Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish the Legislative Employees Labor Relations Act to grant collective bargaining rights to most employees of the Vermont General Assembly. It would allow these workers to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions through a formal union process, similar to how employees in the Executive and Judicial branches currently operate. The law would exclude managerial and confidential employees from these bargaining rights. If passed, the bill would create a new legal framework specifically for legislative staff labor relations.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a ceremonial resolution that formally recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Vermont State Parks system. It commemorates the historical significance of the parks, which began in 1924 with a donation of land that became Mt. Philo State Park, and acknowledges the contributions of Civilian Conservation Corps workers and private foundations to their development. The resolution does not create new laws or change policies but serves to honor the parks' legacy and their role in Vermont's outdoor economy. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to relevant state agencies and the Vermont Parks Forever foundation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban advertisements for Vermont's state-run gambling operations, including the state lottery and sports wagering. It directly affects the Department of Liquor and Lottery, sports wagering operators, and any entities that currently advertise these services. The law would require the department to remove existing gambling advertisements and prevent new ones from appearing in the future. This change would modify the current advertising plan agreement between the state and its gambling partners. The bill aims to reduce the visibility of state gambling promotions without altering the operations themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands equal pay protections in Vermont by updating state law to prohibit wage discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, religion, ancestry, place of birth, crime victim status, age, and disability status. It requires employers to pay employees performing equal work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar conditions the same wage rate, with exceptions only for seniority, merit, production-based systems, or bona fide factors unrelated to protected characteristics. The law also prevents employers from lowering other employees' wages to comply with equal pay requirements and applies to workers aged 18 and older. These protections will take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's school branding and mascot laws to improve how complaints are handled and enforce compliance. It directly affects school districts, the Agency of Education, and private individuals or groups who may file complaints about school mascots or branding. The bill requires the Agency of Education to respond to complaints within a set timeframe and allows the agency to withhold public education funding if a school district fails to meet branding requirements. It also addresses legal resource imbalances between school districts and private complainants by creating an appeal process for decisions made by the Secretary of Education.

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 House concurrent resolution honors the organizations and individuals working to improve rural broadband access in Vermont through Communications Union Districts. It recognizes the ten regional districts that have formed to build fiber optic networks in areas where other providers struggle to reach. The resolution acknowledges the progress these districts have made in 2023, including new construction and customer additions. This formal acknowledgment does not create new laws or funding but serves to publicly recognize the efforts of these broadband initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require annual mental health screenings for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among school-aged youth in Vermont. The screenings would be implemented as part of existing school health services, directly affecting students and school districts. The legislation mandates that these assessments occur regularly to identify mental health concerns early, without specifying additional funding or enforcement details.

Maddy summaryThis bill would give Vermont's Attorney General new authority to regulate social media platforms in the state, specifically to protect the health and safety of users under 18. It establishes a new legal framework called the Vermont Social Media Safety Act and creates a funding structure to support enforcement efforts. The legislation is based on findings that social media design features can contribute to youth mental health issues and addiction, and it applies consumer protection principles to social media companies. The bill does not specify particular platform requirements but instead empowers regulators to oversee how these platforms operate and impact child users.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Vermont municipalities to remove sediment, rocks, and debris from waterways without needing a state permit, provided the work meets specific federal exemption criteria. The law defines "maintenance" as repairing structures like dams and dikes, and allows municipalities to proceed without state approval when the work is exempt from federal Corps of Engineers permitting, qualifies for self-verification, or occurs in non-navigable waters. The legislation also clarifies definitions for terms like "instream material" and "watercourse" to establish clear boundaries for when permits are required versus when they are not. Additionally, the bill specifically authorizes the City of Barre to remove material from the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River for maintenance purposes without a permit.