Sen. Alison Clarkson

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 Hartford High School Hurricanes boys' ice hockey team on winning the Division II state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's 3-1 victory over Colchester High School and acknowledges the coaching staff and individual players who contributed to the school's first title since 2009. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Hartford High School as an official record of the General Assembly's congratulations.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill proposes to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and flavored e-liquids statewide, targeting items with characterizing flavors such as fruit, candy, mint, menthol, and other non-tobacco tastes. The legislation directly affects tobacco manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers by prohibiting the sale of any tobacco product or e-liquid containing characterizing flavors, with specific exceptions for certain prefilled nicotine cartridges. Key provisions include expanding the definition of flavored products to cover menthol cigarettes and establishing a presumption that a product is flavored if marketing claims suggest a distinguishable taste or aroma other than tobacco. The bill also mandates child-resistant packaging for all tobacco products and restricts the sale of flavored tobacco and e-liquids through vending machines.

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 is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the 2024 Thetford Academy Panthers boys' basketball team on winning the Division III state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's specific achievements during the championship game, where they overcame significant deficits to defeat Hazen Union 57-53. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Thetford Academy as official acknowledgment of their accomplishment. This type of legislative action is ceremonial and does not create new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to test community nurse services for older Vermonters by allocating $450,000 to the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living. The program would fund existing community nurse organizations to hire community health workers, expand home visit services, address service gaps, improve administrative support, and track program outcomes through data collection. Participating programs must submit a final report by December 15, 2026, detailing how many aging residents were served and what improvements were made. The pilot is designed to help determine whether expanding these nurse programs is effective before any permanent funding decisions are made.

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 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 proposal would amend Vermont's state constitution to allow the General Assembly to set qualifications for sheriffs, who are currently elected without specific legal requirements. The change would give lawmakers the authority to establish rules such as requiring law enforcement certification for individuals running for or serving as sheriff. Sheriffs would continue to be elected by voters in their districts for four-year terms, but the amendment adds the possibility of future legal standards for the position. The measure does not mandate any specific qualifications immediately but creates the legal framework for the legislature to define them later.

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 establishes the Vermont Fair Repair Act to require manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide repair information, tools, and parts to independent repair shops and consumers. The law mandates that original equipment manufacturers make available at no charge the documentation, software, and tools needed to diagnose and repair their products, while also ensuring replacement parts are offered at fair and reasonable terms equivalent to those given to authorized repair providers. The legislation specifically defines key terms like independent repair providers and equipment, and includes provisions to prevent manufacturers from retaliating against authorized providers who sell parts to independent repairers. Exemptions are included for medical devices and motor vehicles, and the act applies to equipment originally manufactured for sale in the United States.