Sen. Martine Gulick

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new regulations for search warrants in Vermont, primarily affecting law enforcement officers and property owners. It prohibits no-knock warrants unless there is verified evidence that announcing the officer's presence would create an imminent danger to life, and requires officers to knock, announce their presence, and wait at least 30 seconds before entering a premises. The legislation also mandates that warrants be executed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless there is reasonable cause to believe a felony will be committed or danger exists, requires officers to wear uniforms with visible identification, mandates the use of body cameras during warrant execution, and requires law enforcement agencies to reimburse property owners for damages caused during warrant execution unless the occupant is convicted of a related crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program in Vermont to provide monthly $1,000 cash transfers to youth leaving the foster care system. The program is voluntary, and participants must complete annual surveys to assess their progress in finances, health, employment, housing, and education. The cash transfers are designed to be tax-free and will not count toward eligibility for other state and federal benefits like SNAP, medical assistance, or financial aid. Funding of $650,000 is allocated for the 2024 fiscal year, and the Department for Children and Families must submit a final report by November 2025 with findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates Shawna Wakeham-Smith on the tenth anniversary of her role as Director of Wish Granting at Make-A-Wish Vermont. The resolution recognizes her decade of leadership in facilitating life-changing wishes for children facing major health challenges and acknowledges her work as a liaison between families and organizations. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to both Wakeham-Smith and Make-A-Wish Vermont to honor her contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Chloride Contamination Reduction Program within Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources to address water quality concerns caused by road salt and salt alternatives. The program requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop training and certification for commercial and municipal salt applicators, establishing best management practices that promote efficient salt use and prevent runoff into state waters. Key provisions include creating a public database to track salt purchases and applications, setting reduction targets for chloride levels in water, and providing liability protections for certified applicators who follow established practices. The bill also mandates record-keeping requirements for salt applications and gives the Secretary authority to revoke certifications for violations of the program's rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring the memory of James McNamara, a former Vermont state representative and environmental commissioner from Burlington. It expresses the General Assembly's sincere sympathies to McNamara's family following his death in November 2022. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to McNamara's family and to the District 4 Act 250 Environmental Commission. This type of commemorative measure does not create new laws or policies but serves to acknowledge McNamara's public service contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would protect people and organizations involved in safer drug consumption programs from criminal prosecution and civil penalties. It defines these programs as supervised spaces where individuals can use preobtained drugs with access to sterile supplies, overdose monitoring, first aid, and referrals to treatment services. The legislation also removes a future expiration date for the exemption that allows possession of small amounts of buprenorphine without criminal penalty. To receive legal protections, program operators must publicly report annual data on participants, supplies distributed, and overdose incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in Vermont that would provide paid, job-protected leave to employees and self-employed individuals for specific reasons including serious illness, childbirth, adoption, military family needs, and domestic or sexual violence situations. The program would be administered by the Office of the Treasurer and would allow workers to take time off to care for themselves or family members facing health issues, or to seek medical care, counseling, or safe housing after experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Eligible workers would need to meet certain work history requirements and pay contributions to fund the benefits, with leave defined as "safe leave" specifically for victims of abuse to access services, recover from injuries, or relocate to secure safe environments. The legislation also expands the definition of family members to include individuals with significant personal bonds regardless of biological or legal relationships, ensuring broader coverage for diverse family structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate eligible public or independent schools to serve as the district's public schools. It allows these districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students, with specific criteria for which independent schools qualify, such as being recognized regional centers or having historical public school status. The legislation also removes the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the enrollment process for recognized independent schools intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and updates special education tuition provisions. The changes apply to school districts and their students, with oversight and reimbursement rules for tuition payments between districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to install renewable heating systems and non-fossil fuel cooking appliances when replacing existing equipment in buildings they own or control. It applies to the Department of Buildings and General Services, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, and the Agency of Transportation, mandating that new primary heating and cooking systems use non-fossil fuel sources starting in fiscal year 2024. Agencies may request written exemptions if installing renewable systems is deemed financially impracticable, and they must report any exemptions or continued use of fossil fuel systems to legislative committees annually. The legislation also permits fossil fuel systems to serve as backup heating during peak periods if non-fossil fuel backup options are unavailable.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants Vermont municipalities the authority to create local rules that limit or reduce firearm discharges, with the exception of existing sport shooting ranges. The law allows towns, cities, and villages to regulate firearm use for public safety but explicitly forbids them from banning shooting at established ranges. Municipalities must ensure any new ordinances align with state regulations and cannot prohibit firearm discharges at current sport shooting facilities. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, giving local governments new regulatory tools over firearm discharge while protecting designated shooting ranges.