Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

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 health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover specific fertility-related services for all insured individuals and Medicaid beneficiaries. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care, intrauterine insemination, at least three rounds of in vitro fertilization with donor or partner gametes, and clinically appropriate fertility medications. The legislation also prohibits insurers from imposing higher costs or restrictions based on the use of donor materials or surrogacy, while excluding experimental procedures and nonmedical donor costs. Additionally, the bill directs the state to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid coverage for these services.

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 creates the Vermont Climate Corps, a program designed to provide employment opportunities for Vermont residents to work on climate resilience and adaptation projects. The program would be administered by SerVermont, the state's service commission, and would allow individuals aged 18 and older to commit up to 12 months of service. Funding would be provided to program hosts, which can be state entities, municipalities, or nonprofits, to support Corps members in eligible projects such as weatherization and environmental restoration. The bill includes requirements for diversity in recruitment and specifies that participants are not state employees but are instead the responsibility of their program hosts. An initial appropriation of $5 million is authorized for fiscal year 2024 to launch the program, with the first class of Corps members expected to be established in 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new health insurance program in Vermont that would provide coverage to adults over 18 who are currently ineligible for Medicaid or premium tax credits due to their immigration status. The program would offer hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug benefits similar to existing Medicaid coverage, with eligibility based on household income thresholds. It also requires the state to protect applicant privacy by prohibiting the sharing of enrollment information with the federal government. To support implementation, the bill authorizes funding for healthcare provider reimbursements and grants to organizations for outreach efforts, with the program set to begin on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to eliminate life without parole as a sentencing option for individuals who were 25 years of age or younger when they committed their offenses. It also prohibits consecutive sentencing for these younger defendants, meaning their prison terms would run at the same time rather than one after another. For those who were 25 or older at the time of the crime, the bill maintains existing sentencing options including life without parole. The law applies only to crimes committed on or after the bill's effective date, and it modifies how courts determine minimum prison terms based on aggravating or mitigating factors found by a jury.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces several new regulations on firearms in Vermont, including a 72-hour waiting period for most firearm transfers after a background check, a ban on manufacturing and possessing large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and a requirement that firearms not in immediate possession be locked in a safe or rendered inoperable. It also prohibits possession of semiautomatic assault weapons, bans the use of 3D printers to manufacture firearms and the distribution of related digital instructions, and allows firearms industry members to be sued for public nuisance damages. Additionally, the bill offers homeowners insurance premium discounts to policyholders who can certify their firearms are stored according to the new safe storage requirements. These changes directly affect firearm owners, manufacturers, dealers, and insurance companies within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Child and Parent Representation Working Group to study and recommend improvements for legal representation of children and parents in Vermont's child protection system. The working group will include judges, legislators, attorneys, and individuals with lived experience in child protection cases to examine current practices, funding, and best practices from other states. The group must submit interim and final reports by 2024 with specific recommendations for creating separate administrative programs for child and parent representation, including funding plans and performance standards. The working group will dissolve on January 15, 2024, after completing its review and recommendations to the state legislature.