Sen. Terry Williams

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Vermont's greenhouse gas emissions reduction deadlines by 10 years, moving targets from 2030 to 2035 and from 2050 to 2060. It requires the state to cut emissions by at least 26 percent by 2035, 40 percent by 2040, and 80 percent by 2060, compared to 2005 and 1990 baselines respectively. The legislation mandates the creation of a Climate Action Plan outlining specific strategies for reducing emissions across transportation, buildings, industry, and other sectors, while also preparing communities for climate impacts. State officials must develop and update rules to meet these new targets, with periodic reviews to ensure progress toward the extended deadlines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires legislative approval from the Vermont General Assembly before the Vermont State Colleges can close, reduce, or convert any physical library that existed on January 1, 2023. It also prevents the colleges from reducing library staff positions, employees, or work hours below the levels established on that same date without state approval. The law affects the Vermont State Colleges Corporation and its library operations across all campuses. If passed, the colleges would need explicit permission from lawmakers before making changes to their library facilities or staffing levels.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution formally recognizes two specific weeks in Vermont as National Skilled Nursing Care Week and National Assisted Living Week to honor long-term care facilities and their staff. The bill designates May 14-20 as National Skilled Nursing Care Week and September 10-16 as National Assisted Living Week to acknowledge the work of caregivers and support residents in these facilities. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to relevant health and disability organizations, facilitating official recognition of these observances. The measure does not create new funding or policy requirements but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the importance of skilled nursing and assisted living care in Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for nominating candidates to Vermont unified union school district boards by standardizing the signature requirements across all three representation models. Under the new provisions, a nomination petition must be signed by either 30 voters or one percent of the legal voters in the relevant area, whichever number is smaller. The changes apply to proposed districts, existing unified districts using modified at-large systems, and fully at-large representation models. The bill also specifies filing deadlines and requirements for candidate consent to appear on the ballot.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to exempt all U.S. military retirement income and military survivor benefit income from Vermont state income tax. It directly affects active and retired military personnel, as well as surviving spouses and dependents of deceased service members who receive these benefits. The legislation amends Vermont tax code to remove military retirement and survivor income from taxable income calculations, while also clarifying that taxpayers must choose between this exemption and other retirement income exclusions if they qualify for multiple. The bill includes a statement of purpose honoring military service and applies retroactively to January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Adult Guardianship Equity Act, moves guardianship cases for adults with developmental disabilities from the Family Division to the Probate Division of Vermont's Superior Court. It establishes new rules requiring that guardianship be used only when necessary to protect an individual's rights, prioritizing voluntary guardianship options and ensuring the least restrictive approach is taken. The law also repeals the previous chapter governing guardianship services for people with developmental disabilities and creates specific procedures for when the Office of Public Guardian must be appointed if no private guardian is available. Additionally, it clarifies that individuals receiving guardianship services can appeal decisions or petition to modify or terminate their guardianship through the court system.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities in Vermont to apply for special permits that streamline development in designated downtown areas and neighborhood development zones. Under the new provisions, towns can request a master plan permit from the District Commission to pre-approve development projects that meet specific environmental and community standards, reducing the need for individual permit applications for each project. The legislation also creates a Municipal and Regional Planning Fund that would provide competitive grants to municipalities for planning work and development initiatives. These grants would be funded through a portion of property transfer tax revenue and could be used for studies, conservation easements, and other planning purposes. The bill affects local governments and developers by offering a more efficient path for approving projects in designated downtown districts while maintaining oversight through the District Commission.

Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution honors Helen Estroff of Montpelier for her distinguished public service in the Vermont executive branch and her role as Calendar Clerk of the Vermont Senate. The document recognizes her 34-year career, which included positions in state financial oversight, higher education, and transportation, as well as her work ensuring legislative schedules were properly organized and printed. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Ms. Estroff as a formal acknowledgment of her contributions. This measure does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official commendation of her service.