Politics & Government

Protest Aid To Israel at Representative Becca Balint's Office 04/03/2024

Community member Duncan Nichols and others host a three-day demonstration - sleeping outside in tents for three days in front of Representative Becca Balint's office - to protest aid to Israel.

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - State's Preparations for the Solar Eclipse 04/03/2024

From the Office of Governor Scott:

Governor Phil Scott and Administration officials hold their weekly press conference.

Burlington Airport Commission 04/03/2024

For more information on the Burlington Airport Commission and their current procedures and meeting dates, please reference the meeting agendas at btv.aero/about-btv/airport-commission.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees on the House Floor.

On Tuesday, on the House Floor the bill passed on a voice vote with an amendment from Representative Simms.

H.657, As Passed by House:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/H-0657/H-0657%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House%20Unofficial.pdf

Simms Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Committee~Sims%20Amendment~4-2-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Republican Caucus - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Republican Caucus.

On Tuesday, the House Republican Caucus met and briefly discussed Representative Peterson’s amendment.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Ways and Means.

On Tuesday, Rep. Peterson offered an amendment to H.657 in House Ways & Means and House Energy & Environment, to offer more protections to phone company copper lines that might be affected by the bill’s Right of Way charges on internet service providers (twisted pair copper lines would be exempt under the amendment, as opposed to coaxial cable or fiber optic lines). The amendment was found unfavorable by HWM (7-2-3) and HEE (10-1-1), but they did decide to offer a new, separate floor amendment in the House to change an instance of wording in the bill, to clarify language that the Right of Way fee is charged on all physical infrastructure (changing “DSL,” which is a service, to “twisted pair copper,” which denotes the physical lines). The HWM vote on this change was favorable 9-0-3.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Review of VAN FY25 Request 04/02/2024

Review of VAN FY25 Request at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

On Tuesday, Chair of House Appropriations, Representative Lanpher, was in the Senate Appropriations Committee to give an overview of the House passed version of the budget. During her overview, Chair Lanpher noted VAN as a “good thing” in the budget. Later in the meeting, Chair Kitchel said she wanted to get a better idea of what VAN “actually needs” and whether the $1million in one-time actually covers it on not.

Municipal Updates: Williston Town Update 04/02/2024

The Town Manager reports for the Williston Selectboard. - Town.Williston.vt.us.

Williston Selectboard 04/02/2024

For more information on current procedures and meeting dates for the Williston Selectboard, please reference the agendas at town.williston.vt.us/index.asp?Type=B_DIR&SEC={70C5470F-A23D-438B-BE53-58C272DBEDFE}.

Colchester Planning Commission 04/02/2024

For more information on current procedures and meeting dates for the Colchester Planning Commission, please reference the meeting agendas at clerkshq.com/Colchester-vt.

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!