Current News

Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint It’s imperative that Vermonters who don’t own their own homes are able to rent safe, clean apartments. Our constituents want and deserve decent homes for themselves and their families. Poor housing quality often leads to serious health problems, especially for children. This critical bill provided a long overdue complaint-driven system for protecting our constituents from substandard rental housing conditions. This alone was reason enough to support the bill.

Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski At a time when Vermont is experiencing a severe housing crisis, the Governor’s veto of S.79 sets us backwards, not forward in solving the problem. S.79 would have invested in affordable housing, expanded home ownership to more Vermonters, and provided resources to improve the health and safety of rental properties across the state.

Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition While we are grateful for Governor Scott’s actions to create more affordable housing in Vermont, we are disappointed by his veto of S.79, the Rental Housing Safety Bill. This legislation had the support from a wide array of groups, including the Vermont Landlords Association, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Vermont Planning and Development Association, Regional Planning Commissions, the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, and from officials within the Administration.

House Progressive Caucus In a time of unprecedented high temperatures and dangerously cold winters, with climate change’s devastating effects on our environment, the necessity for all Vermonters to have a permanent, safe, and livable home is clear. The state’s current plan to evict several hundred Vermonters this month without clear support for new housing is unconscionable, and reflects a deeper issue in the state.

Vermont Chamber Vice President of Tourism Amy Spear “We are surprised and disappointed by Governor Scott’s veto of S.79. The Administration did not indicate they had a serious problem with the bill, which had a wide range of supporters, at any point during the 2021 legislative session. The sudden change of course is difficult to understand, considering several Administration officials publicly offered support for the legislation over the last few months."

Vermont Business Magazine Today, July 2, Governor Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed S.79 (An act relating to improving rental housing health and safety), passed on June 24 during the legislative veto session. The veto was expected given the governor's comments at his Tuesday press conference just before he received the bill. Scott has voiced concern about creating additional expense and regulation at a time when the state is short of housing and what does exist is at a historically high level. The Legislature could reconvene this fall to take up the veto or resubmit it in this or another form next year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance (UI) program has announced that the state’s UI contribution rate will index up to Tax Schedule III and the maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) will increase to $583 per week. Both changes take effect today, July 1, 2021, and are in accordance with existing state statute. The UI tax structure for Vermont’s “covered” employers is calculated annually and is adjusted to ensure solvency of the UI benefit trust fund. Employers were also provided relief from UI related benefit charges, which ensured that employers’ experience ratings were not disproportionately impacted due to the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health announced today that after nearly 16 months, this will be the final issue of this COVID-19 Update. It has been a valuable tool to share information with the media, state and national partners throughout this response. We will continue to keep everyone informed through our regular communication channels, including news releases, social media @healthvermont and our website, healthvermont.gov. You can continue to access daily cases and other data, updated regularly, on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard and the COVID-19 activity on the Vermont Dashboard. The VDH is reporting today two cases of COVID-19, one death for 257 statewide and the availability of many walk-in vaccination clinics this July 4th holiday weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced new walk-in clinics available across Vermont throughout the holiday weekend, including at the Johnson Skate Park, Barton Fairground, Stowe Independence Day celebration, and more. More than 452,000 Vermonters have already received at least one dose of vaccine, 82.1% of the eligible population. As of July 1, the Vermont Department of Health is reporting two more cases of COVID-19 but one additional death for 257 total since the pandemic began 16 months ago. This is only the second death from COVID in the last six weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine Angella Gibbons, who founded EarthWalk Vermont and provided environmental mentorship to thousands of Vermont children and adults, has been named the winner of the 2021 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. A ceremony honoring Gibbons was held at Goddard College this morning, and brought together dozens of EarthWalk’s supporters and local community members.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA) is announcing new yard care rebate offerings to help customers of its municipal electric utility members adopt clean technology. A $25 rebate is available for each electric chainsaw, trimmer, or leaf blower purchased on or after July 1, 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch voted today on passage of a five-year, $715 billion surface transportation reauthorization and water infrastructure bill. The INVEST in America Act includes four Welch-nominated transportation projects throughout Vermont, totaling $20 million in funding. The INVEST in America Act will rebuild and modernize the nation’s roads, bridges, transit, and rail by investing in sustainable and climate focused initiatives.