Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Rural Infrastructure Assistance Program to help Vermont's small towns access and manage federal and state funding for projects like clean water, housing, broadband, and climate resilience. The program provides direct support services including community needs assessments, funding application assistance, and project management help, with priority given to municipalities with the highest administrative capacity needs. An initial $3 million appropriation in 2024 funds the program, while the bill also directs remaining federal relief funds to prioritize communities with the greatest need based on a new administrative capacity index. Additionally, the legislation amends the Municipal and Regional Planning Fund to allocate 20 percent of its revenue directly to municipalities for planning purposes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the reimbursement rate paid to organizations that provide home-delivered meals for elderly and disabled individuals by $2.00 per meal in fiscal year 2024. The funding comes from a $2.3 million appropriation to the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, which will be distributed to meal providers based on the increased rate. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit a report by November 15, 2023, evaluating the Meals on Wheels program and offering recommendations for its long-term sustainability. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impact the financial support available to organizations serving vulnerable populations through home-delivered nutrition programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill introduces several employment protections for workers in Vermont, including requirements for pay transparency, anti-discrimination measures, schedule stability, and expense reimbursement. It mandates that employers disclose pay scales to job applicants and current employees, prohibits using past salary information to limit new offers, and requires companies with 10 or more employees to submit gender and race breakdowns of employee compensation to the Department of Labor. The legislation also expands wage discrimination protections to include race and gender identity, requires employers to provide at least 14 days notice of work schedules with specific exceptions for changes, and obligates employers to reimburse necessary work-related expenses. These changes directly affect employers and employees across various industries in the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to Vermont's housing programs to increase funding and expand eligibility for rental housing improvements, primarily affecting private landlords and nonprofit housing organizations. It would amend existing programs to allow grants and forgivable loans for rehabilitating non-compliant units, building new accessory dwelling units, and creating new rental units, with a cap of $50,000 per unit and a requirement for landlords to contribute at least 20% in matching funds or services. The legislation also creates a new Middle-Income Rental Housing Revolving Loan Program to provide subsidized loans for rental developments serving middle-income households, while exempting smaller municipalities from certain zoning requirements and allowing towns to register with state agencies to issue wastewater permits without full state permits. Additionally, it would reduce the number of residents who can appeal zoning decisions from 10 to a lower threshold and exempt certain downtown housing projects from state environmental review requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Transportation to develop a funding plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding access to efficient, low-cost transportation options. It establishes a working group to study regional climate initiatives and implements a self-funded fee system that charges higher fees for less efficient vehicles while rebating funds to owners of more efficient cars. The legislation also allocates money for electric vehicle incentives, e-bike programs, public transit improvements, and infrastructure updates, while requiring the agency to work with Amtrak and provide training on complete streets design to municipalities.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce the use of cash bail in Vermont by prohibiting it for most misdemeanor cases charged through a citation or eligible for expungement, while allowing courts to set bail up to $200 only when flight risk is a concern. It requires multiple criminal justice agencies to collaborate and submit recommendations by December 2023 on how to eliminate cash bail entirely for mitigating flight risk. The legislation also mandates the Department of Corrections to collect and report racial data on pretrial detainees and directs the Judiciary to create an electronic notification system for court hearings by July 2025 to reduce missed appearances.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new regulatory framework for earned wage access services in Vermont, requiring companies that provide early access to employees' unpaid wages to register with the state's financial regulator. The law mandates that these providers offer services on a nonrecourse basis, meaning they cannot sue consumers or use debt collectors to recover funds if employees do not repay the advanced wages. Key provisions include requiring clear written disclosures about service terms and fees, prohibiting mandatory charges for accessing earned wages, and banning late fees or penalties on outstanding amounts. The bill also ensures consumers can cancel their participation at any time without fees and must receive a free option for accessing their funds.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Affordable Heat Act, which establishes a Clean Heat Standard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating in Vermont's residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The program requires energy companies and heating fuel sellers to earn tradeable clean heat credits by delivering low-carbon heating technologies, efficiency improvements, or weatherization services to customers. The Public Utility Commission will manage the credit system and ensure the program protects low-income households and minimizes costs for all energy users.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Vermont Fair Repair Act, would require manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide independent repair shops and consumers with access to repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and replacement parts at fair and reasonable terms. The law defines key terms like "original equipment manufacturer" and "independent repair provider" to clarify who must comply with the new requirements. Under the bill, manufacturers must offer documentation at no charge and make tools available without restrictions, while parts must be sold at costs equivalent to those offered to authorized repair providers. The legislation specifically excludes medical devices and motor vehicles from its scope, focusing instead on consumer electronics and similar digital equipment. By establishing these rules, the bill aims to ensure that people can choose where to repair their devices without being forced to use the manufacturer's own service centers.