Rep. Laura Sibilia

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's laws to strengthen protections for threatened and endangered species by requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to revise the state species list every three years and to designate critical habitat for each listed species. It prohibits the sale, transport, or import of these species within the state and restricts their taking to specific purposes like scientific research or enhancing their survival. The legislation also mandates that the Secretary develop rules to help farmers and foresters avoid harming species or their habitats while consulting with affected landowners and neighboring jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Vermont's Act 250 land use regulations to increase transparency and improve the permit review process. It requires the Natural Resources Board to publish past court decisions, application documents, and guidance materials online, and to establish clearer rules for how permits are evaluated and denied. The legislation also sets specific time limits for processing applications, creates a formal reconsideration process for denied permits, and mandates annual reports on board performance and enforcement actions. Additionally, it clarifies definitions of project changes and allows certain energy efficiency improvements to be excluded from triggering new permit requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows communications union districts in Vermont to merge with one another, enabling them to combine their member towns and resources to build broadband networks more efficiently. The legislation establishes a formal process for mergers that includes creating a preliminary merger plan, holding public hearings in each district, and requiring approval by a three-quarters vote of the board members from each district involved. It also clarifies that all assets and liabilities of the merging districts will automatically transfer to the new combined district without needing additional legal documents. The bill aims to help these special-purpose municipalities better compete with commercial providers and achieve economies of scale while maintaining their commitment to universal broadband access.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts to include military-related postsecondary opportunities in career development and personalized learning plans for students in grades 7 through 12. It also mandates that the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation provide information about military-related postsecondary options and financial aid in all planning resources it produces. The changes aim to ensure students are aware of military education pathways as part of their broader career and postsecondary planning. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's Act 250 land use law to better support climate change resilience and infrastructure development. It directly affects utility companies, developers, and local communities by requiring a "certificate of public good" before new electric and gas infrastructure projects can begin construction. The bill also clarifies that certain energy and telecommunications facilities are exempt from specific development definitions under Act 250, while establishing stricter timelines for processing applications and requiring annual performance reports from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Additionally, it mandates that applicants provide notice to landowners and local officials at least 30 days before filing applications, with provisions for dismissing incomplete applications after six months to prevent delays.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public directory of tobacco substitutes, such as e-cigarettes, that are legally allowed for sale in Vermont. It requires manufacturers to annually certify to the state that their products have received federal approval from the Food and Drug Administration or are under review, and to pay fees for each product listed. The Division of Liquor Control will maintain this online directory and can remove products that fail to meet certification requirements, after which those items become illegal to sell. Retailers, distributors, and wholesalers face daily fines and potential license suspensions if they sell tobacco substitutes not included in the directory. Manufacturers who falsely represent their product's status could face fines or imprisonment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Housing Division to track and report on progress toward statewide and regional housing targets established in the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment. The legislation mandates the development of specific metrics, including timelines with deadlines and regional measures covering investment rates, price, quality, and zoning compliance. Through 2030, the Division must publish annual reports detailing progress against these targets, assess whether advancement is satisfactory, and provide recommendations to accelerate housing development if needed. The bill affects the Department of Housing and Community Development, regional planning commissions, and housing developers by creating a structured accountability system for meeting housing goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes oversight and liability standards for developers and deployers of inherently dangerous artificial intelligence systems in Vermont. It requires these entities to submit safety and impact assessments to the state before deploying such systems and every two years thereafter, with additional requirements when significant changes are made. The legislation defines inherently dangerous AI systems as those that pose serious risks to public safety, health, or economic security, including systems that can make consequential decisions affecting critical areas like employment, housing, and healthcare. The state Attorney General is authorized to enforce compliance through legal action, which may include injunctions or revocation of business certificates for noncompliance. Small businesses using off-the-shelf AI products according to their terms of use are explicitly excluded from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for developers and deployers of high-risk and generative artificial intelligence systems in Vermont. It requires developers to use reasonable care to prevent algorithmic discrimination and mandates disclosure of system limitations, intended uses, and data collection practices before providing high-risk AI systems to deployers. The legislation also defines key terms such as consequential decisions, synthetic digital content, and social media platforms to clarify which systems fall under the new regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Armed Services Scholarships to include members of the U.S. Space Force. By amending state law, it adds the Space Force to the list of military branches that qualify for scholarship benefits. The change ensures that children of Space Force members can receive the same educational funding as those from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all existing scholarship provisions without altering other eligibility requirements.