Rep. Peter Anthony

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new online directory for Vermont farms to list job openings and housing options for agricultural workers. Farms that post positions on the directory must provide affordable housing either on-site or nearby, and must disclose details about the job, housing arrangements, farm practices, and pay rates. The state will fund the program with $50,000 for implementation, and the directory will be free for users to access and set up accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and access state-funded financial aid at Vermont's public colleges if they meet standard residency requirements. It prohibits the Vermont State Colleges Corporation from excluding students based solely on immigration status and requires the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to make state financial aid available to all residents regardless of immigration status. The law specifically includes protections for refugees, those granted parole to enter the U.S., and Afghan Allies Protection Act visa holders, while also clarifying residency rules for military families. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, and include provisions ensuring students can apply for and participate in financial aid programs to the full extent allowed by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to fund a community-based organization that coordinates mental wellness and climate resilience efforts across Vermont. The program would receive $100,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the state's General Fund to support activities that address how extreme weather events and other social stresses impact mental health. The coordinating body must include representatives from diverse groups including schools, faith organizations, environmental groups, disaster response agencies, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The program uses a public health approach to prevent mental health problems before they emerge and to help entire communities build resilience against various adversities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes uniform net metering rates across all of Vermont, requiring electricity providers to charge the same rates to all customers who generate their own power, regardless of which utility company serves them. The legislation mandates that self-generation customers pay the same fees and meet the same conditions as other retail electricity purchasers within the same rate class, with exceptions only for safety and reliability requirements approved by the state Commission. Effective July 1, 2024, the bill requires all retail electricity providers to implement consistent net metering rate schedules approved by the Commission, replacing the previous system where rates varied by individual utility company.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to charge an impact fee on new residential homes larger than 5,000 square feet when building permits are issued. The collected fees must be sent to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to support affordable housing projects that benefit the home's developer or owner. The fee is calculated at a minimum of $10,000 per 1,000 square feet above the 5,000-square-foot threshold, with municipalities allowed to set higher rates using their own formulas. The law applies to all towns, cities, villages, and unorganized towns or gorges and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program to distribute free radon test kits to homeowners in one or two Vermont counties with significant granite bedrock or high lung cancer rates. The Department of Health will provide the kits voluntarily to participants, analyze the results, and send individual reports back to each homeowner while keeping personal information private. The program will also compare aggregated test data with local lung cancer statistics to identify potential health risks and recommend remedial actions. By January 1, 2026, the Department must submit a final report to state health committees with findings and suggestions for future legislation. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of residential real estate in Vermont to disclose whether a property has been tested for radon and provide any available testing reports to prospective buyers. The law applies to anyone offering to sell residential property and mandates that this information be included in the purchase or sale contract. If a residence has undergone radon testing, the seller must provide a copy of the testing report to the buyer. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not affect property title marketability if compliance requirements are not met.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont residents who are not U.S. citizens to qualify for scholarships and operate regulated child care facilities. It removes citizenship requirements for two specific programs: scholarships for current early childhood providers and scholarships for those seeking to become providers, as well as the ability to run a licensed child care center. The changes apply to both existing providers and those looking to enter the field, regardless of their immigration status.

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 establishes occupancy requirements for short-term rental properties in Vermont, affecting owners who rent out homes or apartments for fewer than 30 consecutive days at least 14 times per year. The law mandates that rental owners must have lived in their property for at least 120 days in the previous year, or 33 percent of the days they owned or leased it if they have held it for less than a year. By adding these rules to existing state statutes, the legislation aims to ensure that short-term rental operators maintain a primary residence connection to their properties. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all short-term rentals meeting the specified rental frequency and duration criteria.