Sen. Andrew Perchlik

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the open carry of firearms at polling places, political debates, and public demonstrations in Vermont. It directly affects individuals who wish to carry visible firearms in these specific locations, while allowing law enforcement officers and government employees to carry firearms for official duties. The legislation defines a public demonstration as gatherings of 25 or more people expressing views or grievances and sets penalties of up to one year in prison or a $1,000 fine for violations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not regulate firearms carried in motor vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Vermont taxpayers to claim a charitable contribution credit for donations of game they have legally hunted or fished. The legislation amends state tax law to include lawfully taken game as a qualifying donation for the five percent credit on the first $20,000 of charitable contributions. The credit applies to donations made after January 1, 2024, and remains available even if taxpayers do not itemize deductions on their federal tax returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retail businesses in Vermont to accept cash payments for transactions of $1,000 or less. It prohibits sellers from refusing cash unless the purchase amount exceeds the $1,000 threshold, with violations classified as unfair commerce practices. The law would take effect on July 1, 2024, affecting all retail businesses operating in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how members of Vermont's State Board of Education are appointed by distributing the ten seats among three different appointing authorities. Under the new process, the Governor would appoint four members, the Senate Committee on Committees would appoint three, and the House Speaker would appoint three, with all non-student members serving six-year terms that cannot be extended through reappointment. The bill also establishes a transition period starting July 1, 2024, where current board members can finish their existing terms while new appointments follow a staggered schedule to gradually implement the new distribution system. Additionally, the legislation maintains the requirement for two secondary student members on the board, with one having voting privileges in their second year of service. The bill aims to create a more balanced appointment structure while preserving existing diversity and expertise requirements for board members.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Prekindergarten Education Study Committee in Vermont to examine and make recommendations for improving access to affordable, high-quality prekindergarten education for three- and four-year-old children. The committee will consist of representatives from state agencies, education associations, private child care providers, and families, tasked with analyzing quality standards, workforce needs, funding options, and potential transitions to a public school-based system. The committee must submit a report with findings and draft legislative recommendations by December 1, 2023, to the relevant state legislative committees. This measure directly affects child care providers, public school districts, families with young children, and state education agencies by creating a structured process to evaluate and potentially expand prekindergarten services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Vermont's state laws to strengthen protections against employment and public accommodation discrimination by expanding the definition of harassment and removing the requirement that such behavior be severe or pervasive to be unlawful. It directly affects employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and individuals by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, and physical or mental conditions. Key provisions include clarifying that a single incident can constitute harassment, allowing claims without needing to compare treatment to another individual, and preventing settlement agreements from restricting an employee's ability to continue working for the employer. The bill also updates wage discrimination rules to ensure equal pay for equal work regardless of protected characteristics and clarifies that harassment can occur outside the workplace.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the Northfield Junior Rifle team on their successful 2022-2023 competitive season. It recognizes the team as Vermont's only school-associated rifle club, noting their achievements including winning multiple gold medals at a competition in New Hampshire and earning a spot at the Junior Rifle Olympics in Colorado. The resolution also lists the specific team members and their coach by name as part of the official acknowledgment. The document directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Northfield Junior Rifle Club.

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 regulates the sale and transport of used catalytic converters in Vermont to help prevent vehicle theft. It limits scrap metal processors to buying no more than one converter per day from individuals who are not motor vehicle recyclers or repair shops, and requires anyone transporting multiple converters to mark each with the vehicle identification number and provide proof of ownership documentation. Sellers must present government-issued identification, and processors must keep detailed records for five years, report undocumented sales to authorities, and hold items for ten days if proper documentation is missing. The law also establishes penalties for violations, requires unannounced inspections of salvage yards, and mandates public outreach and training to educate sellers, processors, and law enforcement on the new requirements.

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.