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Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 05/03/2024

Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Friday morning, the House Government Operations committee did a walkthrough of Draft 4.1, the most recent version of the bill. The committee voted to move the bill out of committee favorably 9-2-1. A link to the most recent version of the bill and committee meeting are below. Chair McCarthy pointed out there were some concerns brought forward about the retention of records following meetings - the bill as voted out of committee is silent on this topic, cities and towns want clarity about how long they must keep records.

S.55: Draft 4.1:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tim%20Devlin~%20Draft%204.1,%205-2-2024~5-3-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Walkthrough of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 05/02/2024

Walkthrough of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations committee met to have a walkthrough of the bill from Senator Chittenden. Senator Chittenden brought up the first "chunk" of the bill, about changing a monthly tax on phone lines from a percentage - said this was uncontroversial. This got several questions from Senator Sears, who was concerned about the implications to low-income people - Senator Chittenden explained further how the tax functioned. The committee had to adjourn for the budget conference committee, so Chair Kitchel said up front that they would not be voting today.

H.657: As Passed By the House:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Appropriations/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Passed%20By%20the%20House~5-2-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 05/02/2024

Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Thursday, the House Government Operations committee met to discuss a new draft of the bill. Legislative counsel walked the committee through Draft 2.2 - the new draft of the bill still includes VAN in the Working Group member list. The committee discussed exemptions to the in-person meeting requirement for certain bodies proposed by S.55. On THURSDAY afternoon, the committee reconvened and a walkthrough of Draft 2.3 (which is almost the same at 2.2) - the most recent changes include redefining “undue hardship”, redefining “state nonadvisory public bodies”, allowing CUDs to not have a physical meeting local until 2025, among other technical changes.

S.55, Draft 2.3:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tim%20Devlin~%20Draft%202.3,%205-2-2024~5-2-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Republican Caucus - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 04/30/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Republican Caucus.

On Tuesday, Representative Higley presented an update on the bill to the House Republican Caucus. Representative Higley said the committee was considering an amendment to allow CUDs not to comply with open meeting law requirements due to their vast geographic jurisdiction

S.55: Draft 1.3, 4-11-2024:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tim%20Devlin~%20Draft%201.3,%204-11-2024~5-1-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Committee of Conference - Approval of VAN FY25 Request 04/30/2024

Approval of VAN FY25 Request at the Committee of Conference.

Later on Tuesday, in a blink-and-you-missed it moment, the CoC closed (approved) the language about VAN in Section E.232 of the budget:

Sec. E.232 SECRETARY OF STATE; VERMONT ACCESS NETWORK BUDGET (a) The Office of the Secretary of State shall request that Vermont Access Network submit a proposed operating budget required to maintain its current level of operation and programming. The Office of the Secretary of State shall include the proposed operating budget as part of its fiscal year 2026 budget presentation. (Line 102 in the Document linked below).

The CoC uses a document to track items they have to resolve - differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY25 budget as passed. The VAN appropriation difference can be found on Line 19 of this document, which can be found here:
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/de4906780b/GENERAL-376517-v1-H_883_-_FY_2025_Budget_Committee_of_Conference_-_Gray_Out_Document.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Committee of Conference - Discussion of VAN FY25 Request 04/30/2024

Discussion of VAN FY25 Request at the Committee of Conference.

On Tuesday, at its first meeting, the Committee of Conference (CoC) on the FY25 Budget discussed the VAN appropriation, as one of the differences in the House/Senate versions of the FY25 Budget that they will have to resolve. As you know, the House appropriated $1 million in one-time funds, and the Senate $1 million in base funding. Rep. Lanpher related this issue to S.181, saying she understood the Senate’s position relied on that bill, which currently sits in the House Energy and Environment Committee. Sen. Kitchel had been under the impression the bill was in the House Ways & Means Committee. Rep. Scheu said she thought “the bill would move soon” (we don’t believe it will). Rep. Lanpher also said “the commitment to the Vermont Access Network” is there, so it’s something of a technicality to resolve exactly how the appropriation will be made. The Committee left this item open for further discussion. 

The CoC uses a document to track items they have to resolve - differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY25 budget as passed. The VAN appropriation difference can be found on Line 19 of this document, which can be found here:
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/de4906780b/GENERAL-376517-v1-H_883_-_FY_2025_Budget_Committee_of_Conference_-_Gray_Out_Document.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Finance - Testimony of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/26/2024

Testimony of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Friday, the Cmte returned to H.657, looking at a new draft from Leg Counsel, and also heard testimony from John Adams at the Vermont Center for Geographic Information. Adams testified that they have a lot of data on state rights of way and pole locations, but the data is not consistent. Given that there are several hundred thousand utility poles in Vermont, and 14,000 miles of right of way, it would be a significant undertaking to complete a thorough and accurate inventory of all of that data. H.657 as drafted contemplates this inventory, and the Cmte debated for some time how much time to give the Agency of Transportation to complete it before settling on 2026. The Cmte then voted out the bill favorably as amended (version 1.4) on a vote of 7-0-0.

H.657 draft 2.1 (as amended by Senate Finance in draft) :
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Other%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Maria%20Royle~%20Draft%201.2,%204-23-2024~4-23-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 04/26/2024

Testimony of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Friday, the House Government Operations and Military Affairs committee continued testimony on the bill. Kate Larose from the Center of Independent Living gave testimony, she testified that until there is statewide mandate then there will always be a reason that it is too difficult to make meetings accessible. 

S.55: Draft 1.3:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendents,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tim%20Devlin~%20Draft%201.3,%204-11-2024~4-12-2024.pdf

Education and Enrichment for Everyone: Tech Hub Opportunities and Collaboration Plans for UVM and Global Foundries 04/26/2024

Presented by Doug Merrill, V-Gan, UVM.

For more information visit: eeevermont.org

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Vermont Access Network (VAN) Recognition 04/25/2024

Vermont Access Network (VAN) Recognition on the House Floor.

On Friday, VAN set up a display and maintained a presence in the Card Room at the State House for engaging with legislators about its work, its budget ask, and S.181. Rep. Headrick gave a brief speech about local access television on the House Floor, and the House as a body recognized the Vermont Access Network.

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