Sen. Ginny Lyons

Maddy summaryHCR 196 is a ceremonial resolution honoring U.S. Army Major General Gregory Knight, Vermont's Adjutant and Inspector General, for his 43-year military and public service career. It formally commends his service - including deployments to Iraq, academic achievements, leadership in the Vermont National Guard, and his seven-year tenure as the state's top military officer - and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to him and the Vermont National Guard. This resolution does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The bill was offered by all members of both the House and Senate.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution designates February 11, 2026, as "Disability Advocacy Day" at the Vermont State House. It recognizes the work of disability rights groups like the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR) and highlights ongoing challenges such as educational disparities and barriers in employment, housing, and transportation faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these issues and the contributions of people with disabilities. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to VCDR.

Maddy summaryVermont's Senate resolution SR 21 condemns the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by federal agents during ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. It demands the President immediately suspend the operation, reset immigration enforcement to target only serious criminals, and prioritize constitutional rights. The resolution urges Vermont's congressional delegation to oppose further ICE funding unless reforms include ending militarized tactics, restoring due process, and creating fair pathways to legal status. It also affirms constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and lethal force without legal accountability. The resolution is a non-binding call for federal action, not a law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.297) allows Vermont towns, cities, and villages to adopt secure electronic ballot return systems for local elections using the Australian ballot method. It requires any adopted system to meet strict security standards - including end-to-end encryption, dual-factor authentication, and biometric verification - to protect voter data and ballot integrity. Municipal clerks must transcribe all electronic ballots to anonymous paper copies for counting, storage, and auditing, just like paper ballots. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and the Secretary of State must provide security and privacy guidance for municipalities. It directly affects local election administrators and voters in communities choosing to implement this option.

Maddy summaryS.265 requires Vermont school counselors to spend at least 80% of their time providing direct or indirect student services, such as academic, career, or social-emotional counseling, rather than administrative tasks. The bill defines "direct services" as face-to-face or virtual counseling with students and "indirect services" as counselor actions on behalf of students, while limiting "school support services" (like substitute teaching or testing coordination) to no more than 20% of their time. It applies to licensed school counselors or those with a master’s degree in counseling, as defined in the bill. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, aligning with the ASCA National Model recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S.256) criminalizes threatening to disclose intimate images without consent to coerce someone into producing more images, engaging in sexual conduct, or providing something of value. It also expands existing voyeurism laws to cover non-consensual disclosure of images showing a person nude or engaged in sexual conduct, extending criminal statute of limitations for such acts and eliminating it for civil lawsuits. Victims can now seek damages for harm caused by intentional disclosure of their intimate images, including recovery for trauma-related disorders. The law directly affects individuals whose private images are exploited and those who threaten or disclose such images without consent.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S 247) bans specific plastic-related practices starting in 2029 or 2030. It prohibits chemical conversion of plastics (like turning plastic into fuel via pyrolysis or gasification) and bans the sale of personal care/cleaning products containing plastic microbeads beginning January 1, 2029. It also bans medical solution containers with a common plasticizer (DEHP) from sale starting January 1, 2030, and medical tubing containing DEHP starting January 1, 2035. The bill directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these products within Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the $30 criminal history record check fee for volunteers working with organizations that provide free home-delivered meals to elderly Vermonters through the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL). It directly affects meal program organizations and their volunteers by removing a $30 fee for background checks required for these volunteers. The key provision adds a new exemption to Vermont law (§ 2063) specifically for "no-cost home-delivered meals for elderly Vermonters" administered in connection with DAIL. The fee waiver applies to all such organizations and their volunteers starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S.241) prohibits mental health professionals and organizations from offering, providing, or advertising mental health services delivered by artificial intelligence systems, such as chatbots for therapy. It directly affects mental health service providers, AI developers, and companies marketing AI-driven mental health tools. The bill creates a $10,000 civil penalty per violation under consumer protection law and defines "mental health services" to include therapy, counseling, treatment plans, and emotional support. The legislation stems from research showing AI systems have given dangerous advice (including suicide plans) and failed to recognize mental health crises, aiming to ensure services are delivered by licensed professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $750,000 for Vermont's dementia respite grant program to support unpaid family caregivers of people with dementia, with funds capped at $3,000 per person for individuals at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. It also allocates $100,000 for a one-year pilot program creating dementia-capable social activities in Rutland and Washington Counties, funding community organizations like senior centers with $25,000 grants. The respite program specifically covers in-home care, adult day services, and "out-of-home day" respite, prioritizing caregivers with high care burdens. It directly affects Vermonters with dementia and their 20,000 unpaid caregivers, who collectively provide 29 million hours of annual care.