Rep. Laura Sibilia

Maddy summaryThis bill would require online companies to design their services with children's best interests in mind if those services are likely to be accessed by minors under 18. It mandates that companies consider different developmental stages when creating features and prohibits the use of deceptive user interface designs known as dark patterns that could manipulate children's choices. The law applies to businesses operating in Vermont and defines specific rules for how personal data about children can be collected, processed, and shared, including restrictions on profiling and geolocation tracking. Companies must also provide clear default settings that protect children's privacy rather than requiring them to opt out of data collection.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors Vermont National Guard Deputy Adjutant General Kenneth Gragg for his distinguished career in public service. The document recognizes his 46 years of military and civilian service, including his leadership in financial management, construction projects, and pandemic response efforts. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Gragg as a formal acknowledgment of his contributions. This is a ceremonial measure with no new laws or policy changes, serving only to publicly recognize his achievements.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Community Broadband Board to create a transfer plan before its scheduled end date of July 1, 2029, ensuring a smooth transition of its responsibilities and assets. The Board must include specific factors in its annual report, such as the status of broadband projects, digital equity initiatives, financial sustainability, and recommendations for which state entity should take over support for communications union districts. The legislation also requires the Board to consider how future broadband funding should be structured and whether staff expertise could continue benefiting state programs after the Board dissolves. This measure focuses on establishing clear guidelines for the Board's final operations and planning for the future management of broadband initiatives in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires legislative approval for significant sales or leases of property owned by telephone companies regulated by the Public Utility Commission. It applies to transactions where the property represents 10 percent or more of a company's state-based assets used for public service, excluding routine replacements or exchanges. The process involves a Public Utility Commission hearing to determine if the transaction benefits the state, followed by a General Assembly vote for final approval. The law applies to any pending or future petitions filed on or after January 1, 2024, and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that close an existing elementary or high school to designate three or fewer public schools to serve as the district's public schools for those students. The law mandates that when a school closure occurs, the district must ensure education continues by assigning students to designated public schools rather than automatically paying tuition to outside schools. Parents retain the right to request tuition for their children to attend other approved schools if they believe it better serves their child's needs, though the school board makes the final decision on such requests. The bill also allows certain districts in rural areas to designate public high schools in neighboring states like New York as their public schools under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Resilient Communities Fund to provide financial assistance to Vermont municipalities for planning and responding to floods, fires, environmental hazards, and other disasters, with priority given to projects that match federal grants and serve vulnerable communities. It requires the Division of Vermont Emergency Management to identify specific areas needing additional funding based on past disasters, current risks, and local capacity, and mandates a study to improve coordination between state and local disaster response efforts. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of Natural Resources to create rules for development permits in flood hazard areas and authorizes the creation of a State Urban Search and Rescue Team for rapid emergency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a study committee to examine how Vermont could distribute sales and use tax revenue equally among all municipalities. The committee will also investigate other methods for sharing state revenue with local communities. The legislation does not change any current tax laws or revenue distributions but instead creates a group to research and recommend options for future policy changes. The bill affects state government structure by adding a committee tasked with analyzing revenue sharing mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands how courts can hold people accountable when they break the rules set for their pretrial release. It removes the $200 limit on bail for individuals who commit new crimes while out on bail and allows judges to consider whether someone is already under supervision in another case when setting release conditions. The legislation also clarifies what counts as fleeing prosecution and requires judges to inform defendants of penalties for violating release conditions. These changes apply to anyone charged with a crime in Vermont who is seeking pretrial release.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's bail procedures by allowing sworn oral or recorded statements as evidence during "weight of the evidence" hearings, which are used to deny bail in violent felony cases. The change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants facing charges involving violence against others by expanding the types of evidence they can present beyond live testimony. The legislation permits courts to consider information that would not normally meet standard court admissibility rules while maintaining the existing standard for determining whether evidence of guilt is great. Effective July 1, 2024, this adjustment aims to streamline the process for these specific hearings without altering the substantive legal standards for denying bail.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Climate Action Office to study the costs and benefits of creating a statewide grid resilience plan for all electric utilities in the state. The study would examine measures such as undergrounding power lines, storm-hardening infrastructure, and deploying battery storage and microgrids to reduce impacts from extreme weather and natural disasters. The Office must submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2025, following consultation with the Department of Public Service. The act takes effect immediately upon passage and focuses on developing an implementation schedule and financing mechanism for the proposed plan.