Current News

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk on behalf of Atlas Government Affairs Once upon a time in Vermont, the quality of a child’s education depended on their ZIP code. Wealthier towns could afford well-resourced schools, while poorer communities struggled to provide the basics. The divide was glaring. That system was changed with the Brigham decision in 1997, when the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that relying on local property taxes to fund schools violated the constitutional right to equal educational opportunities. In response, the state created a statewide education fund and eventually introduced pupil weighting, a system that accounts for certain student needs, such as poverty, English language learning, and rural school challenges. This system aimed to ensure that every community, regardless of wealth, could provide adequate resources for its students.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today celebrated the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of $21.8 million in new emergency relief funding to the Vermont Agency of Transportation to help Vermont communities impacted by the July 2023 floods. The funding is allocated through DOT’s Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program and will reimburse the state for costs associated with repairing roads, bridges, and additional transportation infrastructure in Vermont damaged by catastrophic flooding in July 2023. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Department for Children and Families announced today that the Department has temporarily suspended urinalysis testing with Phamatech, Inc., a medical contract service provider located in San Diego, California. The Department may order these tests in child protection cases. The reason for the temporary pause is a concern about recent statistical deviations in the frequency of “negative” test results. This pause applies only to test results from Phamatech, Inc., and the Department will continue to consider test results provided by substance use treatment providers, primary care providers, and other entities conducting urine screens as part of their engagement with clients.   

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Human Services announced today that it has finalized an agreement with the federal government for authority to allow Medicaid to pay for critical housing supports for Vermonters who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. This agreement will enhance Vermont’s available resources and options to address the state’s housing and homelessness crisis. This benefit could be available as soon as January 1, 2026. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved an amendment to Vermont’s Global Commitment to Health (Global Commitment) 1115 demonstration waiver, which gives Vermont flexibility in how it uses its Medicaid dollars. 

Vermont Business Magazine Thomas Paul Salmon, a Democratic politician who served as the 75th governor of Vermont and later became president of the University of Vermont, died on January14, 2025 at Pine Heights Rehabilitation Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. He was 92. Raised in the Boston area, Mr. Salmon made Vermont his home and left an indelible mark on the Green Mountain State through a lifetime of public service spanning over six decades. He held a particular love for Bellows Falls, Vermont, where he resided for most of his life and raised his family. His political career was characterized by bipartisanship and a commitment to civil discourse, even on divisive issues. Mr. Salmon's journey into public service was inspired by then-Senator John F. Kennedy's description of politics as "the art and science of government." This spark led him to join Kennedy's campaign alongside other local Bellows Falls residents, setting the stage for his own political future.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced two leadership appointments: Matt Rousseau as deputy commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Brittney Wilson as deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Service. Matt Rousseau has been with DMV since 2017 overseeing critical functions and serving as chief of driver improvement, custodian of records, and chief of commercial vehicle operations. Brittney Wilson has served as Scott’s deputy chief of staff since 2021 and prior to that she served as secretary of Civil and Military Affairs since 2017. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group donated $20,000 to Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins program, a multi-year, community-based, collaboration between Vermont Mutual Insurance Group and the University of Vermont. Since the program’s debut in 2017, Vermont Mutual has donated more than $114,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. This brings the total number of donations to more than $5 million dollars since the establishment of the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund in 2014. The Cats Win, Community Wins initiative was created by UVM Athletics and Vermont Mutual as a way to give back to local charitable organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) today released the following statement after the Biden administration announced that diabetes and weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, would be added to the list of prescription drugs for which Medicare negotiates prices. "Today’s announcement is very timely. Just this month, Novo Nordisk outrageously and unacceptably raised the price of Ozempic to nearly $1,000 a month, which is up to 15 times higher than what people in Europe pay. This comes after the CEO of Novo Nordisk committed to work with the major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to lower the price of this lifesaving drug. The American people are sick and tired of paying, by far, the highest prescription drug prices in the world."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims remained relatively high last week but are down after the New Year's spike. For the week ending January 11, 2025, new claims were 615, up 54 claims from the week before and are 6 more from last year. The holiday season brings wild swings in claims as temporary workers are hired and then laid off. Claims were 181 at the end of September. For the month of December the US jobs report beat expectations, while the US unemployment rate fell one-tenth to 4.1% for December. The Vermont report will not be released until January 28. The Vermont November rate was second lowest in the nation at 2.4%.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor offices, including the UI Claimant Assistance Center and local Job Centers, will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Vermont Business Magazine VCIA has launched a comprehensive rebrand, including a new visual identity, tagline and state-of-the-art website (vcia.com), reinforcing its position as community leader in the captive space, and a champion for Vermont’s thriving captive insurance industry. The new slogan “Captive Excellence Starts Here” emphasizes the inclusive, member-driven arena VCIA sustains for captive insurance professional development and business relations. The future-focused logo signals an innovative ethos akin to the evolving and expanding captive industry. The centerpiece of this transformation is the launch of a sophisticated new website, designed to serve as a comprehensive resource hub for members and industry professionals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Manchester Business Association, in partnership with the Shires of Southwestern Vermont, proudly presented the Shires Holiday Inn Tours again this past holiday season. Continuing a cherished tradition that spans over three decades, the Shires Holiday Inn Tours offered guests the chance to experience the festive spirit of 16 local lodging properties, including historic hotels, cozy inns, charming B&Bs, and scenic lodges, on Saturday, December 7, and Saturday, December 14. A total of 283 attendees were welcomed with holiday cheer as they toured these beautifully decorated lodging establishments across Bennington County, where they enjoyed seasonal beverages, local treats, and the warm, inviting atmosphere that Vermont is known for.