Rep. Topper McFaun

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts to adopt a mental health and substance misuse literacy curriculum for students, covering topics like mental health connections to physical well-being, warning signs, available resources, and how to seek help. It also establishes a four-year state-funded pilot program for peer-to-peer mental health support in schools, where trained student volunteers provide support under professional oversight, with priority given to schools in high-suicide areas or those including suicide prevention. School staff involved in the program must complete specific training on empathetic listening, recognizing risk factors, and connecting students to professional services. The bill affects all Vermont public and approved independent schools, with implementation beginning July 2026 and a final evaluation report due by 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes "neurological rights" in Vermont, protecting individuals from unauthorized use of neural data (like brain activity measurements) and preventing AI from bypassing conscious decisions without consent. It requires written consent before collecting or sharing neural data from brain-computer interfaces, bans "consciousness bypass" (using tech to manipulate brain activity without awareness), and regulates AI in mental health chatbots and patient communications. The law directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and AI developers in Vermont's health/human services sector. It also extends the AI Advisory Council's mandate and mandates reports on ethical AI use in healthcare, education, and human services.

Maddy summaryVermont's H.70 would add land enrolled in the state's Use Value Appraisal Program to the official "conserved land" inventory. This program allows landowners to pay lower property taxes in exchange for maintaining agricultural or forest land. The bill updates legal definitions so this land counts toward Vermont's conservation goals of protecting 30% and 50% of land by 2030 and 2050, respectively. It directly affects landowners in the Use Value Appraisal Program and state conservation planning efforts. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryH 237 allows licensed doctoral-level psychologists in Vermont to prescribe medication for mental health conditions under specific requirements. To qualify, psychologists must complete a postdoctoral psychopharmacology program, 14 months of clinical rotations across nine medical settings (including psychiatry and pediatrics), and pass a certification exam. The bill mandates a written collaboration agreement with a psychiatrist for all prescribing psychologists, restricts prescribing to certain age groups (under 18, over 80, or pregnant patients), and requires specific drug naming for controlled substances. This policy directly affects psychologists seeking prescribing authority, collaborating psychiatrists, and patients receiving mental health treatment under these conditions. The law takes effect in phases, with key provisions beginning July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2026 as the Month of the Military Child in Vermont to honor the children of military service members. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Vermont National Guard Office of Child & Youth Services. The measure serves as a formal recognition rather than implementing new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the winning teams of the 18th annual Jr Iron Chef VT culinary competition. It recognizes the achievements of middle school and high school students who competed using Vermont ingredients and highlights specific award winners for creativity, teamwork, and taste. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to each winning team and Vermont Afterschool. This measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to honor the participants and promote the state's Farm to School initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates Vermont-associated athletes who won medals at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. It specifically recognizes six Vermont residents or alumni who won seven U.S. medals, including Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Jessie Diggins, Mac Forehand, Ben Ogden, Paula Moltzan, and Mikaela Shiffrin. The resolution highlights their achievements and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to each honored athlete. This is a ceremonial measure that acknowledges the accomplishments of Vermont athletes without changing any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI) on its 100th anniversary. It recognizes the organization's long history of advocating for and providing support services to Vermonters who are blind or visually impaired. The resolution notes that VABVI was founded in 1926 after Helen Keller's advocacy and has worked in partnership with the state to improve lives for over a century. The only action required is for the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the organization.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that designates April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Vermont and honors Prevent Child Abuse Vermont for its 50 years of community service. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but instead formally acknowledges the organization's work in preventing child abuse through family support programs and community partnerships. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont as official recognition. This type of bill is non-binding and serves primarily to express legislative appreciation rather than to implement specific regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill recognizes March 25, 2026, as National Medal of Honor Day in Vermont to honor the state's military history and Medal of Honor recipients. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Green Mountain Submarine Veterans and the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs. The resolution commemorates Vermont's 64 Medal of Honor recipients, including the youngest recipient, Willie Johnston, and acknowledges the significance of March 25 as the date the first medals were issued in 1863. This is a commemorative resolution that does not change laws or create new programs but serves to formally acknowledge the state's military heritage.