It appears all but certain that the Legislature will conclude its regular session by the end of this week. It remains uncertain whether there will be a date set to return to deal with any potential vetoes that might be issued after this initial adjournment, or if no date will be set and it will […]
Corporate Tax Reform Passes the Legislature and Awaits Governor’s Action, Key Manufacturing Provisions Included
The House and Senate conference committee negotiating a final version of S.53 reached an agreement for the bill addressing corporate income tax reform. Both chambers have now passed the final bill and we are now awaiting the Governor’s action. The bill includes the most impactful provision, adopting single sales factor apportionment, that had been removed […]
Clarification and Expansion of the Sales Tax Exemption for Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment Near Final Passage in the Legislature
Clarification and expansion of Vermont’s sales tax exemption for manufacturing machinery and equipment, another long standing tax priority for AIV, is near final passage in the Legislature. Provisions addressing several shortcomings in Vermont’s current law were included by the Senate Finance Committee in this year’s technical tax bill, H.738. Although this legislation traditionally addresses technical […]
Potential Increases in Fossil Fuel Costs Fails in Close Veto Override Vote, But Issue Won’t Go Away
The House on Tuesday narrowly sustained the Governor’s veto of H.715, which would have directed the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to develop Clean Heat Standard rules. Under the Clean Heat Standard, sellers of heating oil, propane, kerosene, natural gas, and coal would have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the Vermont thermal sector by […]
$100 Million Increase in UI Costs Over Coming Years Included in “Economic Development” Bill
The recently passed final conference report for S.11, which became the latest and last vehicle for attaching a wide range of economic development and other provisions (see post on these provisions here), includes provisions to arbitrarily increase UI benefits over the coming years, ultimately adding a total of $100 million in new costs that will […]
Economic Development Bill Passes Legislature, Includes Aid and Incentives for Employers and Employees
The final conference report for S.11, which became the latest and last vehicle for attaching a wide range of economic development and other provisions that have evolved over this session, has passed the Legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s action. It includes a number of provisions intended to help certain employers and employees. Unfortunately it […]
Legislature Reaching Traditional Mid-Point for Focusing Key Legislation, But Uncertainty Remains
With the upcoming Town Meeting Week break at hand for the Legislature, we are nearing a traditional turning point for significant legislative action. Bills traditionally need to move in either the House or Senate by the week after this break (two weeks for tax and spending bills) to be able to be taken up by […]
Corporate Tax Reform: Setback for Manufacturers, but Opportunities Remain
The Senate Finance Committee this Thursday delivered a setback to corporate tax reform benefiting Vermont-based manufacturers and other exporters of goods. However, AIV continues to work toward enacting these reforms this year, and engagement by Vermont employers will be very important in achieving this goal. The Committee has been working on S.53. The House passed […]
Clarification and Expansion of Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment Sales Tax Exemption Back on the Table?
The Senate Finance Committee Thursday revisited legislation passed by the House last year, H.437, that includes an important provision clarifying and expanding Vermont’s sales tax exemption for manufacturing machinery and equipment. This has been a long-standing priority for AIV. Although the Committee only had a preliminary review of H.437 this week, it is hoped that […]
UI Cost Increases Under Consideration
The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee is expected after next week’s Town Meeting Week break to return to legislation, S.221, that would increase unemployment benefits by $100 million over the coming years. This would include more than $90 million directly from the UI Trust Fund, resulting in corresponding increases in UI taxes […]