[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6102626,"mediaKeyId","2803772-4076fb54decf5bd20a05f4aa60bc52be","parentId",2803772,"title","Senate committee weighs bill to steer more state advertising to local outlets; Liquor and Lottery asks for exemption","audioSeconds",3047,"startMs",2000,"endMs",3049000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803772-4076fb54decf5bd20a05f4aa60bc52be&start=2&end=3049","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803772-4076fb54decf5bd20a05f4aa60bc52be/thumbnail_2000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6102626/Vermont/Senate-committee-weighs-bill-to-steer-more-state-advertising-to-local-outlets-Liquor-and-Lottery-asks-for-exemption","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102626-fe6f856fb83f882dc11ec2a0f47ee737/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188114&Signature=NUlBUbiOWyQkA8OOb0qWoTr0WZ~YrAjuJ~WrsQgqlvgiy2BWp6tF9dGfwH4G9Gaow6VE2jU0M-WVBQqjHM8KbCkGuQy9UcN8Vnqk4joThEC8P~CUTD-mR2Zy9hTxkAnaJ50ZpMxHYQQS6hiMWiZMkya3BzyaTdXae9yKGpZ4GXb5KKuJbSIBBqbpQEXjeP73M3SVVp1HgApiHVFjXYtGG3kJVniGb3CxV4cSacvkEJITAdTvK83AmsCVD5IW20s-ruFFCXF-li8RW6fWJYBQUkHUoisR3l1tgDkaD2iWjumiTD6EbWf3r4HfsaeisK6qUTnkhhhkBLPYV1REFTEf6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-28T04:28:05.277Z","article","Senate Government Operations Committee members on March 27 heard debate over S.84 — legislation to direct a larger share of state advertising dollars to Vermont-based news organizations — and heard that the Department of Liquor and Lottery and some agencies may need exemptions or implementation help.

For the record: Wendy Knight, commissioner of the Department of Liquor and Lottery, told the committee that her agency operates as \"enterprise funds\" and urged an exemption for those funds from S.84 because the department runs like a business. \"The Department of Liquor and Lottery operates 2 enterprise funds,\" Knight said. \"They're essentially businesses. The state gives the department the authority to operate businesses within the confines of state government.\" She added: \"We don't promote consumption. Right? All I can do is let people know where they are, how much it is, and, you know, that.\"

The committee chair, Senator Brian Caldwell, and other senators pressed Knight and Buildings and General Services (BGS) staff on how the bill would affect existing advertising practices and contracting. Emily Kiesicki, deputy commissioner of BGS, said BGS supports the bill’s goal: \"We strongly support local media and we support the underlying goal of the bill to support local media,\" but warned the committee that implementing a statutory percentage would add operational steps to procurement and reporting processes. Kiesicki told the panel BGS spent about $7,500 on advertising last year and that roughly 75% of that spending was local.

Why it matters: the bill aims to shift state advertising toward Vermont news outlets at a time many local publishers say they need consistent revenue. Committee members and agency witnesses debated trade-offs between supporting local media and preserving agencies’ ability to target audiences cost-effectively — for example, through streaming or social platforms — for public‑health and consumer‑protection messaging.

Key details from testimony

- Enterprise funds: Knight described the Department of Liquor and Lottery’s two enterprise funds as retail businesses that sell spirits through the 802 Spirits retail network and return net profits to the state. She said the liquor control division returned roughly $31,000,000 in net revenue last year and that marketing decisions are driven by business metrics and target audiences.

- Marketing channels and audience targeting: Knight and senators discussed how different messages require different channels. Knight said some campaigns (for example, a \"just ask for ID\" responsible‑service message) reach younger audiences most effectively on Instagram or Facebook, while other efforts use local TV, Vermont Public, or streaming audio. She illustrated a Department campaign called the \"cocktail rack\" program, which places featured distillers on racks in 15 stores and is promoted in the department’s 802 Spirits magazine and on social media.

- BGS operational concerns: Kiesicki (BGS) said the bill would require changes to contracting processes, including a likely certification form so vendors can demonstrate they meet the bill's definition of \"local media.\" She noted Bulletin 3.5 already gives a resident bidder preference in procurement and urged the committee to first gather better data on how agencies currently place and spend advertising before embedding a statutory percentage.

- Data gaps and exemptions: Senators and witnesses acknowledged current statewide data on advertising placements is incomplete. Some senators indicated they are open to carving out targeted exemptions (the House companion had proposed exemptions for tourism and workforce recruitment), or using a spending threshold so the requirement would apply only to agencies above a certain annual ad spend.

Committee direction and next steps

Committee members asked the Department of Liquor and Lottery and BGS to provide more detail about current advertising spend breakdowns (local vs. out-of-state/digital) and to return with additional information. The committee also discussed seeking a count of how many state enterprise funds exist. Several senators said they would continue negotiations with advocates and BGS to find operational language that balances local‑media support with agency flexibility.

Ending note

Witnesses and senators agreed the underlying goal — supporting local news organizations — has broad sympathy. The discussion focused on how to design a workable, auditable requirement that does not unduly constrain agencies’ ability to reach target audiences for public‑health, tourism, or other time‑sensitive campaigns.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Government Operations - 2025-03-27 - 2:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Government Operations Committee members on March 27 heard debate over S.84 — legislation to direct a larger share of state advertising dollars to Vermont-based news organizations — and heard that the Department of Liquor and Lottery and some agencies may need exemptions or implementation help.","taxTitle","Government Operations, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",38232,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6102623,"Senate reviews Burlington charter amendment to ban firearms at establishments with first-class liquor licenses",558,3222000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803772-4076fb54decf5bd20a05f4aa60bc52be&start=3222&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803772-4076fb54decf5bd20a05f4aa60bc52be/thumbnail_3222000.jpg","/articles/6102623/Vermont/Senate-reviews-Burlington-charter-amendment-to-ban-firearms-at-establishments-with-first-class-liquor-licenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102623-63a7dd45e68e1ed31ab55626cd038ef0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188114&Signature=f9Rew9sYLxOZmZbgXP9rOiW5jiY8qUmzlGzRFqVHGCTJVyn6kn3xsz1azXnzozAlnSBsO7tJgXuzihV9RaCVWlzFED02Tq1yT0ffZ9OhRV~L5zaGHpSSRmcgtVcfcQs7HPssPP-BBWeNXSYcTF1yMyQxa83vY3QT2UukdAGl90qgypH1IxACsEXKv8Iw789xkDBFDilAikS7OEIhwS7I7yjkxdkuDMqy3vc4Mzrhz~kU3-Mob0Y5jpTGXx28xc6jpiO9aPN4vh6-3tL6~~6K~u386QeJ7gtbay8b~adcnHK9xPSzFnthZU2akDZrEJO6yfjJHTe3hCNdd7uyfkbbSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative counsel Tucker Anderson briefed the Senate Government Operations Committee on March 27 about S.131, a bill that would approve a charter amendment adopted at the City of Burlington’s annual meeting to ban firearms at establishments with first‑class liquor licenses.

Anderson summarized the charter language and how it interacts with state law. \"This particular charter amendment adds a new section ... a ban on firearms in any establishment with a first class liquor license,\" he told the committee. The amendment states that within the city no person may \"carry or possess a firearm\" in any building, real property, or parking area that is under the ownership or control of an establishment licensed to serve alcohol on the premises.

Why it matters: the change delegates local regulatory authority through a charter amendment but directly conflicts on its face with two provisions cited by counsel — Title 24 sections referenced by Anderson that restrict municipalities from adopting ordinances that limit firearm possession. Anderson flagged multiple potential legal issues for the committee, including ambiguous terms (for example, whether property owners who are not license holders are covered) and the scope of exceptions.

Key provisions and concerns

- Scope and cross‑references: Anderson said the charter language expressly attempts to \"supersede 2 sections in title 24, section 22 91 subdivision 8, and section 22 95,\" statutes he described as part of the state’s current prohibitions on municipal firearm regulations. The charter cross‑references \"13 BSA section 4,016 subdivision a 3\" for the definition of \"firearm.\" (These statutory citations were read as provided during testimony and will require precise statutory mapping by counsel.)

- Exceptions: The charter draft contains exceptions for federal, state, and local law enforcement acting within official duties; members of the armed forces acting within duties; \"any government officer, agent, or employee authorized to carry a weapon and acting within the scope of that officer's duties;\" and the owner or operator of a licensed establishment so long as that person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. Committee members asked whether private security or a property owner who is not the licensee would fall inside these exceptions.

- Penalties and civil forfeiture: The charter sets both criminal (up to $1,000 fine or 90 days imprisonment) and civil penalties ($200–$500) for violations and includes civil‑asset forfeiture provisions allowing law enforcement to seize weapons on probable cause. Anderson noted the civil forfeiture timing could raise legal questions because seizure is authorized upon probable cause rather than conviction; an appeal procedure to the Civil Division of Superior Court is included and the charter places the burden of proof on the city in such appeals.

Next steps and committee requests

Anderson told the committee the judiciary/Second Amendment analysis will be provided by legislative counsel Eric Fitzpatrick, who will discuss constitutional parameters and prior case law. The committee asked Anderson to provide the certified charter package and vote tallies the city submitted to the Secretary of State, and counsel said he will circulate those materials.

Ending note

Committee members flagged several drafting ambiguities — for example, whether a landlord or building owner would be covered, how parking lots are treated, and who qualifies under exceptions such as private security — and the panel scheduled further legal analysis before advancing any approval vote.","Legislative counsel described an approved Burlington charter amendment that would prohibit possession of firearms in buildings or property controlled by establishments licensed to serve alcohol; committee members flagged potential constitutional and implementation issues and asked for further legal analysis.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee weighs bill to steer more state advertising to local outlets; Liquor and Lottery asks for exemption

Senate reviews Burlington charter amendment to ban firearms at establishments with first-class liquor licenses