Rep. Elizabeth Burrows

Maddy summaryH.112 provides medical debt relief for Vermont residents by appropriating $1 million to contract with a nonprofit to purchase and erase qualifying medical debt. It directly affects Vermonters with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their household income. The bill prohibits credit bureaus from reporting medical debt on credit reports and bans healthcare providers from submitting such debt to credit agencies. It requires debt relief contractors to remove adverse credit information after debt abolition, ensuring no cost or tax impact for affected residents.

Maddy summaryH 81 requires Vermont's Governor to obtain prior approval from the General Assembly before entering into certain federal immigration enforcement agreements (specifically those under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) and 19 U.S.C. § 1401(i)). The bill mandates a 60-day notice period before a vote, during which the Governor must provide the full agreement text, an analysis of fiscal/social/legal impacts, and hold public hearings. It also prohibits such agreements if the General Assembly isn't in session and requires annual reporting to legislative committees on related discussions. This directly affects the Governor and state agencies that might enter these agreements, adding a legislative review step to federal immigration partnerships.

Maddy summaryH 74 would phase in full exemption of Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax over eight years. Currently, Vermont partially exempts Social Security benefits for lower-income seniors, but this bill raises the income thresholds where full exemption applies - increasing the single filer threshold from $65,000 to $77,000 and married filer threshold from $80,000 to $92,000. The change applies to all Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits, with full exemption becoming effective by the eighth year. The bill amends Vermont’s tax code (32 V.S.A. § 5830e) to adjust the income-based exclusion rules. It is currently referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont public schools to adopt and enforce inclusive policies aligned with state education standards. It prevents schools from implementing federal mandates that conflict with Vermont's equity and inclusivity standards. The Vermont Agency of Education gains authority to provide guidance and support to schools resisting such conflicting federal requirements. The bill directly affects all public schools and the state education agency, focusing on preempting federal policy conflicts rather than creating new school obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Department of Health to create and maintain an emergency stockpile of essential medications for reproductive health care (like contraceptives and pregnancy termination drugs) and gender-affirming care (including puberty blockers and hormone therapies). The stockpile must be strategically placed across the state, with priority for underserved and rural communities, and managed through specific procurement, storage, and distribution rules. The Department must report annually by January 15 on stock levels, usage, and future supply needs. The bill aims to ensure ongoing access to these medications during potential shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill (H 55) requires all health insurance plans in Vermont - including Medicaid - to cover gender-affirming health care services that are medically necessary and clinically appropriate, such as facial procedures and hair removal, without extra cost-sharing. It also mandates coverage for fertility-related services, including diagnostic care, IVF procedures, fertility preservation (like egg freezing), and related medications, while prohibiting financial barriers or restrictions based on donor use. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage for these services based on factors like donor sperm or eggs, though it excludes experimental procedures and nonmedical costs (e.g., donor fees). Insurers must report compliance annually to state health committees, and the Agency of Human Services must seek federal approval for Medicaid coverage changes. The bill directly affects all Vermont health insurers, Medicaid, and individuals seeking these specific health services.

Maddy summaryH 38 adds six full-time and two part-time staff positions to Vermont's Human Rights Commission, including Communications Coordinators, Intake Specialists, Staff Attorney Investigators, a Paralegal, and part-time Mediators/Social Workers. The bill allocates $794,616 in fiscal year 2026 for salaries and benefits, plus $25,000 for outreach, $18,000 for operations, and $50,000 for office space. These new roles aim to expand the Commission's capacity to handle discrimination complaints and provide support services. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting the Commission's operations and the residents it serves.

Maddy summaryH.33 expands Vermont's unpaid leave protections to cover domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, bereavement, and military-related family exigencies, directly affecting employees working for businesses with 10+ employees (for parental leave) or 15+ employees (for other leave types). It redefines "family member" to include non-traditional relationships - like caregivers in non-legal bonds or LGBTQ+ families - without requiring legal documentation, and creates "safe leave" for victims of domestic violence or assault. The bill also mandates employer reporting to track how expanded leave impacts workers, particularly low-income employees and non-traditional families. These changes aim to make leave access more equitable while aligning with inclusive standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to partner with local opioid treatment programs to provide medication for opioid use disorder (like buprenorphine or methadone) in correctional facilities. It ensures inmates with opioid use disorder can continue their prescribed medication upon admission and receive at least a 28-day supply upon release to maintain treatment continuity. The law updates existing medical care standards to mandate these partnerships through memorandums of understanding with community treatment providers. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Vermont facilities who require opioid use disorder treatment, aligning their care with community-based treatment systems. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve access to evidence-based treatment during incarceration and transition to community care.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Fair Repair Act, aims to improve access to repair services for agricultural and forestry equipment by ensuring independent repair providers and equipment owners can obtain necessary parts, tools, and documentation. The legislation addresses challenges such as limited availability of authorized repair shops in rural areas, workforce shortages, and restrictions on software-related repairs that may prevent independent technicians from fixing equipment safely and effectively. By establishing clear definitions for key terms and promoting equitable access to repair resources, the bill seeks to extend equipment lifespans, reduce costs for farmers and foresters, and support Vermont's agricultural and forestry sectors. The measure does not mandate specific repair practices but creates a framework to facilitate fair access to the information and components needed for maintenance and repairs.