Sen. Seth Bongartz

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 7-member committee to study the feasibility of building a new nuclear power plant in Vermont. The committee, including representatives from the state utility commission, electric companies, and bipartisan legislators, will examine past nuclear plant closures, legal barriers, and stakeholder input by December 2026. It will produce a report with recommendations for potential legislative action, but the bill itself does not authorize construction or funding. The study is strictly procedural, focusing on gathering information rather than making policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities that own or control all land around a public water source (used as a drinking water supply) to regulate that water's use through approved local bylaws. It also requires wakeboat owners to designate a single "home lake" for the calendar year, restricting operation to that lake unless the boat is decontaminated before moving to another water body. These provisions aim to protect water quality and prevent the spread of invasive species. The bill directly affects local governments managing public water systems and wakeboat operators.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a temporary moratorium on the construction and site preparation of AI data centers in Vermont until July 1, 2030. It directly affects developers or operators of new AI data centers requiring over 100 megawatts of dedicated power for AI workloads. The moratorium allows the Public Utility Commission to study impacts - including energy use, water consumption, environmental effects, grid reliability, and economic impacts - before developing future regulations. The Commission must submit a report by January 2027 detailing findings and recommendations to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 17) honoring Chrissy Gilhuly for her 7+ years of nonpartisan legislative staff service in the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her roles as Supervisor of Committee Services, Joint Fiscal Office Staff Associate, and Senate Operations Manager/Journal Clerk, and extends best wishes as she transitions to a new position at the Agency of Administration. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic recognition of her professional contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 69 (Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act), requires online services popular with minors to redesign their platforms to protect children’s privacy and safety. It directly affects businesses that generate most revenue from online services likely accessed by Vermont minors under 18 and collect their personal data. Key provisions mandate age-assurance methods to identify minors, set default privacy settings to the most protective level, ban features causing "compulsive use" (like addictive content algorithms), and restrict data collection for minors. The law also defines strict rules for handling biometric, genetic, and derived data of minors, ensuring data processing aligns with their developmental needs. It applies broadly to digital products like apps and websites, excluding physical products and basic internet services.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges Vermont state agencies to protect the civil rights, medical confidentiality, and personal privacy of residents diagnosed with autism, in response to federal plans for an autism research database. It specifically addresses concerns that the federal database - collecting medical records and wearable device data - could use sensitive health information without explicit consent. The resolution directs agencies to safeguard this data and references Illinois' similar privacy protections for autism-related information. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but calls for proactive privacy safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the size limit for solar net metering systems eligible for expedited registration from 15 kilowatts (kW) to 25 kW, directly affecting residential and small commercial customers installing solar systems under this capacity. It requires the Public Utility Commission to update rules to allow 25 kW and smaller ground-mounted solar systems to use a faster approval process. The bill also adjusts setback requirements (minimum distances from property lines and highways) based on system size and adds a 45-day requirement for certificate holders to record facility locations in local land records. These changes streamline approvals for smaller solar projects while maintaining regulatory standards for larger installations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HCR 153), not a policy bill. It formally expresses the Vermont General Assembly's praise for Ronald Loomis, recognizing his decades of community service in Shaftsbury. The resolution specifically highlights his donations of vehicles to the fire department, creation of police training facilities, support for schools and youth programs, and other volunteer work that earned him the 2025 Shaftsbury Ordinary Hero Award. The legislature directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Mr. Loomis.

Maddy summaryHCR 144 is a House concurrent resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, highlighting its history and contributions. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the Vermont Veterans' Home.

Maddy summaryHCR 146 is a resolution from the Vermont General Assembly commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bennington Fire Department managing the annual Bennington Battle Day Weekend Parade and festivities. The resolution acknowledges the department's long-standing role in organizing these community celebrations.