Sen. Nader Hashim

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within the Agency of Human Services to help municipalities and other organizations acquire or renovate existing buildings for permanent supportive housing. The program provides up to $4.5 million in funding for fiscal year 2025 and requires participating sites to include multiple studio apartments with kitchens and bathrooms, along with on-site support services from two staff members available at least eight hours daily. Eligible projects must prioritize individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, those recovering from mental health or substance use disorders, and other vulnerable populations, while also incorporating energy-efficient renovations and ensuring access to community services. The bill directs the agency to select proposals based on the greatest need for housing and the health and safety benefits for residents.

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 that nonprofit public transit systems in Vermont have a majority of their governing board members appointed by the legislative bodies of the municipalities they serve. It defines nonprofit public transit systems as domestic corporations where board membership is proportional to the population of served municipalities and includes the Secretary of Transportation as a nonvoting member. The legislation sets a July 31, 2024 deadline for existing transit systems to update their bylaws to comply with these requirements and mandates that the Agency of Transportation oversee compliance with state and federal laws.

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 would limit hospital liens on patient injury settlements in Vermont by prohibiting hospitals from claiming liens when patients have health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or plans where the hospital is a participating provider. It would cap hospital liens at 25 percent of the net amount received by the patient and require hospitals to pay a fair share of legal and administrative costs associated with obtaining the settlement. The changes would apply to patients injured in accidents not covered by workers' compensation and would take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Richard DeGray for his volunteer work beautifying downtown Brattleboro with flowers. The resolution recognizes DeGray's decade-long effort to maintain over 200 flowerpots and plants, which he waters daily before dawn during warmer months. It also acknowledges Ahmed Rashed of Rashed's Garden Center as a primary supplier for the project's gardening materials. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send copies of this resolution to both DeGray and Rashed as a gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes procedures for obtaining emergency court orders against stalking or sexual assault outside of regular court hours, including weekends and holidays. It allows individuals to file complaints and affidavits electronically or through designated authorized personnel, who can administer oaths over the telephone and communicate requests to judges for immediate review. The bill requires that any issued orders include a hearing date within 14 days for the defendant to contest the order, and it mandates that all orders and affidavits carry specific warnings about criminal penalties for violations or false statements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Education Bill of Rights for children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind in Vermont public and approved independent schools. It requires the State Board of Education to create rules ensuring these students receive high-quality communication, specialized teacher training, access to all school activities, and balanced information for families about their children's needs and available resources. The legislation also grants infants with documented hearing loss categorical eligibility for early intervention services and gives parents and guardians a formal role in determining educational programs for their children.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow criminal defendants in Vermont to request a new psychiatric evaluation of their competency to stand trial if the Department of Mental Health decides to end their treatment order. Currently, defendants must show changed circumstances to get a follow-up evaluation, but this law specifically states that when the department stops or lets expire a commitment order, that alone counts as a changed circumstance. The change applies to cases where a defendant has been committed to mental health care and later released or discharged from that custody. The bill does not change how initial competency evaluations are conducted, only how courts determine when a subsequent evaluation is required after a defendant has been found incompetent.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows landlords and tenants in Vermont to use email as a valid method for delivering legal notice related to residential rental agreements. It directly affects landlords, tenants, and property management companies by expanding the ways they can communicate official notices. The key provision requires that email notices be considered received only when there is proof the recipient actually read the message, such as through a read receipt or acknowledgment. The law also defines "reliable electronic means" as email sent to an address the recipient agreed to use for receiving notices. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and modify existing state statutes governing rental agreements.