Sen. Brian Campion

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes strict liability for any person who releases perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, from large facilities in Vermont. It directly affects businesses and organizations operating large-scale industrial facilities that manufacture, process, use, or store these chemicals, as well as the manufacturers of the PFAS themselves. Under the bill, any individual or entity responsible for releasing PFAS from a qualifying large facility must be held fully responsible for any resulting personal injury or property damage, regardless of whether the release was intentional or accidental. The law also allows those held liable to seek financial contribution from the PFAS manufacturer and does not replace existing legal remedies available under current laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to publicly post notices for all employment vacancies. The law mandates that job postings be displayed in the municipal clerk's office, on the municipal website or through an online recruiting service, and in the state Department of Labor's job bank. Each posting must include the job title, required skills or experience, salary range, and application dates with a minimum 10-day application period. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all municipal and county government positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the open carry of firearms at polling places, political debates, and public demonstrations in Vermont. It directly affects individuals who wish to carry visible firearms in these specific locations, while allowing law enforcement officers and government employees to carry firearms for official duties. The legislation defines a public demonstration as gatherings of 25 or more people expressing views or grievances and sets penalties of up to one year in prison or a $1,000 fine for violations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not regulate firearms carried in motor vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Education to submit final recommendations on how to fund and govern the state's career technical education system by February 1, 2024. The legislation requires the agency to provide a written report with all necessary details, or if the deadline is missed, a status update explaining delays and new completion dates. The bill does not change funding or governance directly but sets a timeline for the agency to propose those changes based on prior legislative requirements. It takes effect immediately upon passage and is intended to implement recommendations from a previous 2022 law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to establish an agreement with a virtual learning provider to offer online education options to state students. It sets specific eligibility criteria for students to enroll full-time in virtual learning, including being enrolled in a public middle or high school and having virtual learning identified as beneficial in their personalized learning plan. The legislation also mandates that school districts count eligible virtual students in their enrollment numbers and allows the Agency to create rules to implement these requirements. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont state agencies to produce a report on why graduates from local colleges are less likely to stay in the state after graduation. The report must analyze the reasons behind Vermont's low retention rate and propose a plan to improve it. Key provisions include creating better connections between schools and employers, expanding career counseling focused on local industries, strengthening campus-community relationships, and offering streamlined licensure pathways for graduates. The report is due to the General Assembly by July 1, 2025, and the agencies will receive administrative support from the Agency of Education to prepare it.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new statewide Study Abroad Program in Vermont that allows high school students in grades 9 through 12 to spend one semester studying in a foreign country as part of their flexible graduation pathway. The program would be funded by school districts, with tuition costs capped at the average union high school tuition rate, and the state Secretary of Education would establish specific rules for eligibility, program requirements, and quality evaluation. Additionally, the bill updates existing flexible pathway guidelines to formally include study abroad as one of several alternative learning options alongside internships, virtual learning, and other educational experiences. The program would take effect on July 1, 2024, and aims to provide students with diverse educational opportunities while maintaining accountability through state oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Prekindergarten Education Study Committee in Vermont to examine and make recommendations for improving access to affordable, high-quality prekindergarten education for three- and four-year-old children. The committee will consist of representatives from state agencies, education associations, private child care providers, and families, tasked with analyzing quality standards, workforce needs, funding options, and potential transitions to a public school-based system. The committee must submit a report with findings and draft legislative recommendations by December 1, 2023, to the relevant state legislative committees. This measure directly affects child care providers, public school districts, families with young children, and state education agencies by creating a structured process to evaluate and potentially expand prekindergarten services.

Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution honors Vanessa Davison, a long-time staff member of the Vermont General Assembly, for her 45 years of dedicated service. The resolution recognizes her work ethic, professionalism, and contributions to legislative operations, including managing administrative tasks, operating early computer systems, and serving as Journal Clerk for over 30 years. It formally acknowledges her role in preparing Senate Journals and training her successor to ensure continued quality in legislative record-keeping. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Davison as an official recognition of her retirement after concluding her career in the spring of 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's juvenile justice system by allowing courts to transfer certain serious cases involving minors aged 12 to 19 from family court to adult criminal court. The law specifies particular violent offenses, such as murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and armed robbery, that qualify for transfer when the child is 16 or older, while also including drug trafficking and firearm-related crimes for those aged 16 to 19. A judge must hold a hearing to evaluate factors like the child's maturity, prior record, and the nature of the offense before deciding whether adult court is appropriate, though parties can also agree to transfer without a hearing. Once transferred, the juvenile will be processed through the adult criminal justice system rather than the family division.