Sen. Terry Williams

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization founded in 1975 that supports state and territorial legislators and their staff. The resolution recognizes the group's role in advancing state legislative effectiveness, fostering cooperation between states, and providing a unified voice for state legislatures in the federal system. It directs the Vermont Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measure is a commemorative action with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that honors the memory of former Vermont Representative Timothy Yeatman Hayward, who passed away in March 2024. The resolution extends condolences to Hayward's family and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to them. It acknowledges Hayward's background as a U.S. Marine, his career in banking and public service, and his long involvement in Vermont politics and community leadership. The measure does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal expression of respect from the General Assembly.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 West Rutland High School Golden Horde girls' basketball team for winning their school's third consecutive Division IV state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's athletic achievements during the 2023-2024 season, specifically noting their 49-38 victory over the Long Trail Mountain Lions in the state finals. It lists the names of all thirteen team members and their coaches, Carl Serrani and Matt Serrani, as part of the official acknowledgment. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to West Rutland High School to formally record the achievement.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 18, 2024, as USS VERMONT (SSN 792) Day in Vermont to honor the submarine that was commissioned on that date in 2020. The resolution recognizes the vessel as the third U.S. naval ship named after Vermont and acknowledges the crew's service with Hawaii as their home port. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the submarine and its support group. This is a commemorative measure with no regulatory or funding implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution honoring the memory of Rutland City Police Officer Jessica Marie Ebbighausen, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2023. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's condolences to her family and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to her family and the Rutland City Police Department. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of her service and sacrifice.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill directs the Secretary of Education to create a model policy by December 31, 2024, outlining when students can and cannot use cell phones and other personal electronic devices in schools. The guidance will specify allowed times for academic use, prohibited periods, storage locations during bans, consequences for violations, and methods for parents to contact students when devices are restricted. School districts will then develop their own policies based on this model, with the Agency of Education required to report on adoption rates, effectiveness, and satisfaction levels by January 15, 2026. The legislation also includes recommendations for future legislative action and age-appropriate education on media literacy and safe device use.

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 bill allows Vermont residents who are honorably discharged veterans to request a "veteran" designation on their driver's licenses and identification cards by submitting proof of service and status confirmation from the Office of Veterans' Affairs. It also authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Veterans' Affairs to jointly determine specialty license plates that recognize specific military awards, combat service, or veteran status, including options for Purple Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors, former prisoners of war, and disabled veterans. The legislation requires applicants to provide Department of Defense Form 214 or equivalent documentation to verify their veteran status before the designation is added to their credentials. Additionally, the bill mandates that one side of any veteran specialty plate feature an American flag or a veteran-related emblem selected by the Commissioner and the Office of Veterans' Affairs.

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.