Sen. Becca White

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 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 summaryVermont's S.307 establishes a 42-hour average weekly overtime threshold for career firefighters employed by state, municipal, or county fire departments. It requires overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked beyond 42 in an average eight-week period, calculated by dividing total hours by eight. The bill directly affects public fire departments and their full-time firefighters, as defined under Vermont law, by mandating this compensation standard for excessive hours. It requires departments to implement changes by January 1, 2027, and allows local agreements to adopt stricter standards through collective bargaining.

Maddy summaryThis Vermont bill (S.306) defines 911 call takers, public safety dispatchers, and emergency communications staff as "first responders in communications" for the first time. It requires employers to provide relevant training and extends workers' compensation benefits for PTSD to these dispatchers, presuming PTSD diagnosed during service is job-related unless proven otherwise. The law specifically covers Vermont dispatchers certified by the Vermont Enhanced 911 Board who handle emergency communications. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects all Vermont emergency communications dispatchers.

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 summaryS.302 prohibits Vermont public agencies from collecting or disclosing certain personally identifying information, including immigration status and religious affiliation, unless required by federal law. It specifically bans using state resources to assist federal registration programs based on such data and requires agencies continuing to collect immigration information to explain why by December 2026. The bill affects all state and local government entities, including police, schools, and social services, by restricting how they handle sensitive personal data. It includes exceptions for compliance with federal laws like 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 and 1644, and permits sharing aggregated, non-identifiable data. The law takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $143,000 from the General Fund to the Agency of Natural Resources for a grant to the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The funds will cover GMEDC's costs to reinitiate brownfields redevelopment at the Upper Valley Regional Landfill in Post Mills, Thetford, specifically for a probate proceeding to appoint GMEDC as administrator. This facilitates transferring the landfill site to new ownership for redevelopment. The grant is for fiscal year 2027 and directly affects GMEDC and the landfill site's future use.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 283) changes how Vermont school districts calculate "excess spending" for state aid eligibility and allows early construction of school projects during a state aid moratorium. It excludes capital construction costs from "education spending" calculations (Section 1) and deems school districts that begin construction before July 1, 2026, as having "good cause" to do so without final state approval (Section 2). The bill directly affects Vermont school districts planning construction projects, particularly those wanting to start work before the state aid program begins. These changes take effect immediately upon passage for the spending exclusion and on July 1, 2026, for the construction approval provision.