Rep. Heather Surprenant

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the University of Vermont Board of Trustees by adding two new voting faculty members and clarifying student representation requirements. The legislation expands the board to 27 members total, with two faculty positions elected by the Faculty Senate and two student positions reserved for one undergraduate and one graduate student. These student trustees serve two-year terms and must be full-time students enrolled in degree programs, while faculty members serve four-year terms with full voting rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, with a transition period for initial faculty appointments beginning in August 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to develop a comprehensive plan for transitioning to a regenerative economy by 2026, which aims to repair and restore natural and human resources rather than simply reducing harm. The legislation mandates that the state be divided into 11 regions, each forming a People's Assembly to create local plans through broad public engagement involving community members, businesses, and organizations. These regional plans must address specific goals including regenerative agriculture, food justice, waste reduction, renewable energy, and racial equity while guiding state investments and policy decisions. The bill establishes a long-term target of achieving 90 percent of a regenerative economy by December 31, 2046, and requires all state funding streams to align with the resulting roadmap.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Departments of Health and for Children and Families to submit a report on how to enable WIC card users to pay at farmers' markets. The report must outline the feasibility, timeline, and costs for providing farmers' market vendors with payment devices that work with electronic benefit transfer cards. The bill affects WIC program participants, farmers' market vendors, and state agencies responsible for nutrition programs. It takes effect on July 1, 2023, and directs the report to be submitted by January 15, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an Eviction Diversion Program within the Vermont State Housing Authority to help prevent evictions for nonpayment of rent. The program would provide up to $1,600,000 in funding and hire a coordinator to screen eligible tenants and landlords, connect them with financial assistance, and facilitate mediation to resolve disputes. Tenants qualify if they owe three months or less in rent, have income at or below 100% of the area median, and meet specific hardship criteria such as medical emergencies or job loss. If eligible parties agree to participate, the bill suspends legal eviction timelines while they work toward a resolution, and upon successful mediation, funds up to $3,000 can be paid directly to landlords on behalf of tenants. Additionally, the bill requires courts to seal tenant privacy records in eviction cases until a final eviction order is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to change Vermont's motor vehicle inspection schedule from annual to biennial, meaning most cars would need safety and emissions checks every two years instead of every year. It directly affects all registered motor vehicles in the state except school buses and motor buses, which would continue to be inspected twice annually. The legislation also establishes a study committee to examine how inspections impact low-income residents, rural Vermonters, and seniors, with the committee required to submit a report by January 15, 2024. The study committee includes representatives from government agencies, community action groups, automotive dealers, and inspection mechanics to gather data on inspection costs, safety effectiveness, and potential assistance programs. The inspection schedule change would take effect on July 1, 2023, while the study committee would operate until February 15, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's cannabis regulations by allowing consumption in public places where tobacco is permitted, increasing THC limits in products, and creating new business licenses for delivery services and private events. It directly affects cannabis businesses, consumers, and communities by establishing specific rules for product potency, event hosting, and direct-to-consumer sales by cultivators. The legislation also allocates additional cannabis tax revenue to support business development, communities historically harmed by cannabis prohibition, and substance misuse treatment programs. These changes aim to provide more flexibility for consumers and businesses while maintaining safety standards and ensuring equitable economic benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Vermont schools and educational programs that receive state funding from using unlawful physical restraints, seclusion, mechanical restraints, or chemical restraints on students. It defines specific types of restraints and seclusion that are banned, while allowing certain voluntary physical contacts like escorts and prompts that do not restrict movement. Covered entities must report and document any incidents involving restraint or seclusion, notify parents within 24 hours, and hold meetings within five school days to discuss prevention strategies and potential behavioral support plans. The Agency of Education is tasked with creating a performance review system to monitor compliance and provide technical assistance to schools for implementing evidence-based programs that reduce the need for restraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to decriminalize the possession of a personal supply of regulated drugs in Vermont, changing penalties from criminal charges to a civil offense with a $50 fee. The legislation would establish a Drug Use Standards Advisory Board to set benchmarks for what constitutes a personal use supply and allow individuals with prior possession convictions to have their criminal records sealed if their amounts fall below these benchmarks. It also authorizes pilot drug-checking programs that let individuals test substances for chemical composition and contaminants to reduce overdose risks. The bill aims to shift Vermont's approach from criminal prosecution to public health strategies, redirecting resources toward prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a pilot program offering financial assistance to farmers who adopt year-round agricultural practices across different regions of the state. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop specific standards and criteria for what qualifies as year-round agriculture and allocates funding to support the program's implementation. The legislation affects farmers and agricultural agencies by establishing a formal mechanism to encourage continuous farming activities throughout all seasons.