Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new review board and creates a $50,000 survivor benefit for family members of Vermont public works and emergency personnel who die in the line of duty or from an occupation-related illness. The Emergency and Public Works Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board would be composed of state officials and two public members appointed by the Governor, with decisions requiring unanimous approval and a 60-day timeline for claims. The bill expands the definition of "line of duty" to include specific hazardous work conditions for public works employees and clarifies that domestic partners and civil union partners qualify as spouses for benefit purposes. A special fund would be created in the State Treasurer's office to finance these payments, funded through legislative appropriations and other contributions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in Vermont to publicly post notices for all employment vacancies. The law mandates that job postings be displayed in the municipal clerk's office, on the municipal website or through an online recruiting service, and in the state Department of Labor's job bank. Each posting must include the job title, required skills or experience, salary range, and application dates with a minimum 10-day application period. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to all municipal and county government positions.
Maddy summaryThis bill would limit hospital liens on patient injury settlements in Vermont by prohibiting hospitals from claiming liens when patients have health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or plans where the hospital is a participating provider. It would cap hospital liens at 25 percent of the net amount received by the patient and require hospitals to pay a fair share of legal and administrative costs associated with obtaining the settlement. The changes would apply to patients injured in accidents not covered by workers' compensation and would take effect on July 1, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires general contractors in Vermont to be held liable for injuries or property damage caused by their subcontractors during construction projects, specifically when the subcontractor does not have adequate liability insurance. The legislation amends existing state law to establish this responsibility regardless of any private agreements between the contractor and subcontractor. It also strengthens payment protections by mandating timely payments to subcontractors and requiring interest charges on late payments. The changes apply to all construction contracts in the state and take effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires independent schools approved by the Vermont State Board of Education to annually confirm they have a nondiscrimination statement on their website and in application materials, and to comply with state antidiscrimination laws in all admissions and operations. Schools that accept public tuition funds must also follow a streamlined admissions process that excludes mandatory interviews, entrance exams, academic history reviews, campus visits, and consideration of a family's ability to pay fees. The law applies to all approved independent schools regardless of accreditation status and takes effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of trichloroethylene in various industrial applications, including as a vapor degreaser, refrigerant, extraction solvent, or intermediate chemical in manufacturing processes. It directly affects businesses and facilities that currently use this chemical for cleaning metal parts or other industrial purposes. The legislation defines specific terms like "vapor degreaser" and "extraction solvent" to clarify the scope of the ban. The prohibition will take effect on July 1, 2026, giving industries time to adjust their operations before the ban is enforced.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates Tracy Borst, Thetford Town Clerk and Treasurer, for receiving the International Institute of Municipal Clerks' Institute Directors Award of Excellence. The resolution recognizes her as the first recipient from Vermont and New England for this professional achievement, highlighting her career milestones including becoming a Master Municipal Clerk and earning treasurer certifications. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Ms. Borst as an official acknowledgment of her contributions to municipal governance.
Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution honors Vanessa Davison, a long-time staff member of the Vermont General Assembly, for her 45 years of dedicated service. The resolution recognizes her work ethic, professionalism, and contributions to legislative operations, including managing administrative tasks, operating early computer systems, and serving as Journal Clerk for over 30 years. It formally acknowledges her role in preparing Senate Journals and training her successor to ensure continued quality in legislative record-keeping. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Davison as an official recognition of her retirement after concluding her career in the spring of 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Affordable Heat Act, creates a new Clean Heat Standard program to help Vermont meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals by shifting away from fossil fuel heating in homes and businesses. It establishes a system where regulated utilities and fuel importers must purchase tradeable clean heat credits to fund efficiency upgrades, weatherization, and electrification projects that reduce emissions. The program prioritizes low and moderate-income households with high energy burdens and aims to use available federal funding to keep costs low for customers. The Public Utility Commission is given authority to set rules, designate default service providers, and enforce compliance with the credit requirements.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution urges U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to follow the expedited asylum hearing rules established in the Afghan Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. The bill specifically affects Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome and are seeking asylum. Under the referenced law, these applicants are entitled to have their initial asylum interviews conducted within 45 days and final decisions made within 150 days, but many cases have exceeded these timelines. The resolution requests that USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou and the Vermont Congressional Delegation receive a copy of this urging to ensure compliance with the statutory deadlines.