Sen. Robert Starr

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that congratulates North Country Union High School Principal Christopher Young for receiving the 2024 Advocacy Champion of the Year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The resolution recognizes Young's work as Vermont's coordinator for the national organization and his contributions to public education policy discussions at federal, state, and local levels. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Principal Young and his school. This is a ceremonial document honoring an individual's professional achievement rather than creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Steve Mason, a former member of the Lowell School Board and North Country Supervisory Union Board in Vermont. It recognizes his 19-year chairmanship of the Lowell School Board and eight years on the supervisory union board for his leadership and commitment to education. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Mason as a formal acknowledgment of his service. This type of bill does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge an individual's contributions to their community.

Maddy summaryThis Senate concurrent resolution formally congratulates Bag Balm on its 125th anniversary. The bill recognizes the company's history, from its 1899 invention as a cow udder moisturizer to its current status as a consumer product sold in various forms. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Bag Balm's president, Libby Parent. The document serves as a commemorative acknowledgment rather than a law with regulatory or financial implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows probation and parole officers in Vermont to carry firearms while on duty, provided they complete a specialized training course. The legislation requires officers to successfully finish a curriculum developed by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council, covering firearm use, force application, reporting, and liability. Once trained and certified, officers may carry firearms for defensive purposes during their official duties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to correctional officers assigned to the Field Supervision Unit.

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 bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors John Wilson, a former Newport City Council Chair, for his public service. It recognizes his military career in the U.S. Army, including service in Vietnam, and his long-term leadership on the Newport City Council where he chaired the body for 15 years. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to John Wilson and the Newport City Clerk as a formal acknowledgment of his contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder or manslaughter if their actions result in the death of a fetus, while also permitting such charges in cases of drunk driving or grossly negligent driving that cause fetal death. The legislation specifically excludes abortions and routine medical procedures from these provisions, and clarifies that the law does not change the legal status or rights of a fetus. It would apply the same penalties for fetal deaths as for adult deaths in homicide and vehicle-related cases, including enhanced sentences for repeat offenders. The bill was introduced by Senators Williams and Starr and referred to the Judiciary Committee for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts accessory on-farm businesses from development permit requirements under Vermont's Act 250, allowing farmers to expand their operations without seeking state-level approval. The legislation defines accessory on-farm businesses as activities like processing and selling farm products, hosting educational events, or offering farm stays, provided more than 50% of sales come from products grown on-site. To qualify, the farm must follow required agricultural practices, the business must be operated by the farm owner or residents, and improvements cannot alter more than one acre of land. Municipalities retain the ability to adopt less restrictive rules, and the Secretary of Agriculture will provide training to help farms understand permit requirements for water and wastewater systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the sale, lease, or operation of motor vehicles with tinted windows on the windshield, vent windows, or side windows located immediately to the left and right of the driver in Vermont. It requires dealers to stop selling or leasing vehicles with these tinted windows and mandates that vehicles with such tint fail the annual safety inspection. The law includes exemptions for medical reasons, emergency vehicles, and specific areas on the windshield for stickers and toll transponders, allowing tint only on side and rear windows if the vehicle has proper mirrors. Dealers and vehicle owners would face administrative penalties for violations, and the Department of Motor Vehicles must update inspection procedures to enforce these rules starting January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Vermont's voting rules for unified union school districts by adding a new exception to the requirement that Australian ballots be commingled. Under current law, votes from all towns within a unified union school district must be combined and counted together rather than separately by town. The proposed change would allow a district to keep ballots separate if voters explicitly rejected commingling at an annual meeting held on or before July 1, 2019, provided the district's governing articles do not specify a different counting method. The bill applies to elections for school board members, district officers, budget proposals, and other public questions within these districts. It would take effect on July 1, 2024.