[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6092894,"mediaKeyId","2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac","parentId",2850731,"title","Students and Community College officials tell Vermont commerce committee early college expands access, workforce pathways","audioSeconds",655,"startMs",1835000,"endMs",2490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac&start=1835&end=2490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac/thumbnail_1835000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6092894/Vermont/Students-and-Community-College-officials-tell-Vermont-commerce-committee-early-college-expands-access-workforce-pathways","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092894-0486ab39cda0e6cde0aa087f16f09668/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218298&Signature=EOCnJ10jI8AGLVRdQg8r5llwZQ8DURy348zcqGl5hIRv5oEN~4ADBlZHgOK0nDpBuPur2Rz5szLpqwrvvdZzM7-Q4SaEujHjq6SvdG5Eu1MZDNXdIMOmcSckEo9gQQJha17HISri5DIA3c~Kem7mbkevq7V2kOhiHKk2TlJS5Zej-k8TFfISjo09Cx8QTS-kXVarNM3ZWXd4IDfihAgYGN4GIY6xH8eXgb06XMxlv-1I62KuWYdJkw-siO1TjXw41A4BmLRZ5hgm2wPC--ogbn6BIJZuB1-BQMrIiS42HVvKvTsHXVU7r5ogoEKg2oiuO8SqvfQhTsTx3Idj1tq5Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T18:01:12.207Z","article","Students enrolled in the Early College program and representatives from the Community College of Vermont (CCV) told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on April 2, 2025, that the program expands access to post‑secondary credentials, supports work and family responsibilities and helps develop local workforce pipelines such as early‑childhood care.

CCV participation and demographics: A CCV representative told the committee that CCV has about 240 Early College students in the current year, representing roughly 6% of Vermont high school students who are engaged in Early College statewide (as the representative described it). The CCV representative said more than 50% of CCV’s Early College students this year are low‑income, more than 50% are first‑generation college students, and about 18% identify as people of color.

Student experiences: Multiple students described why they chose Early College and what they gained. Savannah Lafontaine of Essex said she had one high‑school course left and chose Early College, completed an associate degree in early‑childhood education and now works as a substitute teacher. A student who identified as Jada from Vernon said she used the program’s flexibility to work full time in a memory‑care unit and to train as a junior firefighter, and she emphasized that Early College reduced the financial burden of post‑secondary education for her family.

Access and extracurriculars: Students and committee members discussed continuity with home high schools. Students said they can participate in extracurriculars, athletics and graduation activities at their sending high schools while completing academic work through CCV, which committee members described as important to social continuity for some students.

Workforce and policy context: Committee members asked about early‑childhood workforce concerns, pay and program capacity. Several students pursuing early‑childhood education told the committee that compensation in early‑childhood roles is low and that family demand for childcare exceeds local supply; they described pay compression and wait lists at centers in their communities. The CCV representative highlighted that many Early College students continue their education in Vermont, which the representative described as a positive outcome for local employers and the state workforce.

Next steps: The committee thanked students and CCV staff and indicated the testimony would be available for further consideration. No formal committee action on the Early College program was recorded during this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-04-02 - 10:55AM","oneSentenceSummary","Students and Community College of Vermont representatives told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on April 2, 2025, that Early College under Act 77 increases access to post‑secondary credentials and supports work, family responsibilities and workforce development.","taxTitle","Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36720,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6092897,"Rep. Will Greer introduces H.370 to examine cryptocurrency regulation and mining's energy impacts",385,1450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac&start=1450&end=1835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac/thumbnail_1450000.jpg","/articles/6092897/Vermont/Rep-Will-Greer-introduces-H370-to-examine-cryptocurrency-regulation-and-minings-energy-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092897-30abd17afd1364fd923c66deb5c2a8d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218298&Signature=OAx8SKFGjbGcGjdl2oWXbFhHNi4rPI2xtuLH7Jg9lH9umH8y2QPLZKedYwHzTeKD4k~JyJRy9KNTac5pRBS-10DIG49a26qJMajvC5Itc952PtM~3myMdMDPjabyns72juPGQmvHNriZnJrU4dqK6VtAxQbwf3LpMyh~jrr6tpnPymH5HZiyJmIHcwJfxTxMx2PFrIOK3R1L1djlt1YrElvKStySog1uW-tGQlx0X4bo7qfSNpHz19jNPD46CUtlJC1ZuyS-vrpQW1FEuNjh9XhChcP4~5vGv7O-LHiSgG~kHk3GFpXd4ixsf8L~ClCmT5WKaeIf9mDiC3unXOwrXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Will Greer (Bennington) introduced H.370 and discussed the bill’s goals with the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on April 2, 2025. Greer framed the bill as addressing consumer protection, local energy impacts from cryptocurrency mining, and gaps in state money‑transmission statutes.

Greer summarized national polling he said showed widespread skepticism about cryptocurrency: he told the committee ‘‘approximately 63% of U.S. adults express little to no confidence in the reliability and safety of cryptocurrencies’’ and that usage has remained stable at roughly 17% of adults. He cited cases of high-profile failures and scams and referenced a Federal Trade Commission report (as he described it) that estimated ‘‘over a billion dollars stolen via crypto scams’’ in recent years.

Energy and local impacts: The bill would examine how mining affects utility rates and whether commercial-scale mining operations impose costs on residential customers. Greer and other committee members discussed reported examples where miners received reduced electricity rates or where grid operators compensated large miners to curtail operations during grid stress; a committee member cited a Texas example of payments to miners during high-demand periods.

Comparative state action and legal approach: Greer referenced measures in other states — a New York moratorium on mining and statutory expansions in Arizona and Virginia to cover crypto in money‑transmission or consumer‑protection laws — as models the committee could study. He said the bill is intended to provide Vermont regulators and prosecutors appropriate tools to address fraud, kiosk scams and unlicensed operations.

Next steps and formal action: Greer asked the committee to further review H.370; the transcript records his presentation and answers to brief questions but no vote, motion, or referral during this meeting.

Ending: The committee did not take formal action at the session. Greer said the committee has time in future meetings to explore the bill and that he was available to answer additional questions and provide data or witnesses.","Representative Will Greer presented H.370 to the Commerce & Economic Development Committee on April 2, 2025, seeking committee consideration of cryptocurrency regulation focused on consumer protection, money‑transmission coverage and the effect of mining on local energy rates; no committee vote was recorded.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6092904,"Vermont lawmaker introduces H.866 to establish 'neurological rights' for neurotechnology",547,91000,638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac&start=91&end=638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850731-745e1514a74eb87a4c0086fab7425aac/thumbnail_91000.jpg","/articles/6092904/Vermont/Vermont-lawmaker-introduces-H866-to-establish-neurological-rights-for-neurotechnology","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092904-a041d57af46d25b313a6a0eb634d26ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218298&Signature=M510PgXdd4juvZDRBKPufkG1RYfTfdt-qAQd7STwMtka1EmPPvClDZRHOeDqcuHvUcyG4O8J98NspDt8ic8IuJf66XyJqS0CEKg8ZzpTR3~bVgdVU2h2Y2JJQEveDkNmZfhVfUSWxBfR5fbC6KJ57DH0n1kfGlZ6yJtz1YoeqDthxGzZWSFr59hIy8tFkfEHd6rmKVA6cWJmAXfPG~iXHhmQyOR~diMKa13Ui8cT38TIG4z2ZZ0IeGLgVR9V2W6MXB7XoDDwOBTVI16SFtchuhogSKbhK0tLiwd8SV1MsQcknqM4y~TyQbP5Hc7sFWWkC~Cwcd4t6xw4UgdLUETBTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Gina introduced H.866, ‘‘an act relating to neurological rights,’’ to the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The bill, as she read its purpose to the committee, would recognize an individual’s right to mental and neural data privacy, freedom of thought and cognitive liberty, a right to change decisions regarding neurotechnology, and protection from unauthorized access, manipulation or alteration of brain activity.

The bill summary read to the committee says in part that individuals ‘‘have the right to mental and neural data privacy, the freedom of thought, cognitive liberty…to be afforded protection from neurotechnological interventions of the mind and from unauthorized access to or manipulation of their brain activity’’ and to ‘‘unauthorized neurotechnological alterations in their mental functionings critical to their personality.’’ Representative Gina asked the committee to consider expert testimony and said she believed the technologies at issue could become widely relevant within a few years.

Why it matters: Gina framed the bill as preemptive statutory protection tied to rapidly developing brain-computer interface technologies. She cited Neuralink as an example of an emerging commercial product that could be used for medical rehabilitation but also, in her view, raise privacy and autonomy risks if companies could collect or monetize brain data. Gina said Vermont has previously addressed related technology governance — she recounted service on and outcomes from an AI task force and state AI legislation — and urged the committee to examine neurological data protections alongside broader data-privacy work.

Committee reaction and context: Committee members responded briefly during the presentation; one member called the subject ‘‘the stuff of science fiction’’ while others noted parallels to consumer genetic or data-privacy debates. Gina pointed to the state’s earlier AI work and national developments (she referenced a federal executive order) to argue there is both policy precedent and urgency.

Next steps and formal action: The transcript records the bill introduction and Representative Gina’s request for witnesses and further study but contains no motion or formal committee vote. No referral, hearing schedule or recommended amendment is recorded in the meeting record provided.

Details from the presentation: Representative Gina outlined several specific protections the bill would declare as rights: the ability to control whether neurotechnology is used on an individual, protection against unauthorized access to neural data, and safeguards against changes to mental functions central to personality. She urged the committee to solicit technical and industry testimony and to consider folding some items into incoming data-privacy legislation the Senate was developing.

Ending: The committee did not take a formal vote during the session. Representative Gina concluded her remarks by inviting questions and suggesting the panel compile a list of witnesses and experts to bring to future hearings so the committee could examine technical and ethical issues in more depth.","Rep. Gina introduced H.866 to the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on April 2, 2025, proposing statutory protections for mental and neural data privacy, freedom of thought, and limits on neurotechnological interventions; no committee action or vote was recorded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and Community College officials tell Vermont commerce committee early college expands access, workforce pathways

Rep. Will Greer introduces H.370 to examine cryptocurrency regulation and mining's energy impacts

Vermont lawmaker introduces H.866 to establish 'neurological rights' for neurotechnology