Sen. Wendy Harrison

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's General Assembly to approve all new leases or lease renewals for State-owned railroad corridors used for ongoing operations. It directly affects the Secretary of Transportation (as the State's agent) and railroad operators seeking to lease these corridors, shifting approval authority from the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee to the full legislature. The bill amends existing law to mandate General Assembly approval for all such leases, while maintaining the existing requirement for federal Surface Transportation Board approval. Short-term leases (up to six months) remain permitted but must be reported to transportation committees within 10 days. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that a majority of members on the governing boards of nonprofit public transit systems in Vermont be appointed by the legislative bodies (like city councils or town meetings) of the municipalities those systems serve. It also mandates that board membership be proportional to the population of served municipalities if multiple towns are involved. Existing systems not meeting these requirements must amend their bylaws by July 31, 2026, and submit the changes to state transportation committees by November 15, 2026. The definition changes take effect immediately, with the board appointment requirement applying from July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all nonprofit public transit systems operating within Vermont municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S.256) criminalizes threatening to disclose intimate images without consent to coerce someone into producing more images, engaging in sexual conduct, or providing something of value. It also expands existing voyeurism laws to cover non-consensual disclosure of images showing a person nude or engaged in sexual conduct, extending criminal statute of limitations for such acts and eliminating it for civil lawsuits. Victims can now seek damages for harm caused by intentional disclosure of their intimate images, including recovery for trauma-related disorders. The law directly affects individuals whose private images are exploited and those who threaten or disclose such images without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S.248 (Genetic Information Privacy Act), requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies operating in Vermont to protect the genetic data of Vermont residents. Companies must obtain explicit consumer consent before sharing data (prohibiting "dark patterns" like deceptive interfaces), allow consumers to access their own genetic data, and limit data sharing without permission. The law defines "genetic data" broadly to include DNA, RNA, SNPs, and derived information, but excludes de-identified data and data used in federally compliant research. It directly affects Vermont residents using genetic testing services and the companies providing those services within the state.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S 247) bans specific plastic-related practices starting in 2029 or 2030. It prohibits chemical conversion of plastics (like turning plastic into fuel via pyrolysis or gasification) and bans the sale of personal care/cleaning products containing plastic microbeads beginning January 1, 2029. It also bans medical solution containers with a common plasticizer (DEHP) from sale starting January 1, 2030, and medical tubing containing DEHP starting January 1, 2035. The bill directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these products within Vermont.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts to publicly disclose in their annual budgets the names of schools they pay tuition to, the number of students attending each school, and the total tuition paid to each. It also sets new requirements for independent schools seeking or maintaining state approval to receive public tuition funds, including annual reporting of student data and written disclosure to parents about their approval status. These provisions aim to increase transparency around public funding for student placements at independent schools, directly affecting school districts, independent schools, and families receiving tuition-based education services.

Maddy summaryVermont's S.201 requires all postsecondary schools (colleges and universities) operating in the state to adopt an academic freedom policy by August 1, 2027. The policy must guarantee faculty the freedom to discuss relevant course materials, use any reasonable instructional methods, and express views outside work as private citizens - while requiring faculty to clarify when speaking as individuals, not as representatives of the institution. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects all Vermont colleges and universities by mandating specific institutional policies aligned with state policy supporting open inquiry and free expression in education.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, administered by the State Treasurer, to help residents reduce prescription drug costs. It creates a program that pools Vermont's purchasing power with other states and organizations to negotiate lower prices directly with drug manufacturers, aiming to lower costs for all Vermont residents. The program will require the Treasurer to collect reasonable fees to cover costs, report annually on participation and savings, and submit an implementation report by 2027. The bill also allocates $50,000 for initial program development in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S.207) prohibits businesses from using "surveillance pricing" to set different prices for consumer products based on data collected through electronic surveillance technology (like AI or tracking tools). It directly affects retailers, online sellers, and service providers in Vermont that sell consumer products (e.g., groceries, electronics, subscriptions). The law bans price discrimination using personally identifiable or aggregated consumer data, except for price differences based solely on actual costs, equal discounts for all customers (with clear notice and consent if personal data is used), or licensed insurance companies following existing rate rules. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryS.167 prohibits Vermont residents from possessing semiautomatic assault weapons, defined as rifles, pistols, or shotguns with specific features (like detachable magazines plus a folding stock, pistol grip, or high-capacity magazine). Violators face up to one year in jail or a $500 fine. The law exempts federal and certified Vermont law enforcement officers, active National Guard members, and certain manually operated or antique firearms. It also excludes weapons that cannot hold more than five rounds in their magazine.