Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Maddy summaryVermont's S.310 requires businesses offering subscriptions with indefinite renewal terms to send consumers an annual notification about their right to cancel. This applies to services like streaming or software subscriptions (excluding financial institutions and insurance) and mandates clear notices stating renewal dates, automatic renewal terms, and simple cancellation methods (phone, email, or online). Businesses must provide this notice 30-60 days before renewal dates and ensure cancellation is easy without extra steps. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 308) removes income-based limits for excluding U.S. military retirement and survivor benefit income from Vermont income tax. Currently, Vermont taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income (AGI) over $125,000 see partial or no exclusion, but this bill would fully exclude all such military retirement income regardless of income level. It affects Vermont residents receiving military retirement pay, changing the tax treatment from a tiered system to a flat exclusion. The change applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

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 summaryThis bill, S.301 ("Vermont Civil Rights Sovereignty and Equal Protection Act of 2026"), modernizes Vermont’s civil rights laws by expanding protections against discrimination in public accommodations and housing. It directly affects all Vermont residents by adding gender identity, immigration status, crime victim status, and other characteristics to protected classes, and redefines "harassment" to be unlawful regardless of severity. Key provisions include creating a state-funded Civil Rights Coordinating Council and Special Fund to enforce protections independently of federal policy, and requiring state agencies to combat housing segregation. The bill also updates definitions to clarify that discrimination includes barriers restricting access to housing or services based on protected characteristics.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.305) requires Vermont municipalities to allow all housing types, including mobile, modular, and prefabricated homes, in residential zones where conventional housing is permitted - prohibiting bans on these options except for specific safety standards. It also mandates that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) be permitted as a standard use on single-family lots without additional restrictions, ensuring they face the same zoning rules as primary homes. The bill defines "areas served by municipal sewer/water infrastructure" to clarify where new housing can be built, excluding flood zones, industrial areas, and parks without residential growth plans. It includes a minor provision allowing a 20% density bonus for union-labor projects. These changes directly affect local zoning laws, developers, homeowners, and communities seeking to expand housing options.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.292) would amend Vermont law to grant public higher education employees statewide the right to strike, which they currently do not have under state labor law. It directly affects employees at all public colleges and universities in Vermont (including Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont, which are currently exempt from the strike ban). The key mechanism is amending two sections of law: removing the prohibition on strikes for these employees in §903 and revising §962 to clarify that striking is not an unfair labor practice for them. The change would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a study committee to examine the potential for building a new limited-access highway connecting Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, and Rutland to Interstate 87, replacing Vermont Route 22A. The committee, composed of transportation officials, local mayors, and regional planning representatives, will analyze Route 22A's current usage, potential highway routes, estimated costs, and funding options like tolls or public-private partnerships. It must submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 2027, detailing findings and recommendations. The study focuses on economic impacts and alternatives for the primary route from Burlington to I-87, without authorizing construction or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.279) allows licensed malt beverage manufacturers in Vermont to sell directly to businesses with first- or second-class licenses (like restaurants and bars), but limits annual direct sales to 5,000 barrels per manufacturer. It also updates the definition of a "caterer’s license" to remove restrictions preventing caterers from serving alcohol at first- or third-class licensed venues. The changes affect malt beverage manufacturers, licensed venues, and caterers by expanding distribution options and clarifying where alcohol can be served at events. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.264) amends Vermont's State Employees Labor Relations Act to allow Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) to form unions and engage in collective bargaining with the state. Currently excluded from the definition of "State employee," AAGs would now be explicitly included under the law, granting them the right to negotiate terms like pay, benefits, and working conditions. The bill removes their prior exclusion from bargaining rights by revising the legal definition of "State employee" in Section 902 of the statute. This change directly affects AAGs employed in Vermont’s Office of the Attorney General, enabling them to collectively address workplace concerns through formal negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Executive Branch to negotiate remote, in-person, and hybrid work arrangements for State employees through collective bargaining. It amends the State Employees Labor Relations Act to explicitly add "terms and conditions of remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards" as a mandatory subject for bargaining. The change directly affects all permanent and limited-status State employees, ensuring their input on work location policies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, making work arrangement decisions subject to negotiation rather than unilateral state policy.