Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed six bills into law today, including H.482, An act relating to Green Mountain Care Board authority to adjust a hospital’s reimbursement rates and to appoint a hospital observer. On a seventh bill, Scott allowed H.1, An act relating to accepting and referring complaints by the State Ethics Commission to become law without his signature. He explained to lawmakers in the letter below that the final bill "softens the Legislature’s commitment to the statutory State Code of Ethics." He said he hopes the Legislature will take another look at the issue next session.

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College has finalized collective bargaining agreements with the three units of Bennington College United (BCU), the AFT-affiliated union representing faculty, staff, and campus safety. These agreements ensure equitable compensation and benefits for BCU members while supporting the long-term financial sustainability of the College. The contracts are the result of extensive and thoughtful negotiations that began in 2024, when Bennington College voluntarily recognized BCU upon its formation. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today won a court order that blocks the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. On April 29, Attorney General Clark joined a coalition of 23 other attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in challenging the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. Attorney General Clark and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the closure of programs in plaintiff states. Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted the preliminary injunction, restoring all programs that had been terminated in plaintiff states, and ordering the reinstatement of over 750 National Civilian Community Corps members.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) anticipates that over 70 young Vermonters will graduate with debt-free associate degrees this academic year, an average of one year out of high school. These students, the large majority of whom are still teenagers and who come from 12 of Vermont’s 14 counties, were supported in fast-tracked pathways to degrees of their choosing through the state’s Early College program and the Free Degree Promise. The McClure Foundation created the Free Degree Promise in 2022 because it believes accelerated pathways to in-demand careers are gamechangers for Vermont youth, especially at a time when high school graduation rates and postsecondary continuation rates have declined to the lowest in New England. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Foodbank applauds the work of the legislature and Governor Phil Scott for the passage and signing of bill H.167, into law on May 27th creating Act 34 of 2025 to establish a Vermonters Feeding Vermonters grant program at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.  With food and economic insecurity increasing in recent years, this government commitment will help ensure access to fresh, local food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, and support to Vermont farms, at a time when federal funding is uncertain. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Division for Historic Preservation announces Bennington Battle Monument, the 306-foot monument commemorating the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington, will be closed June 9 –12 to conduct proactive maintenance. The tallest-man-made building in Vermont was the subject of a two-year study to examine its construction, current condition, and maintenance issues. That report found the nation’s second tallest unreinforced masonry building suffers from cracking and excessive moisture. To help combat this, a safety inspection team will repel the Monument during its week-long closure to remove loose rock. The public is invited to Monument Circle to watch this important work. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today celebrated the advancement of his bipartisan, bicameral Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, legislation to support America’s students and dairy farmers. This bipartisan bill which is co-led by Senator Roger Marshall, MD (R-Kan.), would allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, in addition to reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free, and lactose-free milk.   

Vermont Business Magazine Trying to figure out Vermont fishing regulations?  Wondering what kinds of fish are in a lake?  Looking for new fishing tips?  The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is offering “Fish with a Warden” sessions to help with questions like these. “We know many anglers have questions they would like to ask a warden, and we know many of our wardens also like to go fishing,” said Education Specialist Corey Hart, “so our Vermont State Game Wardens have teamed up with Forests, Parks and Recreation staff to offer Fish with a Warden sessions this summer.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.07/g, down 2 cents per gallon from last week, down 1 cent/g from last month and down 48 cents/g from this time last year. Rutland and Windham counties had the lowest average price at $3.00/g, according to AAA, while Franklin ($3.18/g), Grand Isle ($3.17/g) and Lamoille ($3.16/g) had the highest average prices. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.69/g while the highest was $3.19/g. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont General Fund, Transportation Fund and Education Fund all exceeded their monthly consensus cash flow targets for April 2025, as corresponding to the annual consensus forecast update adopted by the Emergency Board at its January 2025 meeting. The Personal Income Tax, the most important revenue source, was more than 26% over expectations. Because of tax filing, payment and refunds this time of year, the PI can show wide swings in its results. However, the PI is 8% ahead for year, or up nearly $90 million with two months left in the fiscal year.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in pressing for answers from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State on the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals living in the United States. The lawmakers’ letter, sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, notes the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return. The letter was signed by more than 100 lawmakers. The full letter and response by the Vermont Afghan Alliance are below.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced a resolution with UPP Global, LLC, a Maine-based private parking operator. UPP provides 27 private parking operations in several Vermont downtowns. Between 2020 and 2024, thousands of consumers paid UPP after receiving what the company misleadingly called “citations” which alleged that failure to pay could result in impacts to a consumer’s credit rating, vehicle registration, license renewal, or ability to rent a vehicle. UPP issued these “citations” to consumers despite having no governmental authority or ability to affect consumer credit without due process of law. Following an investigation into the company’s alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act, UPP has agreed to change its misleading parking notices and pay the State of Vermont $150,000 to resolve the State’s concerns.