Labor & Employment Law: Vermont and Federal Legislative Update
Governor Phil Scott has vetoed the state’s proposed comprehensive privacy law. In rejecting the bill, he stated he was worried it created an “unnecessary and avoidable level of risk.” He had concerns in three areas....more
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed H.704 on June 4, 2024, mandating pay transparency in job postings and advertisements. Effective July 1, 2025, employers with at least five employees must include in any “Vermont job opening”...more
Just past midnight on May 11, 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed H.121, the Vermont Data Privacy Act (VDPA). If signed into law, the VDPA would become the most onerous state comprehensive privacy law in the country. Among...more
Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently signed into law H. 127, legalizing online sports wagering and fantasy sports contests in the state. Online sports wagering is expected to start no later than January 2024. Under the...more
Closing out Week 16 of the 2023 Legislative Session - S.5, the Clean Heat Standard bill was approved by the House this past week. The bill sets up a marketplace for credits that would provide a system of carrots and...more
On December 6, 2022, Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced that the state will launch a voluntary paid family and medical leave program that will provide workers in the state with such leave insurance by 2025. With the move,...more
Vermont Governor Phil Scott appointed Republican Suzanne Young as Vermont Attorney General, effective July 5, to fill the vacancy left by Attorney General TJ Donovan, who resigned earlier this month. She will hold the...more
General Government - Governor proposes $7.7 billion budget – Governor Phil Scott unveiled his proposed $7.7 billion budget for FY2023 in a virtual budget address to the legislature last week. Scott’s proposal reflects the...more
Regulated Entities - The Vermont Public Utility Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) is responsible for the general administration of Vermont public utilities, specifically including those responsible for electrical...more
On May 17, 2021, Vermont enacted Act 31 (H.89), an Act Relating to Limiting Liability for Agritourism. Governor Scott signed the bill into law just in time for visitors to make their way to the Green Mountain State for a...more
Senate passes budget - On Friday, the Senate gave final approval to the $7.17 billion FY 2022 budget, H.439. Senate Appropriations Chair Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia, called it “as complicated a budget as I’ve ever had to put...more
New stormwater requirements will cost property owners hundreds of millions of dollars - The House Committee on Corrections and Institutions received a primer this week on the history behind the 3-acre general permit,...more
Project based TIFs would expand rural redevelopment - The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs is considering S.33, a bill that would allow more towns to apply for project-based tax...more
Legislators briefed on state pension challenges The House Government Operations Committee met on Thursday to discuss Vermont's overwhelming pension-underfunding problem. Joint Fiscal Office staff member Chris Rupe presented...more
Vermont's legislature adjusts to a new normal - The legislature convened remotely last week and seamlessly began its virtual session. While things are running smoothly technologically, lawmakers are operating under the...more
COVID-19 has slowed down many pending court cases, with trial dates being pushed out indefinitely as the pandemic worsens. Despite these slowdowns, the Vermont Supreme Court recently made clear that court deadlines remain in...more
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - October 20, 2020: Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott announced a new round of economic recovery grants for Vermont businesses, to be administered by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community...more
Downs Rachlin Martin labor and employment attorneys Amy Resnick and Andrea Wright highlight key Vermont and Federal legislative updates from 2020 that impact HR professionals. They walk through: Vermont minimum wage...more
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - September 25, 2020: Previous guidance regarding the Vermont Coronavirus Emergency Economic Recovery Grants issued by the Vermont Department of Taxes or the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community...more
The Green Mountain state has taken a significant step toward legalizing recreational cannabis. On September 17, 2020, the Vermont House of Representatives adopted the Conference Committee report for S.B. 54, an act relating...more
Reopenings: Schools and the General Assembly Get Back to It. Legislative Session 2020 started out like most sequels, with a feeling of déjà vu. It was Groundhog Day with a touch of “I Am Legend” thrown in for atmosphere....more
On March 5, 2020, Gov. Phil Scott (VT-R) signed into law amendments to the Security Breach Notice Act (the “Act”). The amendments, which originated in the State Senate as part of an initiative addressing a number of data...more
On Friday July 24, 2020, Vermont Governor Scott signed Addendum 2 to Amended and Restated Executive Order 01-20, with the objective of strengthening Vermont’s mask and facial coverings policy. Back in late April of this year,...more
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - July 23, 2020: Vermont Governor Phil Scott has issued an order requiring people wear masks in public starting August 1. The order requires anyone over the age of 2 wear a mask (unless the person has a...more
Lawmaking in the COVID Era - The legislature adjourned Friday June 26 at 8:41 p.m. Sort of. After holding what was nearly the longest and certainly the strangest session in history – half of it remotely – the legislature has...more