Sen. Patrick Brennan

Maddy summaryHCR 91 is a House concurrent resolution that congratulates the 2025 Burlington High School Seahorses boys' basketball team for winning the Division I championship. It also recognizes the team's coaches and managers for their successful 2024-2025 season.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain forestry vehicles from Vermont's vehicle use tax. It provides full tax exemption for specific equipment used in timber cutting, removal, and processing (like skidders, feller bunchers, and log loaders), and a 50% tax exemption for heavier vehicles used in transportation (such as semi-trailers and trucks over 10,000 pounds). Businesses purchasing these vehicles must certify their use at purchase, and the Department of Motor Vehicles must provide application guidance. The exemptions begin July 1, 2025, and expire July 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution (SCR 4) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act (1950) and recognizes the success of the American System of Conservation Funding. It does not create new laws or change funding; instead, it formally acknowledges how federal excise taxes on fishing equipment have supported conservation projects for decades. The resolution directs Vermont's Secretary of State to send copies to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Vermont's congressional delegation. It specifically honors the historical role of these federal acts in funding fish habitat restoration, including efforts relevant to New England's Atlantic salmon recovery.

Maddy summaryHCR 68 is a ceremonial resolution, not a law, that honors Vermont's manufacturing sector. It designates April 2, 2025, as "Manufacturing Day" for an event at the Vermont State House. The resolution celebrates manufacturing's economic impact - highlighting its $3 billion contribution to Vermont's GDP and 30,000 jobs - while directing the Secretary of State to share the resolution with industry groups like the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center. This is a symbolic gesture with no new policies or funding, solely aimed at recognizing the industry's role.

Maddy summaryS 114 allows Vermont public agencies to charge requesters for the actual cost of staff time spent fulfilling public records requests under specific conditions. Agencies may charge for staff time only if the work exceeds 30 minutes, they agree to create a new record, or they provide records in a nonstandard format (with time over 30 minutes). The bill requires written requests and payment before delivery for these charges, and mandates agencies to calculate costs based solely on paper/equipment expenses and utilities - not labor rates. This affects anyone requesting public records from Vermont state or local government agencies, making the process clearer but potentially adding costs for complex requests.

Maddy summaryS.21 would require all Vermont public schools, independent schools, career centers, and prekindergarten programs to prohibit student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours. Schools must develop policies allowing devices only for documented medical needs or as specified in a student's individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. The bill also prohibits schools from using social media to communicate with students or requiring students to use social media for school activities. These provisions take effect December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for revenue lost when free hunting, fishing, trapping, combination, or lifetime licenses are issued after July 1, 2025. It directly affects the state budget (which must pay the reimbursement) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (which receives the funds). The key mechanism mandates the Department to track lost revenue annually and submit an accounting to the Department of Finance and Management by January 15 each year; the Finance Department must then pay the amount from the General Fund into the Fish and Wildlife Fund within 60 days. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring financial accountability if the legislature authorizes free licenses.

Maddy summaryS.110 repeals Vermont's Affordable Heat Act and removes the citizen suit provision from the Global Warming Solutions Act. It changes the state's greenhouse gas reduction requirements from legally binding targets to goals while maintaining the same emission reduction targets: 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill also replaces the Renewable Energy Standard with a Clean Energy Standard, which may broaden the definition of eligible clean energy sources. These changes affect Vermont's regulatory approach to climate policy, impacting state agencies, energy providers, and public compliance with emissions goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 101) prohibits Vermont from adopting California’s stricter vehicle emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It amends Vermont law to explicitly ban the use of California’s waiver for new motor vehicle emissions rules, requiring the state to follow federal baseline standards instead. The bill repeals Vermont’s existing Low Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules and updates climate planning requirements to exclude California standards. It directly affects auto manufacturers selling in Vermont and Vermont’s environmental regulations, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the Secretary of Natural Resources' authority to regulate, permit, and enforce discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Vermont. It adds specific definitions for CAFO types (large/medium), discharges, and pollutants to determine when permits are required, directly affecting large CAFOs (e.g., facilities with 1,000+ cattle) and medium CAFOs (e.g., 300-999 cattle). Key mechanisms include defining "continuous discharge" and "daily discharge" for monitoring, and specifying that discharges into waterways or non-compliant land applications trigger permit requirements. The changes establish clearer standards for water quality oversight without altering existing permit thresholds.