Legislative

Under the Dome: Legislative Updates 05/12/2025

Host Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, speaks with Representative Doug Bishop, Representative Golrang "Rey" Garofano, Representative Carol Ode, and Representative Bridget Marie Burkhardt about the 2025 legislative session.

To contact your local representative, you can find their contact information on the State's website.

Under the Dome: Affordability in Vermont with Debbie Ingram: Housing - Nathan Dagesse and Jacqueline Dagesse 05/06/2025

In this episode of Affordability in Vermont, host Debbie Ingram meets with Nathan Dagesse and Jacqueline Dagesse, managers of DagesseCo, to discuss housing.

Under the Dome: Affordability in Vermont with Debbie Ingram: Housing - Nancy Owens 05/06/2025

In this episode of Affordability in Vermont, host Debbie Ingram meets with Nancy Owens, President of Evernorth, to discuss housing.

Under the Dome: Legislative Updates 05/05/2025

Host Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, speaks with Representative Alyssa Black, Representative Daisy Berbeco, Representative Troy Headrick, Representative Karen Dolan, and Representative Barbara Rachelson about the 2025 legislative session.

To contact your local representative, you can find their contact information on the State's website.

Under the Dome: Trip to the Vermont State House - Legislative Updates and Vermont Access Network at the Card Room 05/01/2025

As part of Town Meeting TV's coverage of the 2025 legislative session, Bobby travels to the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier to cover the Vermont Access Network's (VAN) day in the Card Room advocating for AMOs, funding, and support of legislation.

Interviews with:

For more information about the Vermont Access Network (VAN) visit: www.vermontaccess.net

Senator Peter Welch: Free Mohsen Mahdawi Press Conference to Demand Due Process for All 04/29/2025

From the Office of Senator Welch:

Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joins Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other members of Congress at a press conference calling for Mohsen Mahdawi’s immediate release. Mahdawi, a Vermont permanent resident for the last ten years, was abruptly arrested earlier this month by masked, hooded ICE agents without being charged with a crime. Members of Congress will call for his release ahead of his next hearing the following day, where arguments will be heard for his release.

In attendance:

Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL)
Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07)
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07)
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10)
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07)
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03)
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) and more!

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services 04/24/2025

Overview of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure discussed H.11. The bill proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services 04/24/2025

Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the committee continued discussion on the bill. They took testimony from Sean Gonsalves, Institute for Self Reliance.

Sean Gonsalves, H.121: Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Sean%20Gonsalves~Written%20Testimony~4-24-2025.pdf

Sean Gonsalves, H.121: Presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Sean%20Gonsalves~Presentation~4-24-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services 04/23/2025

Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee took testimony from Paul Goodman (Center for Accessible Technology). H.121, as introduced, proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

H.121: Report- Broadband Policy Options to Improve Affordability for Low-Income Californians: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Paul%20Goodman~Report-%20Broadband%20Policy%20Options%20to%20Improve%20Affordability%20for%20Low-Income%20Californians~4-23-2025.pdf

H.121: Written Testimony and Qualifications: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Paul%20Goodman~Written%20Testimony%20and%20Qualifications~4-23-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Walkthrough of S.59 Open Meeting Law 04/23/2025

Walkthrough of S.59 Open Meeting Law at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

On Wednesday, Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, walked the committee through changes requested in testimony. Anderson walked the committee through what they had already discussed (exclusion of working groups, cyber security, executive session length). Anderson then walked through VAN’s proposed language - he said the request was to clarify in the duty to record meeting third parties can be used. He said legally this clause is not necessary because there is a duty applied to the municipal cooperation but it is not necessary for it to be them - he said it could be added for public clarity. Rep. Nugent said if it was unnecessary then it may confuse people later on. Rep. Birong said adding clarity might help the public understand obligations. Anderson joked that no words the general assembly included were superfluous. Rep. Birong said the committee would come back and discuss this language later.

S.59: As Passed by Senate: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Other%20Legal%20Documents/S.59~Tucker%20Anderson~As%20Passed%20by%20Senate~4-23-2025.pdf

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Paid Summer Internship Opportunities: "Conversations" and "Places"

Town Meeting TV is now accepting applications for TWO unique summer internship opportunities: Conversations and Places! Both internships will begin June 30th and run until August 15th. 6 hours per week, $16 per hour. Application deadline: Monday, June 2nd. Click here to learn more and apply!