Rep. Kate McCann

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the Governor's Institutes of Vermont on their 40th anniversary. It does not create new laws or change any policies but serves to formally recognize the organization's long history of providing educational opportunities for young Vermonters. The resolution acknowledges the institute's mission of offering diverse learning programs in areas like arts, science, and technology to students across the state. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the institute's executive director as a formal record of the legislature's appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to admit Washington, DC, as a state in the Union. The measure addresses the District's lack of full voting representation in Congress, noting that while DC residents pay federal taxes and can vote in presidential elections, they currently have no voting members in the House or Senate. The resolution supports granting DC statehood to resolve this representation issue and calls for sending the document to federal officials and committees. It does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal expression of support for statehood legislation already introduced in Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a moratorium on the study, design, construction, expansion, or renovation of correctional facilities in Vermont until July 1, 2028, while also ending a long-standing suspension of state aid for school construction projects. The corrections provisions prohibit the state from building new prisons, expanding existing ones beyond current capacity, converting facilities for detention purposes, or renovating them to increase bed capacity, with only basic maintenance and code compliance exceptions allowed. Simultaneously, the bill restores state funding for school construction projects starting in fiscal year 2024, allowing the state to accept and review applications that had been blocked since 2007. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and includes findings that link poor school environments to incarceration rates and that harsh prison conditions contribute to recidivism and trauma.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the University of Vermont Board of Trustees by adding two new voting faculty members and clarifying student representation requirements. The legislation expands the board to 27 members total, with two faculty positions elected by the Faculty Senate and two student positions reserved for one undergraduate and one graduate student. These student trustees serve two-year terms and must be full-time students enrolled in degree programs, while faculty members serve four-year terms with full voting rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, with a transition period for initial faculty appointments beginning in August 2023.

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 proposes to remove certain plant and fungi-derived substances from Vermont's list of regulated drugs, meaning they would no longer be subject to criminal penalties for possession or use. Specifically, it excludes peyote, ayahuasca, mescaline, psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine from the legal definition of regulated drugs under state law. The legislation applies to these specific compounds and the plants or fungi that contain them, regardless of whether they are used for medicinal, spiritual, religious, or other purposes. If passed, the changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would be implemented by the state Board of Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to a regenerative economy by 2026, which aims to repair and restore natural and human resources rather than simply reducing harm. The legislation mandates that the state be divided into 11 regions, each forming a People's Assembly to create local plans through broad public engagement involving community members, businesses, and organizations. These regional plans must address specific goals including regenerative agriculture, food justice, waste reduction, renewable energy, and racial equity while guiding state investments and policy decisions. The bill establishes a long-term target of achieving 90 percent of a regenerative economy by December 31, 2046, and requires all state funding streams to align with the resulting roadmap.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to evaluate whether the state can support an expanded polystyrene foam densifier facility for recycling waste Styrofoam. The assessment must include cost estimates, location recommendations, and details on how businesses and waste haulers would access the facility. By January 15, 2024, the Secretary must submit a report to legislative committees with findings on whether to build the densifier and whether to ban landfill disposal of EPS foam if the facility is approved. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, and requires coordination with waste management entities and businesses that generate EPS foam waste.