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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 03/26/2024

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. 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

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/22/2024

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

On Friday, the House Appropriations committee voted H.657 out of committee with an amendment that fully funds the $150k ask - both the amendment and the bill were voted favorably 12-0-0. Links to the amendment and the vote are below.

H.657: HAC Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Appropriations/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~HAC%20Amendment~3-22-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Environment and Energy - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/21/2024

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

On Thursday, the committee briefly revisited the amendment.

H.657: Right of Way Proposed Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Environment/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Right%20of%20Way%20Proposed%20Amendment~3-20-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Environment and Energy - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/20/2024

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

On Wednesday, the House Environment and Energy committee did an overview of Representative Stebbins amendment to H.657. The amendment changes some of the language around the state’s collection of the right away fee - including requiring an annual assessment and collection of the fee.H.657: Right of Way Proposed Amendment:

H.657: Right of Way Proposed Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Environment/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Right%20of%20Way%20Proposed%20Amendment~3-20-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Floor - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 03/20/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law on the Senate Floor.

On Wednesday, the bill was read for the third time and passed unanimously on voice vote. Links to the bill as passed by the Senate, second reading, and third reading are below. On Friday, S.55 was read for the first time on the House Floor and referred to House Government Operations & Military Affairs.

S.55 as Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill 03/20/2024

Discussion of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

S.181 passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee today with a 5-2 vote (Sears and Westman voted no). And they did talk about creating a line item in the Secretary of State’s budget, which is one of our goals – Senator Kitchel committed to doing that on the record. There will a base appropriation for VAN in the Senate version of the budget. The amount is still to be determined, and we likely won’t know the amount until late in the legislative session, but they understand clearly that we are aiming for a $3m/year appropriation. Senator Kitchel confirmed that there would be a line item in the Secretary of State’s office for VAN, but the appropriation will run separately in the budget bill. Senator Kitchel said she was not sure of the amount at this time because they have to consider it in the overall context of the budget, but she understands what the request is.

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

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Progressive Caucus - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 03/19/2024

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

On Tuesday, S.55 was briefly discussed in the House Progressive Caucus. Senator Vyhovsky said the bill could have been (and was at one point) stronger but the Vermont League of Cities and Towns strongly opposed a strong version of it - she did not expand on this. She then gave a high level overview of the bill.

S.55 as Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Floor - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 03/19/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law on the Senate Floor.

On Tuesday, S.55 was on the Senate Floor for second reading. Senator Hardy reported for the Senate Government Operations & Military Affairs committee and did a walkthrough of the bill. While presenting the bill, Senator Hardy specifically named VAN as an example of a member of the working group. Senator Hardy offered a floor amendment requiring that members of the working group appointed by the VT League of Cities and Towns and Vermont clerks and treasurers shall represent municipalities of differing populations and geographically diverse areas - the amendment enables a broad swath of the state and small/big towns to be represented. The amendment passed unanimously (and it is linked below). Third reading of the bill was ordered.

S.55 as Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Appropriations - Walkthrough of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/18/2024

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

On Monday, House Appropriations had a walkthrough of H.657. Representative Scheu was shocked the state has not collected the right of way fee since 2007. Chair Lanpher said the committee would “park this for now” - no final decisions were made. 

H.657: As Introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Appropriations/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Introduced~3-18-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 03/14/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

On Thursday, the Appropriations Committee amended the bill to remove the $50k appropriation for per diems pending the finalization of the FY25 budget. This is standard procedure for the Appropriations Committee when considering bills that include appropriations, when the budget is not yet final. The Committee voted favorably on the bill with the amendment.

S.55, As Recommended:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Appropriations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tucker%20Anderson~As%20Recommended%20By%20the%20Senate%20Committee%20on%20Government%20Operations%20~3-13-2024.pdf

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