Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur programs to include income-eligible young adults up to age 26, aligning Medicaid eligibility thresholds with the Dr. Dynasaur program over time. It requires higher reimbursement rates for providers delivering primary care, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, long-term care, and dental services to Medicaid beneficiaries. The legislation also modifies the duties of the Clinical Utilization Review Board, increases income eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs, and mandates coverage for mental health services for children and young adults who have experienced adverse life events without a specific diagnosis. Additionally, the bill directs the Agency of Human Services to develop a public option proposal for small business health coverage and requires proposals for sliding-scale cost-sharing in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Community Care, Health, and Safety Fund to provide grants for community-based services that reduce harm from drug use and support people with substance use disorders. It eliminates misdemeanor criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing a personal use supply of regulated drugs, requiring instead that individuals be offered information about available services and access to needs assessments. The legislation designates 40 percent of cannabis excise tax revenue and a portion of opioid abatement funds to finance these services, while establishing an advisory board to determine what constitutes a benchmark personal use supply. The bill also authorizes monetary incentives for participation in needs assessments and aims to shift resources from prosecution toward prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove criminal penalties for prostitution activities tied to specific locations, such as operating or using a building or vehicle for prostitution, while keeping laws against engaging in, soliciting, or aiding prostitution. The changes would affect individuals who currently face charges for using or controlling spaces for prostitution by eliminating those location-based offenses. Penalties for remaining prostitution-related crimes would stay the same, with fines up to $100 and potential jail time of up to one year for first offenses and up to three years for repeat offenses. The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's judicial nomination process by requiring the Judicial Nominating Board to include members from diverse backgrounds and making candidate interviews and Senate confirmation hearings public. It changes how board members are selected to ensure representation from communities of color and other historically disadvantaged groups while maintaining bipartisan representation from the legislature and legal community. The legislation also raises experience requirements for judicial candidates, mandating at least ten years of Vermont legal practice for Supreme Court and Superior Court positions, and establishes new transparency rules for the Board's operations. These changes directly affect how judges and Public Utility Commission members are nominated and confirmed, aiming to increase diversity and public oversight in the selection process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal right for tenants and homeowners in Vermont to install electric vehicle charging equipment at their residence, affecting landlords, property managers, and residents of rental properties and common interest communities. The law requires landlords to approve written tenant requests for charging equipment installation, provided the property already has at least 10% of parking spaces equipped with chargers, offers parking as part of the lease, or has fewer than five parking spaces. Tenants must cover installation costs, pay for electricity usage, and maintain liability insurance, while landlords cannot be forced to create new parking spaces or provide additional infrastructure beyond existing property rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the sale, lease, or operation of motor vehicles with tinted windows on the windshield, vent windows, or side windows located immediately to the left and right of the driver in Vermont. It requires dealers to stop selling or leasing vehicles with these tinted windows and mandates that vehicles with such tint fail the annual safety inspection. The law includes exemptions for medical reasons, emergency vehicles, and specific areas on the windshield for stickers and toll transponders, allowing tint only on side and rear windows if the vehicle has proper mirrors. Dealers and vehicle owners would face administrative penalties for violations, and the Department of Motor Vehicles must update inspection procedures to enforce these rules starting January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a working group to explore ways to bring more international medical school graduates into Vermont's healthcare workforce. The group will examine models like Tennessee's temporary licensing system and develop proposals for an expedited licensure process that prioritizes patient safety. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 in fiscal year 2025 to reimburse international medical school graduates for study materials and books needed to obtain Vermont medical licenses. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations by January 15, 2025, and the license reimbursement funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until depleted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of Vermont to replace impervious surfaces like pavement and roofs with permeable surfaces or green infrastructure when redeveloping or repaving State-owned land in floodplains. The law defines impervious surfaces as manmade areas where water cannot soak in, and it specifically applies to State agencies managing land in areas prone to flooding. State agencies must complete these replacements by July 1, 2039, ensuring that new construction or repaving projects in floodplains reduce stormwater runoff rather than increase it. The bill does not apply to routine road maintenance activities like crack sealing or resurfacing that do not substantially alter the existing impervious area.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce Vermont's incarcerated population by repealing the state's habitual offender statute, which currently allows for life sentences after multiple felony convictions. It establishes a 20-year maximum sentence cap for most crimes while maintaining life sentences for murder, and prevents community supervision from being revoked for technical violations. Additionally, the legislation requires the State Auditor to prepare minority impact statements that analyze how new criminal laws would affect different demographic groups before they are passed. These provisions collectively seek to create more predictable sentencing limits and ensure that new laws are evaluated for their potential impact on minority communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont law enforcement agencies to maintain detailed records of property seizures and forfeitures, including information about the property's value, source, and final disposition. It mandates that the Department of Public Safety compile annual reports on these seizures and submit them to the state's Judiciary committees, while also creating a searchable public website with machine-readable data. The law specifies how agencies can use proceeds from forfeited property, allowing them to cover reporting costs and fees, and includes provisions for confidential informant cases where reporting can be postponed. These requirements apply retroactively to seizures occurring on or after January 1, 2024.