Sen. Richard Westman

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that recognizes March 2024 as National Senior Nutrition Program Month in Vermont to honor over 50 years of the federal Senior Nutrition Program. It does not create new laws or change policies but serves to acknowledge the program's history and current impact on older Vermonters. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to relevant state agencies and organizations involved in senior nutrition services. This type of legislative action celebrates community efforts to address hunger and isolation among seniors without altering any existing programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution formally congratulates Bag Balm on its 125th anniversary. The bill recognizes the company's history, from its 1899 invention as a cow udder moisturizer to its current status as a consumer product sold in various forms. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Bag Balm's president, Libby Parent. The document serves as a commemorative acknowledgment rather than a law with regulatory or financial implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows probation and parole officers in Vermont to carry firearms while on duty, provided they complete a specialized training course. The legislation requires officers to successfully finish a curriculum developed by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council, covering firearm use, force application, reporting, and liability. Once trained and certified, officers may carry firearms for defensive purposes during their official duties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to correctional officers assigned to the Field Supervision Unit.

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 Senate concurrent resolution honors Nancy LaRose, the Waterville Town Clerk and Treasurer, for her 27 years of exemplary public service. The bill formally recognizes her contributions, including her role in election oversight, financial management, and community projects like the Town Clerk's office relocation. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to LaRose and the Waterville Selectboard. This is a commemorative measure that does not change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a commemorative resolution that honors the fifth anniversary of Jenna Tatro's death and recognizes the work of Jenna's Promise, an organization she helped create to support people struggling with substance use disorder. The resolution acknowledges how Jenna's family established Jenna's House Community & Recovery Center in Johnson, Vermont, which provides recovery services and community spaces while working to reduce stigma around addiction. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Jenna's Promise and her family members, serving as an official state acknowledgment of their efforts rather than creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Beth Foy for her service as chair of the Johnson Selectboard in Vermont. The resolution recognizes her leadership and contributions to local government, particularly in areas like animal control, health inspections, winter road maintenance, and flood management. It does not create new laws or change policies but serves as an official commendation from the state legislature. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the honor to Ms. Foy.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities to receive reimbursement for education property taxes owed on properties destroyed by severe storms and floods between July 1, 2023, and October 15, 2023, provided the municipality abated those taxes proportionally. It also excludes disaster relief payments from household income when calculating homestead property tax credits for tax years 2023 and 2024. The legislation directly affects local governments and homeowners in areas declared federal disaster zones during the specified period.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a single, unified process for sealing criminal history records in Vermont, replacing the current system where records could be either expunged (destroyed) or sealed. It directly affects individuals with criminal records and the agencies that maintain those records, such as the Vermont Crime Information Center. Under the new system, sealed records would not be destroyed but would be hidden from general public access while allowing specific entities to view them for particular purposes. The bill also removes the requirement for requesters to provide a date of birth when searching criminal records and mandates that the crime information center include a disclaimer warning that name-only searches may return multiple individuals and that requesters are responsible for verifying information.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays the July 1, 2024 start date for expanded juvenile court jurisdiction in Vermont until the state confirms it has adequate resources to handle the increased caseload. The delay is contingent on the Secretary of Human Services notifying legislative committees that five specific conditions are met, including operating a permanent crisis stabilization program, hiring additional family services workers, expanding the Balanced and Restorative Justice budget, ensuring residential program access, and securing funding for a child welfare information system. Additionally, the bill requires that certain serious charges against youth aged 14 to 21, such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and domestic assault, begin in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court rather than the Family Division, unless the prosecutor chooses to file directly as a youthful offender petition. These changes affect how juvenile cases are processed and which court divisions handle them, while ensuring support systems are in place before expanded jurisdiction takes effect.