Sen. Joe Major

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.301 ("Vermont Civil Rights Sovereignty and Equal Protection Act of 2026"), modernizes Vermont’s civil rights laws by expanding protections against discrimination in public accommodations and housing. It directly affects all Vermont residents by adding gender identity, immigration status, crime victim status, and other characteristics to protected classes, and redefines "harassment" to be unlawful regardless of severity. Key provisions include creating a state-funded Civil Rights Coordinating Council and Special Fund to enforce protections independently of federal policy, and requiring state agencies to combat housing segregation. The bill also updates definitions to clarify that discrimination includes barriers restricting access to housing or services based on protected characteristics.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises Vermont's three-acre stormwater discharge permit program. It requires the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to verify each parcel's impervious surface area through on-site visits (not just GIS data) and rank parcels by their impact on water quality. Parcels in the top 10% for water quality impact will need permits, while others will follow a new priority schedule based on severity. The bill also clarifies that failing to obtain a permit when required does not create a legal "cloud on title" affecting property sales or financing. ANR must hold public hearings in each county to explain these changes.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a study committee to examine the potential for building a new limited-access highway connecting Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, and Rutland to Interstate 87, replacing Vermont Route 22A. The committee, composed of transportation officials, local mayors, and regional planning representatives, will analyze Route 22A's current usage, potential highway routes, estimated costs, and funding options like tolls or public-private partnerships. It must submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 2027, detailing findings and recommendations. The study focuses on economic impacts and alternatives for the primary route from Burlington to I-87, without authorizing construction or funding.

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.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 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.