Sen. Irene Wrenner

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Robert Bick for his three decades of leadership at the Howard Center, a mental health and substance abuse service organization in Vermont. The resolution recognizes his specific contributions, including starting Vermont's first methadone clinic, establishing harm reduction services, and expanding the organization's reach to 19,000 people through organizational improvements. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to both Bick and the Howard Center, serving as an official acknowledgment of his achievements rather than changing any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill proposes to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and flavored e-liquids statewide, targeting items with characterizing flavors such as fruit, candy, mint, menthol, and other non-tobacco tastes. The legislation directly affects tobacco manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers by prohibiting the sale of any tobacco product or e-liquid containing characterizing flavors, with specific exceptions for certain prefilled nicotine cartridges. Key provisions include expanding the definition of flavored products to cover menthol cigarettes and establishing a presumption that a product is flavored if marketing claims suggest a distinguishable taste or aroma other than tobacco. The bill also mandates child-resistant packaging for all tobacco products and restricts the sale of flavored tobacco and e-liquids through vending machines.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution commemorates Vermont's April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical event visible across much of the state. It officially recognizes the historic nature of the eclipse, noting that the last total solar eclipse visible in Vermont occurred nearly a century ago in 1932. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which are partners in educating the public about the event. This ceremonial measure serves to acknowledge the significance of the eclipse for Vermont residents and visitors rather than to change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources to develop a plan for restricting consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, which are chemicals linked to health and environmental concerns. The plan must identify which products pose risks, establish how manufacturers report PFAS content, define key terms, and outline how the public will receive information about these substances. The agency must gather input from various stakeholders and submit the implementation plan and draft legislation by November 1, 2024, to relevant state committees. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and includes pesticides in the definition of consumer products subject to this process.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 13, 2024, as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont to honor military working dogs and their handlers. It recognizes the contributions of approximately 1,600 trained dogs who serve in roles such as patrol, drug detection, and explosives detection across the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron in San Antonio, Texas. This measure is ceremonial and does not change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 Essex High School Hornets boys' indoor track and field team for winning the Division I championship. The resolution recognizes the team's athletic achievements, including their performance in various events and their narrow victory over St. Johnsbury Academy. It also acknowledges the contributions of the team members and their coaching staff. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to Essex High School.

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution formally congratulates the Essex High School Hornets girls' volleyball team on winning their third consecutive state championship. The document acknowledges the team's achievement of winning 51 straight games and lists the players and coaches who earned this honor. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Essex High School as a gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Sergeant at Arms Janet Miller for her service to the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her long career, which includes managing security, coordinating events, and overseeing the Legislative Council before she was elected to her current role five times. The resolution also acknowledges her specific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping the legislature transition back to in-person meetings. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this honor to Janet Miller, who has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates February 16, 2024, as Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House to honor the state's natural landscape and outdoor activities. The measure recognizes Vermont's extensive trail systems, wildlife areas, and ski resorts as important assets for the economy, community well-being, and quality of life. While the resolution does not create new laws or funding, it formally acknowledges the value of outdoor recreation and directs state officials to be notified of the designation. The bill was passed by both the Senate and House without requiring a vote, following standard procedure for ceremonial resolutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Vermont Fair Repair Act to require manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide repair information, tools, and parts to independent repair shops and consumers. The law mandates that original equipment manufacturers make available at no charge the documentation, software, and tools needed to diagnose and repair their products, while also ensuring replacement parts are offered at fair and reasonable terms equivalent to those given to authorized repair providers. The legislation specifically defines key terms like independent repair providers and equipment, and includes provisions to prevent manufacturers from retaliating against authorized providers who sell parts to independent repairers. Exemptions are included for medical devices and motor vehicles, and the act applies to equipment originally manufactured for sale in the United States.