Rep. Leslie Goldman

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Vermont to join interstate compacts that allow licensed health care professionals to practice across state lines. It specifically targets compacts for counseling and psychology professions, enabling these providers to work in other states that have joined the same agreements. The legislation expresses the state's intent to participate in these compacts once they are reasonably available. This change would affect licensed counselors and psychologists in Vermont by potentially expanding their ability to practice in other states. The bill does not mandate immediate participation but sets the legal framework for future enrollment in these professional agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legislative study committee to examine potential changes to the Vermont General Assembly's structure and operations. The committee would investigate options such as meeting year-round, reducing the number of legislators, or transitioning to a single-chamber system to improve diversity and ensure fair compensation and health benefits. Members of the Vermont General Assembly would be directly involved in this review process. The bill does not implement any changes immediately but instead creates a framework for studying and recommending future modifications to the legislature's composition and functions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public prekindergarten education program in Vermont, making full-day early education available to three- and four-year-old children and five-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. It creates a new Department of Economic Empowerment by reorganizing the Department for Children and Families, adds a second Deputy Secretary to the Agency of Education with specific qualifications, and provides property tax exemptions for child care providers. The legislation also expands eligibility and payment rates for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, creates a new Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and introduces grants to support child care workforce retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's health insurance requirements to expand colorectal cancer screening coverage and increase funding for primary care services. It mandates that health insurers cover colorectal cancer screenings for individuals aged 50 and older in accordance with national guidelines, while also allowing for high-risk screenings as recommended by physicians. The legislation requires major health insurers, the state employee health plan, and certain educational benefit plans to increase their allocation of total health spending to primary care by at least one percentage point annually until reaching a minimum of 12 percent. Additionally, the bill establishes reporting requirements for insurers to track primary care spending and directs state officials to recommend payment increases for Patient Centered Medical Homes to support comprehensive primary care delivery.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Vermont Pension Investment Commission to review and divest state pension funds from investments in the fossil fuel industry. It directly affects the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System, the State Teachers' Retirement System, and the Municipal Employees' Retirement System. The Commission must complete an initial review by August 2023, submit a divestment plan by November 2023, and finish divesting fossil fuel holdings by December 2030, with annual progress reports required until 2031. The legislation defines fossil fuel companies based on reserves, coal plant ownership, core business activities, and revenue sources, while prohibiting new fossil fuel investments after July 2031. The bill also appropriates $100,000 in FY 2024 to support the planning and reporting process.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to ban the retail sale of flavored cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and flavored e-liquids in Vermont, directly affecting tobacco retailers and consumers. It expands existing laws on tobacco product seizure and destruction to include e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and related paraphernalia, while directing the Attorney General to report on the legal scope of advertising and labeling restrictions for vaping products. The legislation defines "tobacco substitutes" to include electronic vaping devices and clarifies that only FDA-approved cessation products would be exempt from the ban.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand health insurance eligibility in Vermont to include all income-eligible adults over 18 who are currently excluded from Medicaid and health exchange subsidies due to their immigration status. It requires the state to provide hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage for these individuals that matches the benefits available under the existing Medicaid program. The law also mandates that the state protect applicants' confidentiality and prohibits sharing their information with the federal government. Coverage would begin on July 1, 2024, and applies to Vermont residents who meet income requirements but are ineligible for current public health programs because of immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts trapping of fur-bearing animals in Vermont to specific situations, allowing it only for property defense, agricultural crop protection, or by licensed nuisance wildlife control operators. It establishes a new nuisance wildlife trapping license and requires property owners to notify neighbors before setting traps on their land. The law also mandates that traps be checked every 24 hours, requires reporting of trapped animals within 12 hours, and limits pelt possession to personal noncommercial use when taken for property protection. Additionally, the bill requires trapping education certification for new license holders and gives the Department of Fish and Wildlife authority to inspect pelts and investigate trapping reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to standardize the opening time for all polling places across Vermont, which currently have a uniform closing time of 7:00 p.m. The legislation would establish a specific opening hour that all polling locations must follow, ensuring consistency statewide. It directly affects election officials and voters who rely on polling place hours for planning. The bill would require all polling places to open at the same designated time, creating uniformity in election day procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Vermont's Medicaid program to cover doula services for pregnant individuals, including support during prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. To qualify for reimbursement, doulas must be certified by an approved national organization, complete additional training on Medicaid participation and special populations, pass a background check, and maintain liability insurance. The bill sets a maximum coverage limit of $850 per pregnancy, with specific allocations for prenatal visits, labor and delivery support, and postpartum care, while excluding reimbursement for travel expenses. The Department of Vermont Health Access would establish a registry of qualified doulas and create rules to implement these requirements, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2023, or upon federal approval of a state plan amendment, whichever occurs later.