Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Vermont Office of Film and Creative Media within the existing Vermont Council on the Arts to support the state's growing film and media industry. The new office will maintain databases of local professionals and resources, track employment opportunities for graduates, and establish a tax incentive program to attract outside production companies. Funding of $350,000 is provided to create one-and-a-half full-time positions to support these operations, with the office becoming operational on July 1, 2023. A supervisory board of five industry professionals will be appointed to advise the office on its activities. The bill directly affects film production companies, local creative media workers, and the Vermont Council on the Arts.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires students graduating from Vermont public high schools to demonstrate civics knowledge as a condition of receiving a diploma. The law offers two pathways: passing the standard U.S. citizenship civics test with a minimum score of 60 percent, or completing one semester of community service with a local government organization under a mentor's supervision. The requirement applies to all public high school and career technical center students, though students with individualized education programs may participate at the discretion of their IEP team. The measure would take effect for students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year or later.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from the state's General Fund to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative in fiscal year 2024. The funding will support grants for outdoor athletic events like marathons and bike races that attract competitors from outside Vermont. The program aims to boost local economic activity by funding events that draw visitors from other states. The appropriation takes effect on July 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to purchase Camp Sunrise, a 146-acre property in Benson and Orwell, for conservation purposes. It directs the Secretary of Natural Resources to negotiate with the Boy Scouts Green Mountain Council to acquire the land and protect access to Sunrise Lake and Sunset Lake. The legislation appropriates $3 million in state funds to cover the purchase price and any necessary maintenance, ensuring the property remains available for public use.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary Building Energy Code Study Committee to address low compliance rates with Vermont's residential and commercial building energy standards. The committee will consist of 15 members representing government agencies, industry groups, and municipalities, and will study strategies to improve code enforcement and administration. Key recommendations may include designating the Division of Fire Safety as the statewide authority for energy code enforcement and developing funding mechanisms such as incentives and federal grants. The committee must submit its final report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2023, and will be funded with $125,000 for consultant services and member compensation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to help middle schools in Vermont establish career and technical education programs for grades eight and nine. It provides $5.5 million in grant funding to eligible schools located more than 15 miles from existing career centers, with requirements that schools match the funding through in-kind contributions and commit to maintaining the programs for five years. The grants cover one full-time teacher and equipment costs for two years, after which schools must fund their own operations. The Agency of Education will report annually on student participation and program sustainability to the state legislature.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors the Vermont Creative Network for its work in building Vermont's creative sector. It recognizes the network's efforts to study the creative industry's impact and develop a strategy to grow it as part of the state's economy. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Vermont Creative Network. This type of bill does not change laws or policy but serves to acknowledge and celebrate the organization's contributions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Vermont public high school students to complete a semester-long personal finance course in either 11th or 12th grade as a graduation requirement. The State Board of Education must develop and maintain performance standards covering topics like budgeting, credit management, investing, taxes, and retirement planning. The bill also directs the Board to oversee course implementation by establishing teacher certification requirements, approving curriculum providers, and offering professional development for educators. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, applying to students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year or later.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.