Rep. Topper McFaun

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont public schools to include Holocaust education in their curricula for grades six through twelve, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It mandates that each supervisory union provide at least six hours of age-appropriate instruction annually, integrated into global citizenship or English language arts classes, while the Agency of Education will offer technical assistance to help schools develop and implement the program. The law defines key terms like "Holocaust" and "genocide" and outlines specific learning goals, including understanding how prejudice escalates to violence, recognizing the roles of perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers, and examining how to combat discrimination in democratic societies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont to give admission preference to in-state students who have completed career technical education programs in fields that the institutions offer. The law applies to eligible residents who have finished relevant CTE training and seeks to create a direct pathway for these students into postsecondary programs aligned with their technical background. The preference would be implemented starting July 1, 2023, and applies specifically to both the state college system and the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new structures and funding to support suicide prevention efforts in Vermont, including a special fund for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and a Crisis Response Commission to oversee its operation. It creates a Suicide Fatality Review Team to investigate suicide deaths and identify ways to prevent future incidents, while also requiring crisis phone numbers on student ID cards and mandating suicide awareness training for faculty and staff. The legislation raises a small fee on universal service charges to help fund the 988 Lifeline and directs the Department of Mental Health to submit reports on call diversion and other suicide prevention activities.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Barre Town Manager Carl Rogers for his outstanding municipal public service. The resolution recognizes his 15-year career, during which he oversaw key projects like the Wells-Lamson water system, a new salt shed, and the merger of fire districts, while also promoting community initiatives such as bike paths and Green Up Day. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Carl Rogers and the Barre Town Clerk, serving as an official acknowledgment of his contributions before he concludes his municipal career.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how retirement payments are adjusted for teachers in Vermont's State Teachers' Retirement System based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. It establishes new caps on annual increases and decreases, limiting adjustments to five percent for those who retired before July 2022 and four percent for those retiring on or after that date. The legislation also changes how cost-of-living decreases are handled, allowing them to offset future increases rather than immediately reducing benefits. Additionally, the bill appropriates $3.7 million in state funds for the 2024 fiscal year to cover the system's employer contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new division within Vermont's Department for Children and Families to assist families where a parent is struggling with substance use disorder. The division aims to encourage parents to seek treatment by ensuring they do not face the threat of losing custody of their children as a consequence. It establishes a supportive framework that separates substance use treatment from child welfare enforcement to reduce barriers to care. The legislation directly impacts parents facing addiction issues and the children within those households by providing a dedicated support system.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt all U.S. military retirement income and military survivor benefit income from Vermont state income tax. It directly affects active and retired military personnel, as well as the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased service members who receive these benefits. The legislation amends existing tax code sections to remove military retirement and survivor benefits from taxable income, while also clarifying that taxpayers can only choose one income exclusion option if they qualify for multiple types of exemptions. The bill states its purpose is to honor and thank military retirees and their families for their service, and it applies retroactively to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove existing bans and penalties on the purchase, use, and possession of tobacco products in Vermont, including electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices not approved by the FDA for medical purposes. It updates legal definitions to clarify what counts as a tobacco product and tobacco substitute, while maintaining age restrictions that prohibit anyone under 21 from buying, possessing, or attempting to purchase these items. The legislation also establishes civil penalties for retailers who sell to minors and requires annual compliance testing by the Division of Liquor Control to ensure at least 90% accuracy in age verification for buyers between 17 and 20 years old.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes legislative oversight for payment reform and conflict-free case management systems affecting individuals with developmental disabilities and their service providers in Vermont. It requires the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to include individualized assessments, budget considerations for unique support needs, and impact evaluations on recipients and agencies during payment reform processes. The legislation also mandates that the department gather input from stakeholders including individuals with disabilities, families, and service agencies before implementing federal conflict-free case management requirements, with proposed policy changes presented to relevant legislative committees by February 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill repeals a previous 2022 law regarding payment reform and conflict-free case management and takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Transportation to study whether direct-current fast chargers can be installed at locations that previously served as welcome centers. The legislation also asks the agency to update the state's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan to include these chargers if the study finds them feasible. Additionally, the bill mandates that the agency submit a written report on the findings to the House and Senate Transportation Committees by December 15, 2023. The measure directly affects the state's transportation department and aims to improve electric vehicle charging options at former welcome center sites.