Sen. Scott Beck

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to work with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a statewide curriculum covering food cultivation, farming practices, and nutrition for elementary and secondary schools. It also mandates that the State Board of Education and supervisory unions include agriculture and nutrition education in their quality standards and union-wide curricula. Additionally, the bill adds agriculture and nutrition education to the list of required natural sciences fields in the state's minimum course of study. These changes would affect all public schools in Vermont starting July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how retirement payments are adjusted for teachers in Vermont's State Teachers' Retirement System based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. It establishes new caps on annual increases and decreases, limiting adjustments to five percent for those who retired before July 2022 and four percent for those retiring on or after that date. The legislation also changes how cost-of-living decreases are handled, allowing them to offset future increases rather than immediately reducing benefits. Additionally, the bill appropriates $3.7 million in state funds for the 2024 fiscal year to cover the system's employer contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont State Highway Safety Office to prepare a written report by January 15, 2024, recommending how the state should adjust its approach to educating about, enforcing, and prosecuting distracted driving violations for noncommercial drivers. The report must consult with various state agencies and organizations, examine current enforcement methods like fines and license suspensions, and specifically consider strategies for drivers under 18 years old. The legislation does not change any existing laws but requires officials to analyze what is working and what needs improvement in addressing distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors organizations and individuals working to improve rural broadband access in Vermont. It recognizes the Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and related groups like the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association and the Vermont Community Broadband Board for their efforts in building broadband networks. The resolution acknowledges past legislative actions that created funding and oversight structures to support these broadband initiatives. It does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally recognize the achievements of these groups in expanding internet access to over 200 municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove the current sales tax exemption for prewritten computer software accessed remotely in Vermont, requiring businesses and consumers to pay a six percent sales tax on such software. The legislation defines vendor-hosted software as any prewritten program accessed through the internet or a vendor's server, regardless of how it is delivered, whether access is permanent or temporary, or how it is billed. By repealing the 2015 exemption, the bill ensures that digital software subscriptions and remote access services are taxed the same as other digital products sold in the state. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to both sales and use tax obligations for software accessed within Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to Vermont's housing programs to increase funding and expand eligibility for rental housing improvements, primarily affecting private landlords and nonprofit housing organizations. It would amend existing programs to allow grants and forgivable loans for rehabilitating non-compliant units, building new accessory dwelling units, and creating new rental units, with a cap of $50,000 per unit and a requirement for landlords to contribute at least 20% in matching funds or services. The legislation also creates a new Middle-Income Rental Housing Revolving Loan Program to provide subsidized loans for rental developments serving middle-income households, while exempting smaller municipalities from certain zoning requirements and allowing towns to register with state agencies to issue wastewater permits without full state permits. Additionally, it would reduce the number of residents who can appeal zoning decisions from 10 to a lower threshold and exempt certain downtown housing projects from state environmental review requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program to include courses at out-of-state colleges that offer degree programs not available in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont National Guard members who wish to pursue education at institutions outside the state. The key provision allows eligible service members to use their tuition benefits at these non-Vermont schools approved for federal funding, with benefits calculated at the University of Vermont's in-state tuition rate. The change takes effect on July 1, 2023, and does not alter existing benefits for in-state institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to make housing more affordable by reducing zoning restrictions and regulatory barriers that limit where and how people can build homes. It directly affects local governments, developers, and residents by establishing statewide standards for residential zoning. Key provisions include requiring duplexes and small apartment buildings in areas with municipal water and sewer, limiting parking requirements to one space per unit, and allowing accessory dwelling units under the same rules as single-family homes. The legislation also prohibits deed restrictions that limit dwelling size or parking, requires municipalities to report new zoning rules to the state, and strengthens enforcement of fair housing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Landfill Siting Commission to identify a new landfill location in Vermont, as the current Coventry landfill is expected to operate for only 22 more years. The commission would include representatives from the legislature, governor, civil engineers, geologists, and experts on environmental justice, and must recommend at least two potential sites or determine if out-of-state waste transport is more cost-effective by January 2024. The bill also establishes a Vermont Materials Management Council to assist with long-term solid waste planning and bans disposal of certain waste types like leachate and sludge from uncertified facilities. Additionally, it creates a Landfill Closure and Planning Account funded by increased taxes on solid and hazardous waste to support closing existing landfills, planning new ones, and remediating contamination.