Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Finance - Testimony of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill

Description

Testimony of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Wednesday, Senate Finance took testimony from Damon Stewart, Attorney with Dish Network and DIRECTV, and Nick Sherman, Leonine Public Affairs on behalf of Netflix, on industry opposition to the gross receipts tax. Stewart noted that his clients objected to the inclusion of satellite, and Sen. Cummings responded that the inclusion of satellite services had been a drafting error and was being corrected. Sherman cited two questions about the law. First, what if people are paying for a streaming service in Vermont but a family member is using it out of state? Second, there might be constitutional questions about the provision in the law that would theoretically prohibit companies from telling customers in billing statements that rates are increasing due to taxation.

S.181 Draft 2.2:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/S.181/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.181~Kirby%20Keeton~Draft%202.2,%203-13-2024~3-14-2024.pdf