Rep. Kate McCann

Maddy summaryHCR 172 is a commemorative resolution honoring Jon Gailmor, a Vermont folk singer and former Elmore Town Moderator who died in 2025. The resolution expresses the Vermont General Assembly’s condolences to his family and Elmore residents, recognizing his contributions as a musician who celebrated Vermont through songs like "A Town Meeting Tune" and his 15+ years serving as Elmore's town moderator. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Gailmor’s family and the Elmore Town Clerk. This is a ceremonial measure with no policy impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Vermont's minimum wage to $18.60 per hour starting July 1, 2026, based on the state's defined "livable wage" (the hourly rate needed for a full-time worker in shared housing with employer health coverage to cover basic needs). Future annual increases will be set at the smaller of 5% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) change from the previous year, rounded to the nearest cent. It directly affects all employers in Vermont who pay the minimum wage, including businesses with low-wage workers across sectors like retail, hospitality, and agriculture. The change replaces the current $12.55 minimum wage and aligns future adjustments with inflation data.

Maddy summaryH.747, the "No Secret Police Act," requires all Vermont local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to visibly display their agency name and either their name or badge number during public interactions. It prohibits wearing masks or disguises that conceal identity, except for specific safety-related exceptions like medical masks, fire operations, or declared weather emergencies. Law enforcement agencies must create and publicly post written policies ensuring compliance with these identification standards. The bill aims to promote transparency and trust between officers and the public during routine engagements.

Maddy summaryH.732 establishes two new income tax brackets for higher earners in Vermont. Individuals would pay an additional 1% tax on income between $200,000-$400,000 and above $400,000, while married couples filing jointly would pay the extra rate on income between $400,000-$800,000 and above $800,000. The revenue generated would fund an expanded property tax credit specifically for Vermont households with annual income below $115,000. This directly affects high-income taxpayers through new tax rates and low-to-moderate-income households via increased credit support.

Maddy summaryH.701 requires Vermont's Secretary of Education to support any recommendation for correcting school deficiencies with data, rather than making decisions without evidence. It mandates that if the state takes administrative control of a school to fix quality issues, that control must automatically return to the local school board after two years unless the deficiencies are resolved. The bill also prevents the state from taking action against a school district based on incomplete or non-comparable student performance data. This affects Vermont public schools failing education quality standards, the Secretary of Education, and local school boards responsible for school governance.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (H 334) bans most noncompete agreements and "stay-or-pay" provisions that require employees to repay employers upon leaving a job. It prohibits agreements restricting work for competitors after separation, with limited exceptions for business sales or dissolution. Employers must notify affected employees about void agreements and cannot retaliate against workers who refuse such terms. The law applies to all Vermont employers and covers existing contracts that violate these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a primary care access reform program where participating primary care providers would receive monthly payments from health insurers for each patient covered, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for routine primary care services. It directly affects primary care providers (who would receive guaranteed payments) and patients (who gain cost-free access to routine care). Key provisions include requiring the Agency of Human Services to report on program expansion and the Green Mountain Care Board to report on standardized payment rates, while also allocating funds for primary care workforce development in fiscal year 2027 and extending a physician scholarship program. The program aims to address Vermont’s primary care access crisis by reducing administrative burdens and increasing investment in primary care, which currently represents only 10.2% of total health care spending.

Maddy summaryVermont's H.644 prohibits mental health professionals and entities from offering, providing, or advertising mental health services delivered by artificial intelligence systems, with limited exceptions. The bill directly affects licensed mental health providers, clinics, and AI service developers operating in Vermont. It amends licensing rules to define AI misuse as unprofessional conduct and adds penalties of $10,000 per violation under the Consumer Protection Act. The law aims to prevent harm from AI systems that have been shown to give dangerous advice (e.g., encouraging self-harm or suicide) based on research cited in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's definition of "victim" to include individuals affected by officer-involved shootings when the person shot was experiencing a mental health crisis. It requires the Victims Compensation Board to provide these individuals with access to services and compensation similar to other crime victims. The bill also mandates mental health crisis training for law enforcement officers as part of certification requirements and incorporates de-escalation techniques into the state's use-of-force policy. These changes directly affect victims of such incidents and their families, ensuring they receive support previously available only to traditional crime victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school counselors to spend at least 80% of their time providing direct or indirect student services, such as academic/career counseling or social-emotional support, rather than administrative or non-counseling tasks. It directly affects all licensed or master’s-degree-holding school counselors in Vermont public schools, as defined by the bill. The law mandates that counselors dedicate no more than 20% of their time to "school support services" like substitute teaching or coordinating special education plans, which the bill cites as common distractions. This aligns with the American School Counselors Association’s recommendation to prioritize student-facing work, based on findings that 39% of counselors reported being overwhelmed by inappropriate duties. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.