Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed 10 bills into law today, including S.127, An act relating to housing and housing development. S.127 includes establishing a tax increment (TIF) retention program for housing infrastructure projects. He also signed two more health care-related bills: S.63, An act relating to modifying the regulatory duties of the Green Mountain Care Board and S.126, An act relating to health care payment and delivery system reform. He also signed S.69, An act relating to an age-appropriate design code, which is intended to protect the personal information of minors.

Vermont Business Magazine The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported today that 2025 Vermont maple syrup production totaled 3.06 million gallons, once again leading the nation in this category. This follows two years of similar output in 2023 (2.608 million gallons) and 2024 (3.108 million gallons). The record was 3.264 million gallons in 2022, and $108 million. The value of Vermont maple syrup production totaled $95 million in 2024, up $16 million from 2023, a 20 percent increase. The average retail price per gallon in 2024 was up $1.10 per gallon to $58.30. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.06 per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon from last week, unchanged from last month and down 43 cents/g from this time last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.73/g while the highest was $3.19/g, a difference of 46.0 cents per gallon. The counties with the lowest average prices in Vermont are in Rutland ($2.98/g) and Bennington ($2.99/g). Prices climb as you go farther north. The highest averages are in Franklin ($3.16/g), Grand Isle ($3.16/g) and Lamoille ($3.15/g) counties, according to AAA. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.12/g today. The national average is down 1 cent per gallon from a month ago and stands 33 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine WhistlePig Whiskey, the #1 leader in independent craft whiskey, today welcomes Charles Gibb, a dynamic leader in the spirits industry, as its new Chief Executive Officer. This appointment marks the next stage of evolution for the WhistlePig brand and its highly awarded super premium whiskey portfolio. Charles brings a wide breadth of global expertise to WhistlePig, particularly through the introduction of spirits and cocktail mixers to new audiences across various geographies. He launched Fever-Tree’s North American arm, driving the mixer brand to the top of the ginger beer and tonic water charts while expanding their business to tackle multiple drinking occasions. 

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, Governor Phil Scott vetoed H. 91: An act relating to the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing Program. “We are deeply disappointed by Governor Scott’s decision to veto H. 91. After repeated calls for reform, H. 91 proposed a viable path forward for transitioning away from the state’s current hotel/motel system without abandoning those most impacted by the homelessness crisis in our state. Without the essential reforms contained within H.91, we can expect more unsheltered people on our streets, and more of the same drastic threats to emergency housing services in the coming years."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed into law late yesterday further restrictions on the use of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting gear, dental floss, cleaning products, and fluorine-treated containers. According to the Vermont Department of Health, PFAS exposure can lead to reproductive and developmental disorders, decreased antibody response to vaccines, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, certain types of cancer, and more. In fact, the CDC has found that nearly all people in the U.S. have PFAS in their blood. The new law (H.238) builds on earlier legislation adopted in Vermont that addressed PFAS in personal care products, menstrual products, textiles, cookware, rugs and carpets, artificial turf, ski wax, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 10 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging the unprecedented and unlawful use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove California’s waivers for its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII), Omnibus, and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) standards – standards Vermont has adopted. The federal government’s approach, using the CRA to bypass Clean Air Act requirements, is unprecedented.  

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act, legislation that would ban prescription drug advertising on television, radio, print, digital platforms and social media. The bill would also answer Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s repeated calls to end prescription drug advertising, a position he promoted while campaigning for President Trump in 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), member of the Senate Finance Committee, this week welcomed Steve Wright, President and General Manager of Jay Peak Resort, to the U.S. Senate for a forum on the impact of tariffs and President Trump’s trade war on the business, manufacturing, farming, and tourism industries. In the forum, Senators highlighted how the Trump Administration’s policies are raising costs for working families and causing extreme uncertainty for businesses across America. Senator Welch’s questions in the hearing focused on the economic and cultural harm caused by President Trump’s trade policy and anti-Canadian rhetoric.  

Vermont Business Magazine Three public information meetings will be held by the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Unit (CREJU) this summer to discuss the Environmental Benefits Spending Guidance (EBSG). The Vermont’s Environmental Justice Law (VT EJ Law) from 2022 requires the Agency to develop guidance – the EBSG – to help designated Vermont state agencies to report on the investments that support communities, especially those most affected by environmental issues.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has released the Vermont Master Angler Program 2024 Report with 1,200 entries and 88 Master Angler Award recipients. Vermont’s wealth of waters and abundant fish populations provide many opportunities to experience outstanding fishing.  The Vermont Master Angler Program recognizes the achievements of anglers who catch trophy-sized fish from Vermont waters and celebrates the clean water and healthy habitats that allow these fish to survive and grow to exceptional sizes. The Vermont Master Angler program is a length-based program that sets “trophy sized” benchmarks for 34 eligible fish species.

Vermont Business Magazine With the beginning of summer and anglers fishing from shore, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds people that open fires and swimming are prohibited at all Vermont state fishing access areas. Open fires and their remnants, create unsafe areas for other anglers and boaters to use and enjoy.  The remnants of these fires are also unhealthy for the animals and fish that live in the adjacent waters.  Fish and Wildlife cleans up the toxic waste left by open fires on state lands annually at considerable expense. Swimming at fishing access areas is prohibited due to safety concerns and because the primary uses of the fishing access areas is for launching and retrieving motorboats and for shore fishing.