly affects veterans applying for state benefits administered by the Departments of Children and Families, Vermont Health Access, and Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living. The key provision mandates that these departments must not count veterans' disability benefits toward income thresholds for programs like food assistance, healthcare, or housing support. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring veterans’ disability payments no longer reduce their eligibility for state aid.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts to include military career options in students' personalized learning plans and career planning resources starting in grade 7. It amends education law to mandate that schools provide specific information about military admissions processes and requirements as part of postsecondary planning. The policy affects all Vermont public schools serving students in grades 7-12, integrating military opportunities alongside other career pathways. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow all Vermont students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to attend any public or approved independent school of their choice, regardless of where they live. It establishes a "School Choice Grant" funded by redirecting existing education funds that would have gone to the student's home school district to the chosen school. Schools must accept students unless they lack capacity (using lotteries for oversubscription), and cannot deny enrollment based on protected characteristics. The bill also requires a report by the Joint Fiscal Office by 2026 on integrating this program into Vermont's overall education funding system.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H 85) expands Vermont's tax exemptions for vehicles used in forestry operations. It adds motor trucks, semi-trailers, tractors, truck cranes, and other specific forestry equipment (like skidders, log loaders, and whole-tree chippers) to the list of vehicles exempt from sales tax and purchase/use tax. The exemption applies to businesses engaged in forestry activities, including timber cutting, removal, processing, and transportation of forest products. The bill modifies existing tax code sections to include these vehicles and requires state agencies to publish application guidance.

Maddy summaryH 68 expands Vermont's National Guard Tuition Benefit Program to cover graduate degrees and second bachelor's degrees, directly affecting Vermont National Guard members who meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows members to receive tuition benefits for graduate studies or a second undergraduate degree, provided they haven't previously used the program for an undergraduate degree. Key provisions include requiring a two-year service commitment for each year of tuition benefit received and mandating repayment if members leave service early or fail to complete their degree while employed in Vermont. This update extends existing coverage beyond undergraduate programs without altering the core structure of the benefit program.

Maddy summaryH 74 would phase in full exemption of Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax over eight years. Currently, Vermont partially exempts Social Security benefits for lower-income seniors, but this bill raises the income thresholds where full exemption applies - increasing the single filer threshold from $65,000 to $77,000 and married filer threshold from $80,000 to $92,000. The change applies to all Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits, with full exemption becoming effective by the eighth year. The bill amends Vermont’s tax code (32 V.S.A. § 5830e) to adjust the income-based exclusion rules. It is currently referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Maddy summaryH 62 repeals Vermont's Global Warming Solutions Act, specifically removing the Vermont Climate Council and replacing mandatory greenhouse gas reduction requirements with voluntary "goals." It amends state law to change emissions targets from legally binding requirements to non-binding goals, removes the requirement for state agencies to consider emissions in decisions, and repeals the Low Emission Vehicle Rules. These changes would shift climate policy from a structured, mandated approach to a more flexible framework without oversight. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 65 revokes Vermont's adoption of California's Clean Air Act waiver for vehicle emissions, prohibiting the state from using California's standards for new motor vehicles. The bill amends Vermont law to explicitly ban the adoption of California's emission rules (42 U.S.C. § 7507) and repeals existing Vermont Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) rules. This directly affects how Vermont regulates vehicle emissions, shifting away from California's standards to potentially adopt alternative state rules. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop new emission control requirements without California's framework.