Sen. Ann Cummings

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes municipal stormwater utilities in Vermont to form cooperative agreements with other municipalities to share financial resources and establish joint ratemaking structures. It allows these utilities to collaborate on administrative matters and develop rates based on equivalent residential units calculated from impervious surface areas. The legislation also creates a grant program providing up to $100,000 to groups of cooperating municipalities outside Chittenden County for technical assistance in establishing utility governance and ratemaking. A total of $400,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2025 to fund these grants, with the act taking effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Vermont Emergency Management Division to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state's disaster preparedness following the 2023 summer flooding events. The assessment must evaluate early warning systems, evacuation routes and shelters, local emergency management coordination, and emergency communications infrastructure. By January 25, 2025, the Division Director must submit a written report to relevant legislative committees detailing findings and, if needed, propose an improvement plan that could include legislative recommendations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and directly impacts the state's emergency management operations and oversight processes.

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 allows housing developers in Vermont to use future resident deposits to fund construction costs, provided they secure those deposits with escrow deposit bonds. The law requires developers to place buyer deposits in escrow accounts managed by licensed brokers, attorneys, or insured banks, but permits exceptions when a surety bond is obtained to cover the withdrawn funds. The bond must be issued by an authorized Vermont surety company and guarantee the return of deposits if the developer fails to deliver units as promised. Funds released under this provision can only be used for actual building and construction expenses of the specific project. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Vermont's Treasurer to issue special bonds to fund flood recovery, mitigation, and preparedness efforts. The Treasurer must obtain the Governor's approval to determine the bond structure and maturity dates, and these bonds will be officially called "Flood Recovery Bonds." The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to state-level financial management related to flood-related projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, enabling licensed social workers to practice across multiple member states without needing separate licenses in each location. The legislation establishes a framework for mutual recognition of social work licenses, facilitates the sharing of disciplinary information between states, and supports telehealth services for increased access to care. Key provisions include protecting public safety through coordinated oversight, reducing administrative burdens for social workers, and providing specific accommodations for military families who may need to relocate frequently.

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 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 updates Vermont's banking and insurance regulations by addressing several key areas including data security, licensing procedures, and consumer protections. It establishes obligations for the Department of Financial Regulation when denying financial licenses, clarifies debt cancellation rights for borrowers, and sets legal interest rates for borrower deposits. The legislation also enhances confidentiality for proprietary information submitted to regulators, modifies disclosure requirements for long-term care insurance rate increases, and provides additional protection for Federal Home Loan Bank loans during insurance company delinquency proceedings. Additionally, it requires a study of automobile insurance business practices in Vermont.