Rep. Kevin Christie

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Department of Health to create free opioid overdose response training videos and distribute naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, to businesses and organizations likely to encounter people experiencing overdoses. The legislation also requires the department to expand community prevention programs, improve access to treatment services, educate healthcare providers and recovery program participants on overdose prevention, and establish public kiosks where naloxone can be dispensed. These measures aim to increase public awareness and access to life-saving resources for individuals at risk of opioid-related overdoses across the state. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Vermont's 3SquaresVT program by allowing eligible SNAP recipients to use their benefits at participating restaurants through the federal Restaurant Meals Program. It also requires the state to develop a plan for calculating minimum 3SquaresVT benefits at 30 percent of the federal moderate-cost food plan, which would increase the amount of assistance provided. The legislation creates a new staff position and allocates $85,000 to help restaurants apply for and participate in the program while establishing eligibility criteria that prioritize local food availability and diverse cultural options. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024, with a transition plan due to state committees by January 1, 2025.

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 bill establishes a two-year Child and Youth Representation Policy Fellowship Program within Vermont's Office of Child, Youth, and Family Advocate to improve how children and youth participate in legal, healthcare, and human services systems. The program will analyze existing representation structures and funding while prioritizing racially and socially equitable approaches to youth engagement. A new full-time position called Child and Youth Representation Policy Lead will be created to oversee the initiative and coordinate with community stakeholders. The Office must submit progress reports to legislative committees by December 2024 and May 2025, with proposed legislation recommendations due by November 2025. Funding of $300,000 from the Tobacco Litigation Settlement will support the program and position in fiscal year 2025, with any remaining funds carried forward to 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Entrepreneurship within the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to support new and small businesses in Vermont. The office will focus on strengthening policies for entrepreneurs, providing technical assistance, helping businesses under five years old navigate state agencies, and ensuring at least five percent of state contracts go to these newer businesses. Additionally, the bill eliminates all first-year registration fees for new businesses and requires an annual report on contract awards to businesses under five years old, including data on demographic representation. A third provision directs the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to study and recommend ways to reduce regulations on home-based food businesses while protecting public health. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Protecting Soils and Waters from Forever Chemicals Act, prohibits the land application of septage throughout Vermont and restricts landfill disposal of waste containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when state standards are exceeded or when facilities lack proper certification. The legislation requires all solid waste management facilities to obtain state certification before operating, with specific exemptions for certain domestic wastewater treatment plants that meet defined conditions. Additionally, the bill bans the use of sludge as daily cover at landfills and mandates that the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets develop a memorandum of understanding by January 15, 2025, to enforce PFAS soil standards. These changes directly affect wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and municipalities that manage septage and sludge waste.

Maddy summaryThis bill would update Vermont law to protect parental rights when children access reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. It states that Vermont recognizes access to these health services as a legal right and would not enforce laws from other states that remove parental rights based on a parent allowing their child to receive such care. The legislation applies to any custody or parental rights cases currently pending in Vermont courts. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects employees from being fired, discriminated against, or retaliated against for taking time off to serve as volunteer firefighters or volunteer emergency medical personnel. It also allows employers to claim a $500 tax credit for each volunteer firefighter or emergency medical personnel they employ for at least 12 weeks during the tax year. To qualify for protections, employees must provide written proof from their volunteer department to their employer, and employers are not required to pay employees for time spent on volunteer duties. The tax credit is available to private employers who maintain workers' compensation insurance and meet state registration requirements. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an extended producer responsibility program in Vermont to manage the collection and recycling of waste motor vehicle tires. It requires tire manufacturers to register with the state and either join an approved waste tire stewardship organization or implement their own plan before selling tires beginning in 2026. The program includes a fee system and mandates that manufacturers contribute to tire recycling efforts, with the Agency of Natural Resources overseeing compliance. Covered entities, such as tire retailers, must deliver waste tires to approved collection facilities to participate in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's laws regarding operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent by clarifying the mental state required for conviction. It directly affects individuals who take or use someone else's vehicle without permission, requiring prosecutors to prove the person either knowingly lacked consent or consciously ignored that they did not have it. The legislation maintains existing penalties of up to two years in prison or a $1,000 fine for those convicted under the amended provisions. This change is intended to refine how intent is established in such cases rather than alter the overall punishment structure.