Sen. Wendy Harrison

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 ceremonial resolution that congratulates Esta Broutsas Smith of Brattleboro on reaching her 100th birthday. It does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally recognize her life achievements and contributions to education and her community. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Ms. Smith as a gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution commemorates Vermont's April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical event visible across much of the state. It officially recognizes the historic nature of the eclipse, noting that the last total solar eclipse visible in Vermont occurred nearly a century ago in 1932. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which are partners in educating the public about the event. This ceremonial measure serves to acknowledge the significance of the eclipse for Vermont residents and visitors rather than to change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the existing deadline that prevents the Vermont Economic Progress Council from accepting new applications for the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program. Currently, the program is set to stop accepting applications on January 1, 2025, but this legislation would repeal that restriction, allowing the council to continue reviewing and approving new incentive requests beyond that date. The change directly affects businesses and organizations seeking financial incentives to create jobs in Vermont, as it extends the window of opportunity for them to apply. If passed, the program would remain available for applications starting July 1, 2024, rather than closing to new applicants at the end of 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 13, 2024, as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont to honor military working dogs and their handlers. It recognizes the contributions of approximately 1,600 trained dogs who serve in roles such as patrol, drug detection, and explosives detection across the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron in San Antonio, Texas. This measure is ceremonial and does not change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill honors Putney Fire Chief Thomas Goddard for his exemplary service as a municipal public safety official. It recognizes his role in transitioning Putney from volunteer-only firefighting to a full-time department, where he built the organization from scratch while also serving as health officer, code enforcement officer, emergency management director, and E-911 coordinator. The resolution acknowledges his regional leadership and technical expertise, noting his selection as president of VT EMS District 13 and vice president of the Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid Board. The General Assembly formally recognizes his contributions and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to Goddard and the Putney Fire Department.

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 creates two new permanent full-time Superior judge positions in Vermont's state court system. The judges will serve six-year terms starting April 1, 2024, and will be subject to the state's judicial retention process. An appropriation of $539,246 from the General Fund is allocated for fiscal year 2025 to support these positions, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates February 16, 2024, as Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House to honor the state's natural landscape and outdoor activities. The measure recognizes Vermont's extensive trail systems, wildlife areas, and ski resorts as important assets for the economy, community well-being, and quality of life. While the resolution does not create new laws or funding, it formally acknowledges the value of outdoor recreation and directs state officials to be notified of the designation. The bill was passed by both the Senate and House without requiring a vote, following standard procedure for ceremonial resolutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities to receive reimbursement for education property taxes owed on properties destroyed by severe storms and floods between July 1, 2023, and October 15, 2023, provided the municipality abated those taxes proportionally. It also excludes disaster relief payments from household income when calculating homestead property tax credits for tax years 2023 and 2024. The legislation directly affects local governments and homeowners in areas declared federal disaster zones during the specified period.