The Legislature rushed to pass S.342 in the closing days before recessing Friday until August 25. The bill would create a rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 is a compensable workplace illness across all sectors, although the bill defines “front-line” workers who would have the stronger presumption, while employers of non “front-line” workers would have more options […]
Legislature Starts to Focus on June To-Do List before Breaking Until August
After starting to work on non-COVID related legislation a few weeks ago, the leaderships of the House and Senate appear to have worked out a plan for what bills they want to send to the Governor by the end of June, by which they plan on passing a short-term budget before breaking until mid-August, when […]
State Legislature Begins to Return to Non-COVID-19 Legislation
After approximately two months of focusing primarily on COVID-19 related briefings and some legislation, a number of legislators have been pressing to resume action on legislation that was being discussed prior to the crisis. This pressure led to the first major development this week when the Senate leadership gave the green light to a number […]
Senate Might Move Legislation Regulating PFAS and Other Chemicals in Certain Products and Packaging
One of the non-COVID-19 related bills that have been sitting on the Senate action calendar since March and now might be called for a floor vote in the coming days (see related post here) is S.295, which would impose a number of new regulations on the use of PFAS in several products, as well as […]
Possible Movement on Legislation to Set Up Manufacturer Financial Liability for Packaging and Printed Material Management
One of the non-COVID-19 related bills not currently on the Senate calendar for floor action but might be given clearance to move out of committee to the floor (see related post here) is S.227, which would address a number of solid waste issues but most significantly set the stage for a potentially wide ranging and […]
Proposed Grant Program to Support Manufacturers Retooling to Produce PPE Put on Hold | Feedback Still Needed from Interested Companies
As reported previously, H.945 was developed by the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee to provide grants to Vermont manufacturers that might need assistance in retooling their operations to produced PPE needed in the state (see related post here). This week, however, the Committee put further consideration of the bill on hold after feedback from […]
House Committees Considering Grant Program for Manufacturers Retooling to Provide PPE
Following testimony in April by AIV, RDCs, and VMEC on our efforts to connect Vermont manufacturers with their peers and the state to produce PPE and other critically needed supplies and services to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee has developed legislation, introduced as H.945, to provide grants to […]
Legislation Providing Grants for “Front Line” Workers Heads for the Vermont Senate Floor, Future Uncertain
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation, S.346, to provide grants for employees in certain “front line” essential occupations. Qualified employees who worked 108 hours or me in a month could receive $1000 per month, and those working at least 34 hours but less than 108 could receive $600. The grants would be available for […]
Legislation Creating Certain Presumptions for Workers’ Compensation for COVID-19
The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee is proposing legislation to provide a presumption of workers’ compensation coverage for certain employees who contract COVID-19. The current draft of the bill can be reviewed here. The bill defines a number of “front line” employees, generally health and safety related, for the presumption, but also […]
New Legislation | Updated February 4
The following are bills introduced in the Legislature this year that might be of particular interest to members, with first the House bills and then the Senate bills. Click on the bill number for more about texts, sponsors, procedural history, and other information. Keep in mind that the statements of purpose provided below are part […]