Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In the aftermath of Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy’s repeated and dangerous misinformation campaign inaccurately linking vaccines to autism, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) today called on Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to hold a hearing to set the record straight on autism research and clarify that vaccines are safe and effective and do not cause autism.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations have edged back up to just over 5 cases statewide. Other indicators through wastewater analysis show COVID-19, Norovirus and especially RSV in Vermont and nationally are active. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the rate nationally is low. While there was no measles virus detected recently, RSV and Norovirus were high at all the Vermont wastewater testing sites. COVID virus was high in Montpelier and South Burlington test sites, but Medium in Essex. There were no outbreaks reported in Vermont,

by Devon Green, VAHHS Sr. Vice President of Policy & Strategy As always, Crossover Week was a wild ride as some bills advanced out of their policy committees and lived to see another day and other bills died on the wall. See below for a recap of our biggest bills. We’ll have a full analysis next week. Site Neutral: The House Health Care Committee advanced H.585, a bill that started off with several health insurance proposals and a large proposal to make all outpatient services site-neutral. After VAHHS testimony that converting all outpatient services to site neutral would have more than a $200M impact on hospitals, the version of the bill that passed out of committee on Friday has a more targeted approach with an equalized fee schedule for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training.

by Mona Abou, Community News Service Employers would be prohibited from requiring workers to use their parental and family leave after a work-related injury or illness under H.459. The bill was introduced during the last legislative session in April 2025. Rep. Teddy Waszazak, D-Washington-3, told the House Committee on General and Housing that he introduced the bill after hearing from workers who said their employers required them to use up other leave time before receiving workers compensation benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine Judy Schaechter M.D., MBA, Division Director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention and Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the University of Miami has been appointed as the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont and UVM Health and Chief of Pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Schaechter succeeds Lewis First, M.D., M.S., who joined the University of Vermont in 1994 as Professor and Chair of Pediatrics and has served in these roles ever since, making him the longest-serving pediatric department chair in the nation.

Vermont Business Magazine With National Poison Prevention Week kicking off, local Kinney Drugs pharmacists are hoping to prevent several common situations such as: Someone taking a medication prescribed for another person, a child getting into a medicine cabinet, or an expired sterile product becoming contaminated with bacteria (especially eye drops or liquids).

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) in introducing the Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act, new bicameral legislation to provide much-needed tax relief for millions of working Americans who are struggling to afford the cost of living as wages remain stagnant and prices rise. The lawmakers’ bill provides broad, permanent tax cuts to nearly 130 million working Americans and eliminates federal income taxes for Americans who earn less than $46,000, the median cost of living. Additionally, the legislation provides a significant tax break to individuals making between $46,000 to $80,500, with proportionally higher rates for heads of households and married couples. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak and the Bank of Bennington announced the “Building Up Bennington County” program, a new $2.5 million partnership to jumpstart new housing development across Bennington County.  The program will offer low-cost loans to homebuilders in the region, helping a pipeline of local housing projects break ground. Bennington County is estimated to need over 1,000 new housing units over the next six years. Lending will be administered through the Bank of Bennington. Borrowers can apply for up to $200,000 each, with priority given to projects that build new housing or revitalize units that have been offline for over a year.

Vermont State Police At about 5 a.m. Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Montgomery Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at in the area of 2757 West Hill Rd. in Montgomery. The fire department found the home fully involved and partially collapsed on arrival. The Fire Department received information that an elderly homeowner was unaccounted for at the fire scene. Montgomery Fire requested the assistance of the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit in determining the origin and cause of the fire and assisting in locating any victims. Members of the FEIU worked with Montgomery fire to overhaul and investigate the fire.  During investigation the remains of an unidentified person were located within the home. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging unlawful actions by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including threats to impose illegal conditions on HUD funding and to withhold funding from state and local fair housing enforcement agencies, like the Human Rights Commission in Vermont, for abiding by state laws. These actions threaten to weaken America’s fair housing enforcement system and undermine states’ ability to ensure equal access to housing. If unchallenged, discrimination in housing is almost certain to increase. 

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets has released its annual report on the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Program investments and impacts. The purpose of the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Program is to help Vermont schools develop farm-to-school programs that will sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of Vermont children, and enhance Vermont’s agricultural economy. Since 2007, the Agency has awarded 359 farm to school grants, reaching 166 child care programs and over 163 schools and school districts.

Vermont Business Magazine The Dowd Agencies, the oldest insurance agency in Massachusetts under continuous family ownership, today announced it is acquiring Royer Camp & Associated Insurance in Newport, Vermont. Founded more than 50 years ago, Royer Camp & Associated Insurance has earned the trust of generations of Vermont and New Hampshire families and businesses by providing highly personalized service and tailored personal and commercial coverage. In keeping with that legacy, the agency will continue to operate under the name Royer Camp & Associated Insurance, A Member of The Dowd Agencies. Local customers will work with the same staff in the same location, with no changes to day-to-day service, policies, points of contact or coverage.