Rep. Jim Masland

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes building safety oversight in Vermont by renaming the Division of Fire Safety to the Division of Fire and Building Safety and transferring authority over residential and commercial building energy standards from the Department of Public Service to this new division. The legislation also requires the Office of Professional Regulation to update its building contractor registry with more detailed information and mandates that energy code compliance certificates be issued before buildings can receive occupancy permits. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Public Service to create an online application and certification tool for small residential projects and calls for the adoption of a statewide residential building construction code to improve enforcement and compliance with energy standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public and school libraries in Vermont from banning or removing books and other library materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval. It requires the State Librarian to create rules that protect library collections, aligning with the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, and mandates that each library adopt a materials retention policy complying with these rules. Libraries that violate these retention rules would lose eligibility for state grants and funding, as they must submit an affidavit confirming compliance before receiving any state financial support. The legislation applies to both public and school libraries and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, which would require fossil fuel companies that operated in Vermont between 2000 and 2019 to pay for their share of climate change costs. The program targets entities involved in extracting coal, oil, or natural gas, charging them based on how much greenhouse gas their products contributed to global emissions. Money collected from these payments would go into a dedicated fund to finance climate resilience projects like flood protections, upgraded infrastructure, and health programs addressing climate-related health risks. The law defines specific types of infrastructure projects eligible for funding and establishes rules for determining which companies must pay and how much they owe.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and access state-funded financial aid at Vermont's public colleges if they meet standard residency requirements. It prohibits the Vermont State Colleges Corporation from excluding students based solely on immigration status and requires the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to make state financial aid available to all residents regardless of immigration status. The law specifically includes protections for refugees, those granted parole to enter the U.S., and Afghan Allies Protection Act visa holders, while also clarifying residency rules for military families. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, and include provisions ensuring students can apply for and participate in financial aid programs to the full extent allowed by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes uniform net metering rates across all of Vermont, requiring electricity providers to charge the same rates to all customers who generate their own power, regardless of which utility company serves them. The legislation mandates that self-generation customers pay the same fees and meet the same conditions as other retail electricity purchasers within the same rate class, with exceptions only for safety and reliability requirements approved by the state Commission. Effective July 1, 2024, the bill requires all retail electricity providers to implement consistent net metering rate schedules approved by the Commission, replacing the previous system where rates varied by individual utility company.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to charge an impact fee on new residential homes larger than 5,000 square feet when building permits are issued. The collected fees must be sent to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to support affordable housing projects that benefit the home's developer or owner. The fee is calculated at a minimum of $10,000 per 1,000 square feet above the 5,000-square-foot threshold, with municipalities allowed to set higher rates using their own formulas. The law applies to all towns, cities, villages, and unorganized towns or gorges and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program to distribute free radon test kits to homeowners in one or two Vermont counties with significant granite bedrock or high lung cancer rates. The Department of Health will provide the kits voluntarily to participants, analyze the results, and send individual reports back to each homeowner while keeping personal information private. The program will also compare aggregated test data with local lung cancer statistics to identify potential health risks and recommend remedial actions. By January 1, 2026, the Department must submit a final report to state health committees with findings and suggestions for future legislation. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of residential real estate in Vermont to disclose whether a property has been tested for radon and provide any available testing reports to prospective buyers. The law applies to anyone offering to sell residential property and mandates that this information be included in the purchase or sale contract. If a residence has undergone radon testing, the seller must provide a copy of the testing report to the buyer. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not affect property title marketability if compliance requirements are not met.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2023 Thetford Academy Panthers' Division III baseball championship team. It recognizes the team's achievement of winning their first baseball title in 37 years with a 6-0 victory over the White River Valley School Wildcats. The resolution names the individual players and coaches who contributed to the team's success and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Thetford Academy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and approved independent schools in Vermont to include instruction on the history and contributions of marginalized groups in science, arts, and humanities courses. It specifically mandates coverage of Native Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, various racial and ethnic backgrounds, different socioeconomic statuses, immigrants, refugees, and diverse religious backgrounds. The State Board of Education must develop specific standards and performance measures for this content by July 1, 2025, and schools must begin implementing these requirements in the 2025-2026 school year. The instruction must be age-appropriate and integrated into existing courses with established student performance standards.