Education

Discussion of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 on the Senate Floor.

On Thursday, Sen. Chittenden presented S.181 on the Senate Floor for 2nd reading, the next-to-last step in passing the bill. Senate Finance and Senate Appropriations both urged the Senate to pass the bill. Senators asked questions about how much money would go to VAN; why it was going through the Secretary of State’s Office, since currently no General Fund dollars go there; how many people in Vermont are accessing public television; and what the shortfall is in AMO revenue. Senate President Pro Temp Baruth spoke about his deep appreciation for community access television and asked for the body’s support, and Sen. Kitchel spoke about the rationale for VAN’s funding flowing through the Secretary of State’s office as part of a broader effort around civic education and electoral participation. The Senate then ordered a 3rd reading of the bill on a unanimous voice vote.

S.181 Senate Finance version of the bill:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Appropriations/Bills/S.181/S.181~Kirby%20Keeton~As%20Recommended%20By%20the%20Senate%20Committee%20on%20Finance~3-20-2024.pdf

From the organizers:

Vermont celebrates international Francophonie on March 28 with a flag-raising at the Winooski School District Performing Arts Center. Hear from dignitaries and celebrate Francophone and Francophonie in Vermont during le mois Francophone (March).

The event is hosted by Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. Representatives from Vermont, Quebec, Canada, and France will be in attendance. Guests include:

• Lise Veronneau
• Kristine Lott, Mayor of Winooski
• Mount Abraham Union High School class
• Anson Tebbets, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
• Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
• Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston
• Marie-Claude Francoeur, Québec Delegate to New England

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. Gabrielle Stebbins presented an amendment from the House Energy & Environment Committee to H.657, the telecommunications modernization bill that originated in House Ways & Means. The amendment would make changes to the Right of Way fees that are assessed to communication service providers (CSPs) who make use of poles and pole attachments in the State Right of Way. Utility companies and VELCO would be exempt. CSPs would be required to submit an inventory of poles, pole attachments, and linear footage of lines they use, annually, and pay fees associated for the same that would go into the Transportation Fund. HWM voted favorably on the amendment 10-0-2.

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

From the Fletcher Free Library:

Staff from the Burlington Office of the National Weather Service will give a presentation on the science of eclipses. Bring your eclipse questions!

For more information visit: https://loveburlington.org/obscura-burlington/