In addition to ongoing workforce and housing concerns, the top issue discussed by businesses was the cumulative impact of anticipated tax increases to fund the multiple major proposals in discussion this legislative session. Businesses urged legislative leaders to consider the ability of Vermonters to meet an increased tax demand and the potential for unintended consequences if businesses are unable to do so.

Learn More

Nine weeks to the session and the cost and revenue source to pay for one of the legislature’s major priorities remains unclear. When the Chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee posed the question of cost, she was met with a resounding silence from advocates, committee members, and the Joint Fiscal Office representative in the committee room. Even following the results of the RAND report, which was commissioned by the legislature for $600,000 to guide their work this session, there is no understanding of how this Senate’s proposal will be paid for. S.56 is expected to remain in committee until next week, leaving the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee little time to do their vital work before crossover. The Senate Finance Committee has made it clear they will be considering the cumulative impact of all the major proposals in discussion, which will be essential to ensuring the vitality of the Vermont economy.

Learn More

Based on a fiscal note from the Joint Fiscal Office, the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program would be funded by a 0.55% payroll tax. The initial startup cost for the program would require $40.2 million of one-time funding. The annual price tag to administer the program would be $13 million and it would require 45-50 new employees to manage. Along with the extreme cost, it is no secret Vermont is facing a severe workforce shortage and given the state’s difficult history of standing up insurance programs, just the logistics of creating the program would be an uphill battle. The PFML program would provide 12 weeks of leave at 90% wage replacement and no waiting period, going beyond what was passed by the legislature in 2019. The Vermont Chamber continues to testify on the current economic realities facing Vermont business owners, and the potential unintended consequences of a payroll tax on top of the considerable cost involved in the loss of an employee for 12 weeks.

Learn More

S.100, the ‘HOME’ bill, was voted out of the Senate Economic Development Committee last week and could make meaningful progress to address business housing concerns. However, the legislation is now in the Senate Natural Resources Committee and essential zoning reform elements are at risk of being stripped from the bill. Please contact your Senator to urge them to support the HOME bill as passed by Senate Economic Development Committee.

Learn More

Legislation that would create a rental housing registry is in consideration by the House General and Housing Committee. The Vermont Chamber testified on H.276 this week in support of a statewide registry, noting that the bill would collect the basic information necessary to provide data for future conversations on enforcing health and safety regulations for short-term rentals (STRs). The Vermont Chamber has been a strong advocate for equity in the lodging industry as well as the need to address how STRs are contributing to the housing shortage.

Learn More

Several labor bills were on the table this week in the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee, including legislation that would no longer designate Vermont as an “at-will” state by creating and lengthy and rigorous standard of termination of employment and requiring severance payments. This would make Vermont only one of two states that require a good cause termination process.

Learn More

Following deliberations by a committee of conference, the Budget Adjustment Act was passed by the legislature and included funding for several economic growth initiatives advocated for by the Vermont Chamber, including middle-income housing development, employment resources for New Americans, broadband buildout, and rural infrastructure.



Learn More

There’s a stellar team of interns elevating Vermont Chamber advocacy efforts this session. In the weeks ahead we’ll be introducing each of them! The 2023 Legislative Monitoring Collaborative is made possible by the support of the National Life Group.



Learn More

• S.5 Affordable Heat – Following a lengthy floor debate in the Senate, and an amendment to include a cost study, the bill was voted out of the Senate and will be reviewed in the House where contentious debate is expected to continue.
• S.9 State Auditor Authority Expansion – The bill to allow the State Auditor access to the records of state contractors was voted out of the Senate 26- 6 with some Senators straying from party lines.
• S.45 SALT – The bill passed the Senate and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
• H.10 VEGI – Serious concerns were raised about requiring a public body to record executive sessions. The Vermont Chamber noted in testimony existing legislative involvement in the Council could be used to provide the oversite this provision was seeking.
• H.78 To-Go Beverages – The Vermont Chamber testified in support of a bill to repeal the sunset of a statute allowing the sale of to-go beverages. The issue will be further discussed in the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee.
• H.217 Workers’ Comp – The bill was voted out of the House and now awaits further review in the Senate. It is expected to be referred to the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee.
• H.288 Liquor Liability – The House Judiciary Committee considered new language to bring Vermont in line with liquor liability laws in neighboring states. The Vermont Chamber continues to testify in support of a balanced approach that addresses the issue with urgency.