Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new review board and creates a $50,000 survivor benefit for family members of Vermont public works and emergency personnel who die in the line of duty or from an occupation-related illness. The Emergency and Public Works Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board would be composed of state officials and two public members appointed by the Governor, with decisions requiring unanimous approval and a 60-day timeline for claims. The bill expands the definition of "line of duty" to include specific hazardous work conditions for public works employees and clarifies that domestic partners and civil union partners qualify as spouses for benefit purposes. A special fund would be created in the State Treasurer's office to finance these payments, funded through legislative appropriations and other contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's public utility commission rules for approving new gas and electric facilities by narrowing the criteria that adjoining landowners can use to challenge projects. Under the proposed changes, neighbors living near proposed facilities would only be allowed to intervene in public hearings if they can prove the project would negatively impact public health and safety or traffic, removing their ability to raise concerns about aesthetics. The legislation also eliminates aesthetics as a formal criterion for the commission's final decision on whether a facility serves the public good, while retaining protections for public health, safety, traffic, and environmental factors. These amendments would take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all new energy purchases, investments, and facility constructions in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to publicly post notices for all employment vacancies. The law mandates that job postings be displayed in the municipal clerk's office, on the municipal website or through an online recruiting service, and in the state Department of Labor's job bank. Each posting must include the job title, required skills or experience, salary range, and application dates with a minimum 10-day application period. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all municipal and county government positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to set the annual salaries for Vermont's Governor and heads of state departments and agencies at the same level as members of the General Assembly, excluding the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. It amends state law to establish specific salary amounts for these positions as of July 2, 2023, and allows for annual salary adjustments based on collective bargaining agreements for appointed executive officers. The legislation also sets salary caps for certain positions, such as limiting the Defender General's compensation to match the Attorney General's and restricting the Commissioner of Health's maximum salary to 100 percent above their base salary.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits credit reporting agencies from including medical debt in consumer credit files, directly affecting individuals with unpaid medical bills and the agencies that compile credit reports. It prevents hospitals, outpatient clinics, surgical centers, and medical debt collectors from reporting or selling medical debt information to credit reporting agencies. The law defines medical debt according to existing state statutes and applies to large healthcare facilities and their associated debt collection activities. If passed, these restrictions would take effect on July 1, 2024, ensuring medical debt does not appear on credit reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill would limit hospital liens on patient injury settlements in Vermont by prohibiting hospitals from claiming liens when patients have health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or plans where the hospital is a participating provider. It would cap hospital liens at 25 percent of the net amount received by the patient and require hospitals to pay a fair share of legal and administrative costs associated with obtaining the settlement. The changes would apply to patients injured in accidents not covered by workers' compensation and would take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2023 Division I Colchester High School Lakers girls' soccer team for winning their state championship. It recognizes the team's achievement after they defeated the Essex High School Hornets 2-0 in the final game held at the University of Vermont's Virtue Field. The resolution specifically names the 20 athletes and three coaches who were part of the championship team. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to Colchester High School.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to grant statehood to the District of Columbia, which would provide its residents with full voting representation in Congress including a U.S. Senate seat. The bill highlights that current laws limit D.C. residents' political rights compared to state citizens, such as the inability to vote for presidential electors before the 23rd Amendment and the lack of full congressional representation. It points out that Congress retains the power to override local D.C. laws and control the district's budget, and that the mayor lacks independent authority over the National Guard. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials and D.C. leadership to advocate for these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes procedures for obtaining emergency court orders against stalking or sexual assault outside of regular court hours, including weekends and holidays. It allows individuals to file complaints and affidavits electronically or through designated authorized personnel, who can administer oaths over the telephone and communicate requests to judges for immediate review. The bill requires that any issued orders include a hearing date within 14 days for the defendant to contest the order, and it mandates that all orders and affidavits carry specific warnings about criminal penalties for violations or false statements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Vermont to provide air conditioning in all motor vehicles used for delivering, picking up, or transporting goods and materials. The law applies to vehicles operated on public highways and must cool all areas where employees might be located during operation. Employers who use third-party delivery services are exempt from this requirement, and the Vermont Attorney General's office will handle complaints and enforcement instead of the Commission on Human Rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.