Sen. Sam Douglass

Maddy summaryHCR 90 is a ceremonial resolution congratulating the 2025 Burlington High School girls' basketball team on winning their Division I championship - their first title in 49 years. It expresses the Vermont General Assembly's recognition of the team's achievement and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Burlington High School. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes; it is purely symbolic recognition of the team's athletic success. This type of resolution does not affect any laws, funding, or regulations.

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 (HCR 66) is a ceremonial resolution designating April 10, 2025, as "Tourism Economy Day" at the Vermont State House. It recognizes tourism's economic significance, citing its $4 billion impact and role in supporting over 30,000 jobs. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to share it with tourism organizations like the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Tourism and Marketing. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the industry's contributions.

Maddy summaryVermont's S 147 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly purchasing regulated drugs from anyone under 21 years old. The bill directly affects individuals who buy such drugs from minors, making this action punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison in addition to other legal penalties. Key provisions define the offense as "knowingly and unlawfully" purchasing and specify the mandatory sentencing range. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all regulated drugs under Vermont law.

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 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.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 exempts new vehicles under 5,000 pounds (weighing 5,000 pounds or less) that are less than two years old from annual safety and emissions inspections. It also completely exempts all trailers and semi-trailers from inspection requirements. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, modifying Vermont's existing vehicle inspection law (23 V.S.A. § 1222) to remove these specific inspection obligations. The bill directly affects owners of new light-duty vehicles and all trailer operators by eliminating a recurring inspection requirement.

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.