Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On April 10, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule represents the most significant step to protect public health under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses. Today’s announcement complements President Biden’s government-wide action plan to combat PFAS pollution.               

by Steven Foster, President, Vermont Association of Realtors On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced a $418 million settlement that would resolve litigation over claims in a national class action lawsuit brought on by home sellers related to broker's commissions. Much of the reporting surrounding this and what it means for the Vermont housing market has been inaccurate. It’s important to note that NAR does not set commissions or fees, and the proposed settlement would not change that. Realtors professional service fees would continue to be negotiable among buyers, sellers, and their brokers. Sellers and buyers may decide to work with a Realtor for many reasons, including helping to understand local market conditions, interpreting information found on the internet, negotiating the best price and terms, and navigating an often complex financing and closing process.   

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont House advanced legislation (S.25) on a strong voice vote to ban per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and other toxic chemicals from personal care products and menstrual products, and to ban PFAS from apparel, cookware, artificial turf, and children’s products. An earlier version of the bill passed the Vermont Senate unanimously in 2023, and the bill is supported by Vermont small businesses, public health experts, children’s advocates, and environmental groups. Following another vote tomorrow, the amended bill will return to the Senate for their consideration. 

Vermont Business Magazine Patients and health care providers gathered at the Vermont State House on Wednesday to support H.766, a bill that requires health insurance companies to reduce administrative delays and streamline insurance requirements. According to an American Medical Association survey, more than nine in 10 physicians report care delays while waiting for insurers to authorize necessary care, and 80% say prior authorization can lead to treatment abandonment. One-third of physicians report that waiting for prior authorization has led to a serious adverse event, like hospitalization, disability or even, in 9 percent of those surveyed, in death for a patient in their care. Meanwhile, 31% of physicians report that prior authorization criteria are rarely or never evidence-based, with 89% saying prior authorization has a negative impact on patients’ clinical outcomes.

Vermont Business Magazine Norfolk & Dedham (N&D), based in Dedham, MA, and Union Mutual, based in Montpelier, with a combined 350 years of delivering quality service and insurance products, are excited to announce their intent to affiliate, subject to regulatory approval.  Both companies are rated A (Excellent) with a Stable outlook by AM Best. The affiliation brings a unified next step toward mutual growth and resilience for both companies, their employees, policyholders, agents, community partners and vendors. Joel P. Murray and Lisa L. Keysar will remain President and CEO of their respective organizations. Murray will serve as Board Chair of the combined group. N&D reported assets of $838 million in 2022. Union Mutual reported $385.1 million in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) is pleased to announce the addition of Whitney Valentine-Wafer to its team. Whitney brings over 20 years of finance, accounting, and business operations to VMEC, specializing in a mix of non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations, with a specific for-profit emphasis on manufacturing and inventory-based businesses. For the three years prior to joining VMEC, Whitney’s focus was acting as a consultant and fractional CFO to small to medium-sized businesses, helping them build scalable and sound financial and business operations. New to Vermont in 2022 after spending the previous 15 years in Northern California, Whitney lives in White River Junction. In her spare time, she is a sewist and a mixed media artist.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced the recipients of more than $8.6 million in federal funds for municipal grant projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Municipal Highways and Stormwater Mitigation Program (MHSMP). “These diverse projects will help continue to enhance and expand Vermont’s transportation infrastructure,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “Improvements to sidewalks, bike paths, and shared-use paths provide Vermonters more transportation options and improve their quality of life.”

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Pieciak announced that Vermont has selected Colorado as a partner state to help establish the state’s public retirement program, VT Saves. Vermont and Colorado will now negotiate a partnership agreement, and once established, the partnership will put VT Saves on track to launch by the end of the year, providing tens of thousands of Vermonters access to a workplace retirement plan faster than anticipated. Last year Colorado launched Colorado SecureSavings, an auto-IRA retirement savings program similar to VT Saves. In the first 14 months of Coloardo SecureSavings, over 14,000 employers enrolled in the program, accumulating more than $50 million of assets under management, and supporting a more secure retirement tens of thousands of Coloradans. Maine and Delaware have also partnered with Colorado forming an interstate consortium of state-run retirement savings programs intended to reduce costs to users and improve efficiencies. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced today a two-part series of virtual forums which her office will co-host with the League of Women Voters of Vermont (LWVVT) to discuss Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). As interest has grown in RCV, in the state legislature and among municipalities, interest groups and voters, the Secretary and LWVVT hope these discussions will inform the debate and raise the profile of this system of voting.

Vermont Business Magazine House Speaker Jill Krowinski issued the following statement regarding the Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry decision to not recommend articles of impeachment for Sheriff John Grismore: “I thank the members of the Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry, who for months have worked diligently and impartially on these important matters. While the Committee is not recommending articles of impeachment for Sheriff Grismore, they made it clear that Mr. Grismore remaining in office is a detriment to the citizens of Franklin County. The Committee heard from many individuals, and while the report lays out a list of concerning actions that are completely unacceptable of an elected official, it does not meet the high bar for impeachment."

Vermont Business Magazine As the historic eclipse darkened the skies over New England Monday, Green Mountain Power (GMP) turned to its growing network of stored energy in batteries to replace solar production and meet grid needs. It was seamless, carbon free, and cost-saving for all GMP customers. Customers participating in GMP’s groundbreaking Frequency Regulation pilot program shared stored energy from their home batteries to help regional grid operator, ISO-New England (ISO-NE), maintain a steady flow of energy across the region as the solar production dipped. GMP’s entire network of stored energy then flowed, to offset peak energy costs as usage increased later in the day.  The dual uses of energy storage in this unique celestial event highlights why GMP is continuing to grow its energy storage programs for customers.

Vermont Business Magazine Warmer weather and chirping chicks mark the springtime return of wild birds and backyard flocks. As coops and nests are made ready, state health and agriculture officials are reminding people to know how to keep themselves and our feathered friends healthy. Domesticated birds kept for producing eggs or meat can carry harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli, that make people sick.