Sen. Becca White

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new taxes on high-income Vermonters to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on personal income above $250,000 (and 6% above $500,000) and a 4% "wealth proceeds tax" on individuals, estates, or trusts with taxable income exceeding $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All revenue generated flows into a dedicated "School Construction Aid Special Fund" for public school infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects high earners and property owners with significant nonhomestead holdings.

Maddy summaryS.280 increases the property tax rate for nonhomestead residential properties (including second homes and short-term rentals) to $2.00 per $100 of property value, up from a lower rate. It also creates a new classification for nonhomestead seasonal properties (such as seasonal vacation homes), taxing them at the nonhomestead nonresidential rate. Additional revenue from the higher tax rate on nonhomestead residential properties will fund a new special school construction fund. This bill directly affects Vermont property owners who use homes as second residences or short-term rentals by raising their property tax burden.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts without their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as their public schools. Eligible schools include Vermont public schools, out-of-state public schools, or recognized independent schools meeting specific criteria (e.g., regional career training centers or historically designated schools). It repeals the "approved independent school" definition and process while maintaining the "recognized independent school" enrollment system, and adds a new definition for "therapeutic schools" with related special education tuition changes. The bill directly affects small school districts lacking their own K-12 facilities, altering how they access state education funding for student placements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Vermont municipalities that haven't previously voted on cannabis businesses to hold a vote at the 2026 general election. The vote will ask residents whether licensed cannabis retailers may operate within their community, using a secret ballot. Municipalities must hold this vote if they haven't already approved or rejected cannabis establishments. The measure does not change existing cannabis laws but mandates a community decision on local permitting by 2026.

Maddy summaryS.271 requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create guidance and training for school districts to distinguish between protected political expression (like advocacy for Palestinian rights) and unlawful harassment targeting protected groups. It also expands the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council with new member categories and mandates the development of a First Amendment curriculum for public K-12 schools, teaching age-appropriate constitutional protections under both the U.S. Constitution and Vermont's Chapter I, Article 13. The bill directly affects Vermont public schools, staff, and students by setting new standards for handling speech-related incidents and integrating free expression education into curricula. Key provisions include requiring schools to use context-based evaluations of speech (e.g., differentiating targeted harassment from political critique) and ensuring training avoids chilling student expression. The bill aims to align school policies with constitutional standards while addressing concerns about vague antisemitism definitions suppressing lawful discourse.

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 requires individuals with license suspensions or revocations due to serious speeding violations (such as driving 100+ mph or multiple excess-speed offenses) to obtain a restricted license or certificate. To operate a vehicle during their suspension/revocation period, they must install and maintain an approved aftermarket GPS-based speed-limiting device on their vehicle and pay a $125 application fee. The device must actively prevent speeding above posted limits, and the holder must cover all costs for installation, maintenance, and data retrieval. This applies only to non-commercial vehicles and creates a new "intelligent speed assistance restricted operator’s license" (ROL) with annual renewal requirements.

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 Vermont bill (S.241) prohibits mental health professionals and organizations from offering, providing, or advertising mental health services delivered by artificial intelligence systems, such as chatbots for therapy. It directly affects mental health service providers, AI developers, and companies marketing AI-driven mental health tools. The bill creates a $10,000 civil penalty per violation under consumer protection law and defines "mental health services" to include therapy, counseling, treatment plans, and emotional support. The legislation stems from research showing AI systems have given dangerous advice (including suicide plans) and failed to recognize mental health crises, aiming to ensure services are delivered by licensed professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Executive Branch to negotiate remote, in-person, and hybrid work arrangements for State employees through collective bargaining. It amends the State Employees Labor Relations Act to explicitly add "terms and conditions of remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards" as a mandatory subject for bargaining. The change directly affects all permanent and limited-status State employees, ensuring their input on work location policies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, making work arrangement decisions subject to negotiation rather than unilateral state policy.