Sen. Dick Sears

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution congratulates Dave Fredrickson, a former basketball coach at Mt. Anthony Union High School, on being inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The document recognizes his coaching achievements, including leading the school's basketball team to eight consecutive state championships over 32 seasons. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Fredrickson as a formal acknowledgment of his career milestone. The measure does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official expression of appreciation from the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2023 Mt. Anthony Union High School wrestling team for winning their 34th consecutive state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's achievement of securing seven top-three weight-class placements to defeat the runner-up, Colchester, and acknowledges the specific wrestlers and coaching staff who contributed to this accomplishment. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the school as an official record of the General Assembly's recognition.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution formally congratulates the Mt. Anthony Union High School Patriots boys Nordic skiing team for winning their second consecutive Division I state championship in 2023. The document recognizes the team's performance across freestyle and classic events, including their relay victories and individual top placements, as well as acknowledging the contributions of the skiers and coaching staff. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the school as an official record of the General Assembly's recognition of their athletic achievement.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in Vermont to raise awareness about drug overdoses and honor those affected by them. The legislation requires the Vermont State flag to be flown at half-staff on all state-owned flagpoles each August 31 to mark the observance. It also adds these provisions to the state code and includes a clause that will repeal the designation in 2033. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023, and is based on findings about rising opioid-related deaths in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Vermont's Department of Liquor and Lottery to operate sports wagering through contracts with private operators while establishing regulatory standards and oversight. It creates a competitive bidding process to select operators and allows the department to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with those operators. The legislation defines prohibited sports bettors, including athletes and employees involved in sports, and restricts wagering on certain local collegiate and high school events. Additionally, it establishes responsible gaming standards and creates a special fund to support mental health services related to problem gambling.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont municipalities to establish civilian oversight boards to monitor and investigate law enforcement agencies within their jurisdiction. The boards would have the authority to receive, investigate, and adjudicate complaints against police officers, including incidents involving physical force, officer-involved deaths, and unprofessional conduct. Key provisions grant the boards power to access police records and body camera footage, hire investigators and legal counsel, issue subpoenas, and hold public hearings before recommending disciplinary actions that must follow existing collective bargaining agreements. Investigations conducted by these boards would remain confidential unless specific exceptions are met, and boards must publish public reports detailing their findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes several changes to Vermont's cannabis programs, including repealing the Cannabis Control Board Advisory Committee and removing the sunset provision for the Board itself. It allows packaged cannabis products to contain up to 100 milligrams of THC, creates a new license for cannabis propagation, and increases the number of plants patients and caregivers can grow. The legislation also removes the psychotherapy requirement for PTSD patients seeking medical cannabis, eliminates fingerprinting for caregivers while adding checks against child and vulnerable adult abuse registries, and permits caregivers to serve two patients. Additionally, it allows cannabis establishments to do business with each other, clarifies that tobacco paraphernalia sales don't require liquor licenses, and establishes new positions within the Cannabis Control Board for quality control.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to remove the 60 percent tetrahydrocannabinol potency limit on liquid concentrate cannabis products that are prepackaged for use with battery-powered devices, allowing licensed retailers to sell them directly to consumers. It also permits the production and wholesale sale of solid and liquid concentrates exceeding 60 percent THC between licensed entities, though these remain prohibited for direct public sale unless they meet the prepackaged battery device criteria. The legislation directly affects licensed cannabis retailers, integrated licensees, and the Vermont cannabis regulatory framework by modifying existing restrictions on concentrated cannabis products.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution honoring the memory of former Representative Joseph L. Krawczyk Jr. of Bennington. It formally extends the General Assembly's sincere sympathy to his family following his death on December 13, 2022. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Krawczyk's family. It recognizes his extensive service as a Vietnam veteran, Army colonel, state legislator, and community leader.