Current News

Vermont Retail & Grocers Association & Co-Signers H.121, a data privacy bill passed by the legislature and vetoed by Governor Scott, is a well-intentioned attempt to protect consumers’ personal data that misses the mark. In its current form, this bill will create major problems for Vermont’s businesses, consumers, and economy. Our organizations strongly support comprehensive data privacy legislation, but H.121 goes far beyond the measures adopted in neighboring states like Connecticut and New Hampshire, which we support as workable models. H.121 goes far beyond these measures and would make it harder for businesses to serve their Vermont customers than to serve those in other states. Unfortunately, when Vermont businesses tried to provide input throughout this policy-making process, they were routinely dismissed by some in the legislature as misinformed or as being influenced by big tech. This is an inaccurate characterization. Further, it has had a chilling effect on the ability of Vermont businesses to engage in the legislative process for fear of being villainized and of ramifications for their businesses. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has announced a call for presentations for the upcoming Solutions Summit: A Focus on Vermont’s Workforce. Scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Burlington, the conference will bolster the Vermont Chamber’s mission to advance the Vermont economy through solution-based content that addresses the challenges and opportunities unique to Vermont’s evolving labor market. The Solutions Summit will explore innovative strategies, technologies, and policies to attract and retain talent. The Vermont Chamber seeks presentation proposals from professionals with expertise in fostering environments that support talent and will provide attendees with actionable tools to address workforce shortages. About 14,800 workers are projected to retire annually through the end of this decade. This is only partially offset by 2,100 high school graduates and 4,500 college graduates staying in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark issued the following statement in response to Governor Scott’s veto of H.121, An act relating to enhancing consumer privacy and the age-appropriate design code: “I am extremely disappointed in the Governor’s decision to veto H.121. The process to arrive at this bill took years of public forums, research, broad and various testimony, and collaboration among the Legislature, my office, industry groups, non-profits, small and mid-sized businesses, and consumers. The Governor’s Office and Administration were almost entirely absent from this process and may lack the relevant and important knowledge that would have been gained had they participated. All of the efforts made culminated in a strong and thoughtful bill Vermonters can be proud of. Indeed, the Legislature has already considered the issues raised in the Governor’s veto letter. I would like to correct some misstatements and misunderstandings."

Hunger Free Vermont issued the following statement after the Scott Administration suggested last Wednesday that property tax hikes could be mitigated by about $20 million by cutting the universal school meal plan: Governor Scott’s harsh and irresponsible proposal to defund Vermont’s permanent Universal School Meals program would be detrimental to Vermont children, families and schools. Ending this program would result in the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding for Vermont, shifting school meal program costs back to individual schools and local taxpayers. Universal School Meals is one of the most innovative, cost-effective and results-producing educational support programs currently operating in Vermont schools. 

by Christopher M. Scott I want to thank the Governor for vetoing the data privacy bill passed by the legislature. I have become increasingly concerned about the potential impact of H.121 legislation on my hotel business. The more I learn about it, the more I realize how it could disrupt our operations and affect our ability to serve and reach our customers. Our primary concern is related to the basic data we collect and store to maintain a personal relationship with our guests. The bill restricts data collection to "what is reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide or maintain a specific product or service requested by the consumer." We are worried that if a customer checks in for the first time, we may be breaking the law by collecting their email address or sending them a future email without explicit permission.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and U.S. Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44) introduced the bicameral SNAP Recertification Reform Act, legislation that would give states and qualifying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants the flexibility to waive the recertification interview, and would direct state agencies to provide the option for a phone or virtual interview to applicants should the agency require an interview for renewal of benefits. In-person renewal interviews for SNAP applicants are often duplicative and pose obstacles to accessing the benefits. Agency caseworker backlogs can also lead to applicants receiving written notice of their interview after the agency-assigned interview date. Of the 33 million total SNAP applications nationally in Fiscal Year 2023, over 12 million were renewals. By requiring both agency and applicant consent to waive a recertification interview, applicants still have the opportunity to speak with a caseworker to get questions answered or update their application paperwork if needed. 

Vermont Business Magazine Barr Hill Gin, the most awarded gin in the United States and #1 selling gin in Vermont, is proud to announce its upcoming Pollinator Week, taking place from June 17-23, 2024. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the crucial role pollinators, particularly bees, play in Vermont's thriving agricultural landscape. Barr Hill Gin has partnered with Vermont brands American Meadows and Thuja Media to drive this important message forward. Pollinators are essential to the health and biodiversity of ecosystems, and Barr Hill Gin has been at the forefront of efforts to protect and expand pollinator habitats. Through its ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and Bee’s Knees Week campaign, the brand has seen 23 acres pledged and planted. Barr Hill’s goal for this year's Bee's Knees Week is to surpass one million square feet of new pollinator habitat pledged and planted, since the start of this annual sustainability initiative.

Vermont Department of Economic Development Since lawmakers adjourned in mid-May, I’ve had more time to hit the road and visit some of our outstanding Vermont companies and regional partners. Just in the last month I’ve been to Hazelett Strip-Casting, Champlain Cable, and Vermont Nut Free Chocolates in Colchester; Engineered Printing Solutions in East Dorset; Advanced Conversion in Barre; Dynapower in South Burlington; Benchmark Space Systems and Green Mountain Semiconductor in Burlington; Mack Molding in Arlington; and Orvis in Manchester. Their work and dedication are inspiring.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), announced today that Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jørgensen has reconsidered his position and has agreed to testify voluntarily on a solo panel before the Committee. The hearing will focus on the outrageously high prices that Novo Nordisk charges Americans for their blockbuster drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. The hearing will be held in early September. 

Vermont Business Magazine In a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Thursday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) questioned U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker about how the FAA plans to address the major shortage in air traffic controllers that currently exists across the country, which has led to cancellation of flight paths and contributed to nationwide flight delays. In October, JetBlue announced that it would terminate service between the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) and New York’s JFK International Airport—which accounts for 10% of all passengers flying into Burlington monthly—due to an ongoing shortage of air traffic control personnel at JFK.  

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Garland v. Cargill, overturning the federal ban on bump stocks on semiautomatic rifles—devices used in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in history. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement: “Today, the extremist Supreme Court has again shown how out of touch it is when it comes to public safety and gun laws – it cares more about doing the gun lobby’s bidding than it cares about how many lives are lost to mass gun violence. Only 166 days into 2024, America has experienced 214 mass shootings. Enough is enough,” said Sen. Welch. “We need more bipartisan, commonsense gun legislation, including a ban on these devices that turn legal firearms into illegal machine guns, and we need it now.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, Governor Scott signed H.644 (an act relating to access to records by individuals who were in foster care) into law as Act 173. The passage of this bill marks an important development in the ability for Vermont’s youth who were formerly in foster care to access their state records, allowing them to understand and share their personal histories. “Until now, former foster children have not had access to these files – hampering their ability to process the reasons that may have led to them being placed in care to begin with, and to understand the scope of their experience from their time in state custody,” said Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division. “This is especially important as we continue to grapple with the legacy of institutions like St. Joseph’s Orphanage, which housed some 13,000 children over more than a century. Many of these former residents have since come forward with horrible accounts of abuse suffered at the hands of those entrusted with their care. While state investigators were able to look at the school’s records during their process, the survivors – hampered by state law – could not.”