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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to help middle schools in Vermont establish career and technical education programs for grades eight and nine. It provides $5.5 million in grant funding to eligible schools located more than 15 miles from existing career centers, with requirements that schools match the funding through in-kind contributions and commit to maintaining the programs for five years. The grants cover one full-time teacher and equipment costs for two years, after which schools must fund their own operations. The Agency of Education will report annually on student participation and program sustainability to the state legislature.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires secondary school districts in Vermont to include at least two nonvoting student members on their school boards, allowing students to participate in board discussions and provide input on policies and budgets without casting votes. Student members would be appointed by the board based on applications submitted by district residents, receive the same compensation as voting members, and attend all regular meetings with specialized training on board procedures. Additionally, serving as a student school board member would count toward flexible graduation pathways, recognizing this experience as applied or work-based learning. The bill applies only to districts providing secondary education, while elementary-only districts are encouraged but not required to include student representation.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to make Vermont observe U.S. Eastern Standard Time year-round instead of switching to daylight saving time twice annually. It would amend state law to establish Eastern Standard Time as the permanent time zone for the state, with the transition to occur on January 1 of the year following when neighboring states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York adopt the same change. The legislation includes findings that standard time better supports health, safety, and productivity, and gives the governor authority to adjust time periods if needed to align with adjacent states. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2023, pending coordination with neighboring states to implement the change simultaneously.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding and operational capacity for Vermont's Commission on Native American Affairs by providing financial resources for staff, educational programs, and member compensation. The legislation authorizes the hiring of a full-time administrator, allocates money for educational initiatives, and establishes per diem payments for commission members who meet at least three times annually. Additionally, the bill requires the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to provide dedicated office space for the commission, including areas for staff work and meetings. These changes aim to strengthen the commission's ability to support Native American communities in Vermont through technical assistance, advocacy, and cultural development programs.
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 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 would create a legal exception to Vermont's tobacco possession laws, allowing people under 21 to hold tobacco products when participating in Indigenous cultural practices. It amends existing statutes to add a specific provision that permits minors to possess tobacco in connection with Indigenous cultural tobacco practices, while maintaining the general rule that individuals under 21 cannot possess, purchase, or attempt to purchase tobacco products. The law would take effect immediately upon passage and applies specifically to Indigenous cultural contexts rather than general tobacco use.
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 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.