Sen. Wendy Harrison

Maddy summaryHCR 196 is a ceremonial resolution honoring U.S. Army Major General Gregory Knight, Vermont's Adjutant and Inspector General, for his 43-year military and public service career. It formally commends his service - including deployments to Iraq, academic achievements, leadership in the Vermont National Guard, and his seven-year tenure as the state's top military officer - and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to him and the Vermont National Guard. This resolution does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The bill was offered by all members of both the House and Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes Vermont corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other business entities' ability to spend money on election-related activities or ballot initiatives. It defines "election activity" and "ballot-issue activity" more clearly and revokes any prior legal authority allowing these entities to fund such efforts. The law specifically prohibits corporations from paying, contributing, or expending money for political campaigns or ballot measures, while preserving their core business powers. This applies uniformly across all entity types and aims to align corporate powers with the General Assembly's intent that political spending wasn't granted when entities were formed.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont House concurrent resolution (HCR 197) formally congratulates the YMCA on its 175th anniversary and extends best wishes for its future work. It specifically acknowledges the YMCA's national history and its local impact in Vermont, noting that the YMCA of Greater Burlington and Meeting Waters YMCA serve 15,000 Vermonters annually. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to these two Vermont branches. As a ceremonial resolution, it contains no new policies, funding, or requirements - it is purely a symbolic gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution designates February 11, 2026, as "Disability Advocacy Day" at the Vermont State House. It recognizes the work of disability rights groups like the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR) and highlights ongoing challenges such as educational disparities and barriers in employment, housing, and transportation faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these issues and the contributions of people with disabilities. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to VCDR.

Maddy summaryVermont's Senate resolution SR 21 condemns the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by federal agents during ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. It demands the President immediately suspend the operation, reset immigration enforcement to target only serious criminals, and prioritize constitutional rights. The resolution urges Vermont's congressional delegation to oppose further ICE funding unless reforms include ending militarized tactics, restoring due process, and creating fair pathways to legal status. It also affirms constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and lethal force without legal accountability. The resolution is a non-binding call for federal action, not a law.

Maddy summaryHCR 177 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Twin Valley High School's Athletic Director and boys' soccer coach Buddy Hayford for achieving 500 career coaching victories. It recognizes his 43-year coaching career, including 10 divisional titles, two state basketball titles, and his status as Vermont's first high school soccer coach to reach 500 wins. This resolution, offered by all House members and sponsoring senators, formally congratulates Hayford and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to him and his school - **it is not a law but a symbolic gesture of appreciation**.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S.297) allows Vermont towns, cities, and villages to adopt secure electronic ballot return systems for local elections using the Australian ballot method. It requires any adopted system to meet strict security standards - including end-to-end encryption, dual-factor authentication, and biometric verification - to protect voter data and ballot integrity. Municipal clerks must transcribe all electronic ballots to anonymous paper copies for counting, storage, and auditing, just like paper ballots. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and the Secretary of State must provide security and privacy guidance for municipalities. It directly affects local election administrators and voters in communities choosing to implement this option.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers using tax increment financing (TIF) for municipal projects to provide specific financial guarantees to protect municipalities. Developers must guarantee that project tax increments will cover the municipality's debt payments for the project's duration, backed by security like letters of credit or bonds. Additionally, developers must include at least one extra protection - such as property value safeguards, project continuity measures, or equity arrangements - in their agreements. These rules apply to all TIF projects, including housing developments under the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, ensuring municipalities have financial recourse if developers fail to meet obligations.

Maddy summaryS.261 limits legal liability for railroads and utilities that allow the public to use their undeveloped property (like rights-of-way and utility corridors) for recreation. The bill defines "land" to specifically include these areas when open to the public, while excluding commercial recreational sites and equipment. This changes liability rules by clarifying that landowners aren't responsible for injuries on these recreational-access areas under Vermont law. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryVermont's S.259 allows the classroom portion of driver education to be completed through approved online courses. It directly affects Vermont students aged 15+ enrolled in public or independent high schools. The bill requires online courses to meet specific standards: using rotating exams, verifying student identity, tracking study time, ensuring data security, and providing technical support. Courses must align with the state's Novice Teen Driver Education standards and will be approved by the Agency of Education and DMV. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.