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

Description

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