Legislative

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of Federal BEAD Funding 04/03/2025

Testimony of Federal BEAD Funding at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee took testimony from representatives of the Vermont Community Broadband Board and the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association on the federal BEAD funding.

Vermont Community Broadband Board presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Christine%20Hallquist~Presentation-%20Rural%20Broadband%20and%20Federal%20BEAD%20Funding~4-3-2025.pdf

Vermont Communications Union Districts Association presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Rob%20Vietzke~Presentation-%20Vermont%20Communications%20District%20and%20Federal%20BEAD%20Funding~4-3-2025.pdf

Chittenden Public Education Town Hall 04/02/2025

From the organizers:

Please join us at our Chittenden County Public Education Town Hall at Winooski School District Performing Arts Center (60 Normand Street) on Wednesday, April 2nd from 6:00-7:30. We have invited Chittenden County Senators and Representatives to be present and hear from the community.

At this event we will:

Learn about the proposed education reform plan put forth by Phil Scott and Zoie Saunders
Ask questions and share feedback about the education proposal
Explore an alternative education funding proposal from the Public Assets Institute
Help chart an equitable and sustainable future for our schools!

This event is organized by a group of educators and community members in connection with the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont and the newly formed Vermont Schools Workers United and our goal is to have a strong turnout representing a cross section of the school community, including students, parents, school employees, and school board members.

For more information and to register visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdToDBi8F_w1MLMKqTUphz2TTiz1mzC8e-ze26O3sVLjQoc0A/viewform

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Testimony of S.59 Open Meeting Law 04/01/2025

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

On Tuesday, the committee took testimony on S.59 a bill that would make technical changes to Open Meeting Law. The committee heard from representatives of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Brattleboro’s Town Manager, the Secretary of State’s office, and the Vermont CUDs. Links to testimony and the committee meeting are below.

Jenny Prosser, S.59: Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Jenny%20Prosser~Written%20Testimony~4-1-2025.pdf

Meghan O'Rourke, S.59: Vermont Access Network Comments on S.59: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Public%20Comment/S.59~Meghan%20O'Rourke~Vermont%20Access%20Network%20Comments%20on%20S.59~4-1-2025.pdf

Samantha Sheehan, S.59: VLCT Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Samantha%20Sheehan~VLCT%20Testimony~4-1-2025.pdf

S.59: Open Meeting Law Memo (January 2025): https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Samantha%20Sheehan~Open%20Meeting%20Law%20Memo%20(January%202025)~4-1-2025.pdf

Tucker Anderson, 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~4-1-2025.pdf

Under the Dome: Affordability in Vermont with Debbie Ingram: Income - Kevin Chu 04/01/2025

In this episode of Affordability in Vermont, host Debbie Ingram meets with Kevin Chu, Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project, to discuss income.

Under the Dome: Legislative Updates 03/31/2025

Host Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, speaks with Representative Brian Minier and Representative Abbey Duke 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 - Alex Farrell 03/25/2025

In this episode of Affordability in Vermont, host Debbie Ingram meets with Alex Farrell, Commissioner at the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, to discuss housing.

Under the Dome: Affordability in Vermont with Debbie Ingram: Housing - Charles Baker 03/24/2025

In this episode of Affordability in Vermont, host Debbie Ingram meets with Charlie Baker, Executive Director of Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), to discuss housing.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations Committee - Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 03/20/2025

Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont House Appropriations Committee.

Later on Thursday, the Committee reviewed all of the draft language for the budget. It included language for your grant in Section E.232, which covers the Secretary of State’s Office. The draft language still had the $1.3 million figure, and Chair Robin Scheu noted this should be changed to $1.35 million to “make them whole.” The Committee then agreed to close this section, basically locking in your $1.35 million for the House version of the budget. Congratulations!

The language they were discussing is on p. 36 of this document: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/House%20Recommended%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Documents/W~Grady%20Nixon~FY26%20Budget%20Language~3-20-2025.pdf

On Friday, your additional $50k showed up again on the Base Box sheet (line 22), and the Committee noted that they had closed your item in reviewing budget language the evening before: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/House%20Recommended%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Documents/W~Emily%20Byrne~Summary%20of%20Base%20General%20Fund%20Appropriations%20Changes~3-21-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate - Presentation of S.59 Open Meeting Law 03/19/2025

Presentation of S.59 Open Meeting Law at the Vermont Senate Floor.

On Wednesday, Senator Hart presented S.59 on the Senate Floor. The presentation was uneventful, although Sen. Chittenden raised a question about the wording of a particular phrase in the bill. As a result of this question, the bill was amended slightly on Thursday before being passed by the Senate and sent to the House.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations Committee - Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 03/19/2025

Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont House Appropriations Committee.

On Wednesday, we got our first look at “the box” for the FY26 budget, a kind of priority list used by House Appropriations. The box contained an addition of $50k for VAN, which together with the Governor’s recommendation in his budget of $1.3 million, would bring your appropriation to your full ask amount of $1.35 million in base funding. On Thursday, Emily Byrne, Deputy Fiscal Officer for the Joint Fiscal Office, reviewed a list of proposed base increases to the FY26 budget. Line 22 showed the additional $50k for VAN, which she said was to “fully fund” your grant.

Here is “the box,” with VAN’s $50k on line 5: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/House%20Recommended%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Documents/W~Emily%20Byrne~Draft%20Big%20Bill%20Box%203-20%20AM~3-20-2025.pdf

Here is the spreadsheet list of base budget increases, with VAN’s additional $50k on line 22: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/House%20Recommended%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Documents/W~Emily%20Byrne~FY26%20Budget%20Base%20Increases~3-20-2025.pdf

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