Rep. Rebecca Holcombe

Maddy summaryH.793 removes Vermont corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and similar business entities' legal authority to spend money on election activities (like supporting candidates) or ballot-issue activities (like funding ballot measures). It amends Vermont's business corporation laws to explicitly revoke any prior broad powers that could be interpreted as allowing such spending, defining these activities clearly to prevent misuse. The bill ensures these entities can only engage in activities necessary for their lawful business, charitable, or organizational purposes - without political spending authority. It preserves natural persons' rights and political parties' activities while applying uniformly across all business entity types.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (H.776) requires health insurance companies using artificial intelligence to make coverage decisions to base those decisions on individual patient medical records - not group data - and prohibits AI from denying coverage. Final coverage decisions must be made by licensed human health care providers after reviewing patient-specific clinical information. The bill also mandates quarterly AI performance reviews, transparency about AI use in policies, and ensures tools are applied fairly across all patients with similar needs. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryVermont's H.783 requires businesses to clearly disclose when consumers interact with a chatbot during commercial transactions, preventing reasonable confusion about speaking with a human. It directly affects companies using AI chatbots for customer service, sales, or other commercial interactions. The law mandates a "clear and conspicuous" notice before or during the conversation, defining chatbots broadly to include AI agents, avatars, and automated systems simulating human dialogue. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing consumer protection law, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryH.777 creates the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund to provide up to 20 annual scholarships of $25,000 each for Vermont high school students (grades 9-12) who attended Vermont public or approved private schools. The fund, financed by sales tax, supports students attending eligible Vermont ski academies that meet specific standards for student support, academic quality, and safety. Scholarship recipients must maintain athletic progress (competitive standing, training), academic performance, and Vermont community engagement. Ski academies must demonstrate compliance with accessibility, transparency, accredited academics, and safety protocols to qualify for funding.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 165) commemorates Micheline Lemay of Stowe for her leadership in outdoor recreation and mindfulness. It specifically recognizes her work as a co-owner of Rugged Adventures Summer Camp, her personal journey overcoming serious health challenges including cancer, and her "Mansfield Million" ski challenge to ascend Mount Mansfield. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Micheline Lemay, with no policy changes or direct effects on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryHCR 172 is a commemorative resolution honoring Jon Gailmor, a Vermont folk singer and former Elmore Town Moderator who died in 2025. The resolution expresses the Vermont General Assembly’s condolences to his family and Elmore residents, recognizing his contributions as a musician who celebrated Vermont through songs like "A Town Meeting Tune" and his 15+ years serving as Elmore's town moderator. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Gailmor’s family and the Elmore Town Clerk. This is a ceremonial measure with no policy impact.

Maddy summaryH.748 amends Vermont's regional land use planning maps to clarify and update land use categories affecting development. It adds specific requirements for "village areas" (e.g., needing public water or adequate wastewater disposal) and defines "transition or infill areas" to encourage higher-density redevelopment while banning new commercial strip development that could harm existing commercial districts. The bill also creates a new "designated neighborhood" status for areas adjacent to village centers, prioritizing climate resilience and infill development within workforce housing zones near job-rich census tracts. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, directly impact municipalities and developers by shaping where and how new construction can occur under state land use regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal immigration authorities to obtain a judicial warrant before entering nonpublic areas of Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, polling places, public libraries, or childcare centers. It also prohibits Vermont's Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration enforcement beyond what federal law permits and limits civil arrests in government buildings. The Human Rights Commission must create a model policy for sensitive locations by April 2027, guiding institutions on refusing warrantless access requests. These provisions directly affect federal immigration agents, Vermont schools, healthcare providers, and other sensitive location operators.

Maddy summaryH.747, the "No Secret Police Act," requires all Vermont local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to visibly display their agency name and either their name or badge number during public interactions. It prohibits wearing masks or disguises that conceal identity, except for specific safety-related exceptions like medical masks, fire operations, or declared weather emergencies. Law enforcement agencies must create and publicly post written policies ensuring compliance with these identification standards. The bill aims to promote transparency and trust between officers and the public during routine engagements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $143,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 to the Agency of Natural Resources, which will grant the funds to the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The money specifically covers GMEDC's costs for a probate proceeding to obtain a Court Appointed Administrator, enabling the transfer of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill site in Post Mills, Thetford, to new ownership. This step is required to redevelop the brownfields site, which is a contaminated or underused industrial property. The bill directly affects GMEDC and the redevelopment plans for the landfill site.