Liquor Law Modernization Advances

Liquor Law Modernization Advances

The House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs passed a bill out of committee containing a number of provisions aimed at modernizing Vermont’s liquor laws. Of note, both fortified wines and low alcohol spirit-based beverages (also known as ready-to-drink cocktails) would be permitted to be sold via retail outlets and beverage wholesalers. This shift will provide greater access to products for both licensees and consumers, and first-class license holders would now be permitted to sell fortified wines and ready-to-drink spirit beverages. This omnibus bill also includes several technical corrections put forth by the Administration such as the allowing third-class licensees to purchase raffle tickets to rare spirits raffles which were previously only open to the general public. Deliberations will continue in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Workforce Development Bill May Still Need Additional Cuts

Workforce Development Bill May Still Need Additional Cuts

The House Commerce and Economic Development Committee marked up the omnibus workforce development bill, and the Committee has included many of the Vermont Chamber’s workforce priorities. The most recent draft includes funding for incentive programs to retain recent college graduates, refugees and New Americans, and healthcare workers. It also includes investments in workforce training programs including in the trades and the CTE system, reentry programs for justice-involved individuals, and work-based learning and training programs. Noticeably absent from the bill is relocation marketing to recruit workers in high-need professions to relocate to Vermont, which the Vermont Chamber will advocate for inclusion in the bill. When the bill was presented to the House Appropriations Committee, it was unclear how much money they would have to work with, so cuts may still need to be made before it can progress.

Military Pension Tax Exemption for Workforce Recruitment and Retention

Military Pension Tax Exemption for Workforce Recruitment and Retention

Following the Vermont Chamber’s testimony, the Senate Finance Committee added the military pension tax exemption back into S.53, excluding the first $10,000 of federally taxable U.S. military retirement pay from taxable income, and subject to adjusted gross income thresholds and phase outs. Once a military retiree becomes eligible for social security, they then need to choose exempting their military pension or social security, but they cannot exempt both. The Committee also provided a full exemption of U.S. military survivor benefit income to recognize the military service of Vermonters. The bill was favorably voted out of committee. The Vermont Chamber advocated for a full exemption to incentivize military retirees to either stay or move to Vermont, to increase the diversity of our communities while also strengthening our workforce and helping to address the severe workforce labor shortages. While this is a move in the right direction, more work needs to be done to make Vermont competitive with other states.

Bill Updates

Bill Updates
  • 715 Clean Heat Standard: The House Appropriations Committee agreed to spend $1.2 million designing the Vermont Clean Heat Standard. The bill represents a fee on any business, no matter what the size, that sells heating fuel in Vermont. An amendment adding a “look back” provision, to give the legislature the ability to review the program after it is designed so that the cost impacts can be examined before it is implemented, was rejected and the bill advanced by a vote of 8-4. The House will vote on the CHS next week. Read more at vermontfuel.com/chs.
  • 329 Discrimination: This bill has been further amended after the Vermont Chamber provided the House General, Housing, and Military Affairs Committee with comments on unintended consequences. It now awaits a committee vote to proceed.
  • S.269 Energy Savings Account Partnership Pilot Program: This bill extends a pilot program created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow participating companies to invest their electric efficiency charge directly into onsite efficiency projects. Due to the pandemic, the rollout of the program was slowed. Vermont Chamber members testified on the importance of this program before the Senate Finance Committee which voted the measure out favorably.
  •  

Fix for Business Grants Hits a Road Bump

Fix for Business Grants Hits a Road Bump

After months of negotiations on the Economic Recovery Grants, the compromise forgivable loan program, administered through VEDA, is nearing completion. The Vermont Chamber advocated for all the remaining $26 million to be allocated to this program, which would grant recovery relief to small businesses impacted by the pandemic. The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee added another layer of review by the Joint Fiscal Committee prior to allowing VEDA to start accepting applications. This could further delay recovery funding from reaching small businesses that continue to struggle with the impact of the pandemic. The Vermont Chamber will continue advocating for a straightforward, expedited process that does not require struggling small businesses to take on additional debt.

 

Housing Legislation on the Move

Housing Legislation on the Move

The Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee passed S.226, the which aims to address Vermont’s housing crisis through permit reforms, housing supply, and access issues that will benefit working Vermonters. The bill saw several last-minute changes leading up to the vote to pass it out of committee, including the addition of the contractor registry and rental registry, both of which saw previous iterations vetoed.

Many of the proposals supported by the Vermont Chamber passed including the Missing Middle Homeownership Development program which will address the value gap in building and rehabilitating middle income homes. Funding was also allocated to the Vermont Housing Conservation Board to create an incentive for employers in creating workforce housing opportunities, and an incentive for the conversion of vacant commercial space into housing units. The Vermont Chamber will continue to bring the voice and needs of the business community to decision makers in Montpelier on this important housing legislation.  

The impacts of the Vermont housing crisis on employers was the subject for the Vermont Chamber’s first State to Main Podcast episode. Annmarie Todd of Sugarbush Resort detailed the lengths that businesses have gone to find housing for employees so they can retain and recruit their workforce.

Economic Development Bill Nearing Completion

Economic Development Bill Nearing Completion

The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee continued ironing out details of the omnibus economic development bill, with several Vermont Chamber priorities to grow the workforce, such as relocating employee incentives and targeted marketing aimed at recruitment and relocation, included in the bill. The bill is also the vehicle for the VEDA forgivable loan program. The most recent version contains several provisions on raising the minimum wage, establishing a voluntary paid family and medical leave program, and increasing unemployment insurance benefits, which received minimal review from the committee, calling into question whether these major initiatives will be passed in the final version. A brief overview of the various sections, prepared by Legislative Counsel, can be found here. The bill is expected to be voted out of committee next week.

Giving Employers and Employees the Resources They Need to Drive Electric

Giving Employers and Employees the Resources They Need to Drive Electric

Story provided by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).

Transforming Vermont’s transportation system is essential to reaching our state’s emissions reductions requirements codified by the Global Warming Solutions Act and creating a more vibrant, equitable, and thriving Vermont economy.

  • Vermonters spent roughly $1 billion on transportation fuels in 2019 alone and of that, 77% left the state’s economy. On the other hand, electricity kept .62 cents per dollar in Vermont’s economy.
  • Transportation fuel costs also disproportionately fall on the shoulders of rural Vermonters. Meanwhile, driving an electric vehicle instead of a gasoline powered one can save rural Vermonters up to $1,500 per year on operational and maintenance costs alone.
  • Studies have shown that there is a strong positive correlation between car ownership, educational attainment, and economic mobility. Yet, fossil fueled transportation has resulted in disproportionately higher transit costs for rural and low-income Vermonters—creating major barriers for those looking to get an education or enter the workforce.

State and federal dollars can and must be used to protect jobs and promote economic mobility for the roughly 7% of Vermonters who do not have access to a car. Without alternative transportation options, Vermont households—especially those who are older, disabled, and/or low-income— experience reduced employment and education opportunities and have a much more difficult time getting to grocery stores, social events, and medical appointments.

As leaders in the Vermont business community, we recognize that embracing clean transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs) can benefit both our employees and our bottom lines. However, we also see the high costs associated with the installation of EV infrastructure as a major barrier for our members and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. That’s why VBSR is urging leaders on the House Transportation Committee to advance an EVSE Charging Grant Program as part of this year’s transportation bill.

This program would provide Vermont businesses with grants of up to $5,000 per port for level two chargers for between two and 10 ports, with a max grant amount of up to 75% of the total project cost, and a grant amount of up to $40,000 for up to five level three chargers, with a maximum grant amount of up to 50% of the total project cost. The cost to purchase and install a level two charger varies quite a bit based on proximity to power supplies, trenching needs, and other complicating factors, so the totals can range between $2,600-$21,000.

Whether it is a large or small employer, installing EV charging stations can be immensely beneficial for businesses, local economies, and our environment:

  • With more and more people purchasing EVs, charging stations boost brand image and reputation, increasing customer loyalty and bringing in new clientele. In fact, EV owners spend twice as much time at retailers than average customers and 43% are likely to return to retail areas with charging infrastructure. They also help to attract and retain employees who, like consumers, are increasingly concerned by environmental issues and drawn to the cost savings EVs offer.
  • Charging stations can help to encourage environmentally friendly practices among employees and customers who are yet to “go green.” The US Department of Energy found that workers were 20 times more likely to buy an electric vehicle if their employers offered free charging at work. Knowing there are charging stations at the workplace reduces range anxiety and makes EVs more feasible for employees with limited or inconvenient residential charging options.
  • According to the Vermont Energy Action Network (EAN), Vermont should have 90,000 EVs on the road by 2025 and 194,000 EVs on the road by 2030 in order to reduce climate pollution at a rate consistent with the Paris Climate Accord. That means we’ll need roughly 3,600 workplace plugs to support our 2025 targets and roughly 7,700 workplace plugs to support our 2030 targets.

Omnibus Appropriations Package Leaves Out RRF Replenishment

Omnibus Appropriations Package Leaves Out RRF Replenishment

Over the past several weeks, members of the Vermont Chamber and Vermont Independent Restaurants (VTIR) met with the offices of Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders and have been in communication with Congressman Welch’s office, advocating for replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund as part of the omnibus appropriations bill. Unfortunately, funding for RRF replenishment was not included in the bill, which is expected to be signed by President Biden on Friday. Advocacy efforts will shift toward getting replenishment included in later COVID relief or a small business package originating in the House.