Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Thursday he had vetoed H.219, An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program. This is his first veto of the session and the veto was based on constitutional concerns, even as he supports the program. The governor also announced he had signed into law two bills: S.27 related to medical debt and S.36 related to AHS services. 

Vermont Business Magazine On May 15, Governor Phil Scott signed into law S.27, a proposal brought forward by Treasurer Mike Pieciak to eliminate up to $100 million in medical debt for middle- and working-class Vermonters and remove medical debt from credit scores. The bill passed the Legislature on a unanimous, bipartisan vote and requires no additional taxes or fees. Individuals who carry medical debt are less likely to seek care when they need it, leading to worse health outcomes, more expensive care in the future, and missed time at work. A 2021 survey by the Vermont Department of Health found that 85,000 Vermonters delayed or avoided care due to fear of medical debt. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine Dartmouth Health in Lebanon, NH, is being asked to pay more than $2 million in legal fees and interest after a Windsor County fertility doctor successfully sued over her disability discrimination firing in 2017. A federal court jury in Burlington awarded $1 million in economic damages to Dr. Misty Blanchette Porter of Norwich on April 10 for lost income and expenses. The jury also said Porter was entitled to an additional $125,000 in non-economic damages for the loss of enjoyment in life, mental anguish or pain and suffering. Now Porter’s lawyers have filed to recover their lawsuit-related costs in the contentious legal battle which has ricocheted through Federal District Court in Vermont and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City over the past eight years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT), the state’s leading construction industry association, has proudly announced its third consecutive record-breaking year for workforce training and development. In the first half of 2025 alone, AGC/VT delivered safety, skills, and leadership training to more than 2,500 Vermonters—an increase of 18% over the previous year. This unprecedented achievement solidifies AGC/VT as Vermont’s premier provider of construction workforce education, with more than 100 in-person and online training courses ranging from OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications to Blueprint Reading, Flagger Training, Lean Construction Education, Advanced Safety Management, Mental Health Awareness, and cutting-edge programs in emerging construction technologies.

Vermont Business Magazine For the past couple months, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) has been gathering input on a new draft Future Land Use Map and draft Housing Targets for Chittenden County. We've received many comments so far, and with the comment deadline of Monday, May 19 quickly approaching, we wanted to reach out once more to remind everyone of this feedback opportunity. In addition, our Regional Safety Action Plan is underway, with a virtual public meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, and a survey out through June 6.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) has amended the Mt. Mansfield State Forest Long Range Management Plan to allow for the relocation and restoration of the historic Goodell House through an innovative partnership with Vermont Huts and Trails (VHT). Following a public comment period in fall 2024, during which FPR sought input on potential uses for the Goodell House, the department amended the plan to define its future use. The restored Goodell House will facilitate year-round, publicly accessible lodging options within Mt. Mansfield State Forest. The structure will be moved approximately 600 feet downhill to a site better suited for increased use, where environmental impacts can be minimized. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) has been notified that Vermont’s $5.3 million Digital Equity Capacity Grant has been canceled as of May 9, 2025. The grant was being used to implement Vermont’s Digital Empowerment (DE) Program. The DE Program potentially impacts 95% of Vermonters. The Digital Equity Act, passed by a bipartisan majority of Congress, aims to help people who have barriers to accessing the internet, including people living in rural areas, people who are 60+, people with a low-income, veterans, people with disabilities, those with language barriers, members of racial and ethnic minorities, and incarcerated people. 

Vermont Business Magazine With this year’s construction season underway, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wants to remind Vermonters about requirements to help protect the state’s waterways. “We understand that managing construction sites to protect water quality is a year-round challenge,” said DEC Commissioner Jason Batchelder. “Using measures that reduce erosion and keep soil on construction sites helps protect Vermont’s waterways and their many benefits.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House of Representatives on May 15 voted 132 - 3 to pass H.493, the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget. The $9 billion budget reflects months of collaboration across aisles and chambers, with a strong focus on affordability, community resilience, and long-term investments in Vermont’s future. The Senate had passed it May 1 on a 20-10 vote and the conference committee, following the House vote, quickly sent it on to Governor Scott on May 15. Scott is expected to sign it. "This budget reflects Vermont values," said Vermont Speaker of the House, Representative Jill Krowinski. "It supports working families, responds to the ongoing needs from flooding events, and makes smart, targeted investments to strengthen our education, health care, and housing systems for the long haul. Most importantly, it was built with input from every corner of our state, and I’m proud of the thoughtful, collaborative work that brought it forward.”

Vermont State Police As part of the ongoing investigation into the suspicious disappearance of 43-year-old Corey Crooker earlier this year, the Vermont State Police on Thursday, May 15, 2025, arrested a Bradford woman on related charges. Lisa Akey, 41, is expected to be arraigned at 1 p.m today in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Chelsea on counts of being an accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice, and false information to a police officer. Akey is a resident of the home on Old Post Road in Bradford where VSP in February carried out a court-ordered search connected to Crooker’s disappearance. VSP’s investigation remains active, and additional charges are expected.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine At Governor Phil Scott's regular press conference on Wednesday, he again pushed for the tax proposals he first presented in January. He was hopeful they would get through the Senate and conference committee without significant changes. In particular, he proposed to exempt military retirement and survivor benefit income from Vermont income tax. Also on Wednesday he lamented that the TIF bill (S.127), which could assist in local housing development, would not be sufficient as is.

Vermont Business Magazine An immigration judge in Chelmsford, MA, has ordered the release of one of the detained Vermont farmworkers, Diblaim Maximo Sargento-Morales. The judge set bond for Sargento-Morales at $1,500, the lowest possible amount. Sargento-Morales was among eight immigrant farm workers arrested in Vermont by Border Patrol in April. In the related cases of Arbey Lopez-Lopez and Jose Edilberto Molina-Aguilar, a separate immigration judge declined to hear motions for their release on bond. The bond motion for Lopez-Lopez will be heard on Monday May 19 in Chelmsford Immigration Court.