[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6595681,"mediaKeyId","3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d","parentId",3026700,"title","Committee holds bill to ban credit/debit-card surcharges after broad defenses from business groups","audioSeconds",13756,"startMs",1644000,"endMs",15400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d&start=1644&end=15400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d/thumbnail_1644000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595681/Committee-holds-bill-to-ban-creditdebit-card-surcharges-after-broad-defenses-from-business-groups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595681-c301cd3f7393e5e707bbe7f7b2713ff3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116307&Signature=G~w77h8D9dGtsvVeLEpJfZFJz0KT2ajBxjlS4WGBcFU5EaMW~cGggO3a8s8nv-o48KBc4q2dRpYiJ8jLin902H0LVGwVSkhWbFkDOVd-KUxOyTDhcff6CMj8mRbnTnRa-2liN-N5ij2wY~gZ8dH-kl7fEy~5~qW4J8fTuHp81HajPTkF5DVJsBDmALgbqWpBaDe655Bm2ROCn5U1EcgtDVHeF2bFkOO3fzbiMykzTRFO0s5tSTg-QtecWBx1QRuAvS3Jg0RFA1PAZCHuaPf6IW65QvUh6PaK0a0u6OU16qBOmxWRUC2YiY2n9TIyw2Ye3U2xPmBqTgtPYaDXlFrNiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virgin Islands Legislature","date","2025-04-16T21:57:01.17Z","article","The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture heard competing testimony April 16 on Bill 36‑0019, a measure to prohibit merchants from imposing a surcharge for the use of a credit or debit card and to permit merchants to offer a discount for payment by cash or other non‑card methods.

Sponsor Senator Marvin A. Bridal said the bill would protect consumers from surprise surcharges and help the territory remain competitive as a tourist destination. “The customer sees an item on the shelf or is told the cost of the service, and then when they go to pay, they are charged an extra percentage for using a credit card,” the sponsor said during the introduction.

The committee heard a range of perspectives. The Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulation and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs recommended caution and proposed clarifying language. The lieutenant governor’s banking division warned that, as drafted, the bill could have a “significant adverse impact” on licensed insurance agencies that earn revenue based on commissions; the division supplied an example showing how processing fees on card payments can substantially reduce net commissions in renewal business unless agencies change billing technology or pricing.

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs said the bill’s core consumer‑protection goal is sound but urged specific drafting changes and statutory placement to avoid creating a de facto dual‑pricing system that hides surcharges as “discounts.” DLC suggested placing any new surcharge/discount rules in the existing payment‑method provision (12A V.I.C. §4‑52) and adding explicit signage and receipt‑disclosure requirements to reduce confusion.

The St. Thomas‑St. John Chamber of Commerce opposed a flat ban on surcharges, saying the cost of credit‑card processing is already part of the business cost structure and that, if a surcharge were forbidden, merchants would recover the cost through higher posted prices. Merchant testimony argued that forcing businesses to absorb or disguise processing fees could disadvantage small firms and that price increases could be passed to cash customers if firms rebalance prices to cover fixed costs.

Legal counsel from the Department of Justice advised the committee on constitutional issues that have arisen in other U.S. jurisdictions. DOJ’s analysis noted a split of federal appellate decisions on anti‑surcharge measures (some courts have found those statutes regulate speech and are vulnerable under the First Amendment while others have upheld them) and recommended carefully drafted text. The committee recorded extensive questions from senators and asked witnesses for draft amendments and examples of consumer‑protection signage.

Formal committee action: after the hearing senators voted to hold Bill 36‑0019 in committee at the call of the chair for further amendment and consideration. The committee asked DLC, banking regulators, DOJ and business stakeholders to work with the bill sponsor on language that addresses the insurance‑industry concerns and clarifies permissible discounting and disclosure practices.

Why it matters: the measure weighs consumer transparency and tourist competitiveness against business costs, payment‑processing realities and constitutional questions that have split courts in other states. The committee’s decision to hold the bill reflects the need for narrower drafting and stakeholder agreement before a territorial ban would be advanced.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-16-2025 The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture","oneSentenceSummary","After hours of testimony April 16 the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture voted to hold Bill 36‑0019, which would ban credit‑card and debit‑card surcharges, at the call of the chair while the sponsor and stakeholders refine language to protect consumers without unduly burdening small businesses and licensed insurers.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature, Virgin Islands","taxId",77876,"location","","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":72,"_74":72},6595691,"Senate committee hears broad accounting of U.S. Virgin Islands agriculture needs and plans",7905,1545000,9450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d&start=1545&end=9450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","/articles/6595691/Senate-committee-hears-broad-accounting-of-US-Virgin-Islands-agriculture-needs-and-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595691-3ee16124ba78d538e8a9dce43c872c32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116307&Signature=OaBfniZ~mTDSdVdcbkW1ygKCRtoV3z4PCfIR-vOibdGuGT-kaZLiHjmJOYiaYCB2xXWLvk0paNtAIx6t4DI4awq-7u6QU~IqdH1bXIDZ4XRIGr6HfmDZHTUTiOEna9NnGuMTlVoh9Y33WExeT1BAjyjKQ7Aow8LPe9LSR3rMig8KY2Nfi90M7LOT7eMpBI9FHpBZ-iST5gmSq1HtLUYOCUNZ~UKCLTVA6ZdIdOiKBZT4Wu04nJKj9hlEPBR~mS-~xa4tiFJGUi9vzFV9SjvcJ1nSxwDLtbgNyJkTTxdfQ0IhxKo9qkXZ7WoTf06cnBAn6lEr3-LrPIjk4aU6FJNLXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture spent several hours on April 16 hearing a wide-ranging update on the state of agriculture in the U.S. Virgin Islands from Commissioner Louis E. Peterson Jr., University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture leaders, nonprofit food-system groups and local farmers.

Committee members heard that the territory’s Department of Agriculture has maintained core services but faces persistent staffing and equipment shortages, an unstable inter-island slaughter capacity, and a backlog of expired farm leases that hamstring production and investment. “The mission of our agency is to develop, support, and promote an economically lucrative agricultural industry in The U.S. Virgin Islands,” Commissioner Louis E. Peterson Jr. told senators as he outlined the department’s divisions, recent purchases and outstanding gaps.

The testimony detailed both recent investments and continuing constraints. Agency staff said the department has used a portion of an allocated $10 million in ARPA recovery funds for infrastructure and equipment and estimated it has received roughly $3.5 million so far for specific projects including design work and purchases. The department reported completed and planned items that include a 200,000-gallon cistern project for Estate Bordeaux, new abattoir equipment and backhoe purchases for St. Thomas/St. John, and repair or replacement of abattoir systems on St. Croix.

Farmers and advocates emphasized how the gaps affect day-to-day operations and long-term planning. Summer Sibley Brown, founder and executive director of the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, cited USDA Census figures and argued the territory has “a layered lack of access — access to land, capital, markets, services, support, and respect” that constrains farms, many of them smaller than 20 acres. She urged a data-driven approach to match investments to opportunities and said existing programs are too fragmented to produce scale.

Several presenters addressed the abattoir situation in detail. Officials said the St. Croix facility is operating and compliant with USDA requirements and described equipment upgrades being funded through ARPA and other sources; the Department of Agriculture said it is seeking bids for additional repairs and expects a phased renovation to begin in months. At the same time the committee heard there remains no reliably scheduled marine cargo service from St. Thomas to St. Croix for moving livestock, and that St. Thomas currently lacks an operational abattoir — forcing producers to transport animals at their own expense when possible.

Speakers gave quantitative examples of recent work and services: the department reported baling 526 rolls of hay, purchasing and delivering about 70,500 gallons of water to farms and noting farmers collected about 80,400 gallons free from departmental standpipes. The department also cited grant awards: a $225,000 award to produce and distribute native tree seedlings for reforestation and a roughly $500,000 grant to support small forest landowners and scale fruit-tree production for the department’s food-orchard initiative.

Lease and insurance issues were a recurring theme. Officials said the department has reviewed hundreds of leases: on St. Croix they reported 149 active leases/permits with 83 expired leases recommended for renewal, 30 not recommended, and 24 for probationary renewal; in St. Thomas/St. John the department identified about 40 expired leases, with a subset being processed. Farmers and staff told the committee that a lack of liability insurance had stalled many renewals; Department of Agriculture witnesses said three insurers recently agreed to offer coverage for farmers, which should unblock some renewals.

Witnesses described several programmatic responses and proposals. The UVI School of Agriculture outlined academic and extension programs (certificates, associate and bachelor programs and Cooperative Extension outreach) intended to expand workforce training and applied research. Farmer groups urged cooperative business models, shared procurement and shared equipment, mobile or renovated slaughter capacity, a territorial food hub and greater use of specialty-crop block-grant funding for youth training and agroecological research. Sager Farm and Island Food Security Inc. described participation in regional meetings and workshops aimed at mobile meat-processing and genetics improvement for livestock.

Committee members asked for follow-up details the department said it would provide, including spending and timelines for ARPA-funded projects, a plan and cost estimates for St. Thomas abattoir renovation and a schedule for hiring key administrative and technical staff such as an assistant commissioner, fiscal administrator and additional heavy-equipment mechanics. Peterson said an assistant commissioner candidate interview process was underway and he hoped to fill that role within about a month.

Why it matters: senators and community witnesses framed the testimony in economic and resilience terms — noting high import dependence, aging producers and farm staff, limited market infrastructure, and climate-related water stress. Testifiers said modest increases in local production for poultry, eggs, fish and vegetables would recirculate millions in the territory’s economy. At several points witnesses cautioned that program promises dating to earlier recovery plans have not always translated into funds in farmers’ hands and asked the legislature to adopt clearer benchmarks and oversight for agricultural allocations.

The committee did not take formal votes on agriculture programs during this hearing; senators directed multiple follow-ups and asked staff to provide written reports and procurement and spending details requested from departments and UVI. The hearing recorded a high level of engagement from farmers, university staff and nonprofit advocates and ended with committee leaders promising additional briefings and closer tracking of the department’s hiring and capital projects.","The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture spent several hours on April 16 hearing a wide-ranging update on the state of agriculture in the U.S. Virgin Islands from Commissioner Louis E. Peterson Jr., University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture leaders, nonprofit food-system groups and local farmers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6595685,"Committee approves bill to clarify gross-receipts tax applies to contractors doing work in USVI",13822,1603000,15425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d&start=1603&end=15425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026700-76d39c2b3a13aaefed98eccbf1c2d99d/thumbnail_1603000.jpg","/articles/6595685/Committee-approves-bill-to-clarify-gross-receipts-tax-applies-to-contractors-doing-work-in-USVI","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595685-43ca3000dd072a8e807f2f0842fd33e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116307&Signature=ImbwmJ9Xj7HBdU0KZ2uBh-bG-DbBLn6of~-Ln4mmykHVLY~Qx1GEKtmVrvI5TNUUJ6~TGiUts~jz6FMxkYbRXrmQAHvW8oT2vGBkkaWo1WQQ4~B7ddxXjRTdApVK3G4dOr7bTHWut9eec0LP3~oTmTEk4RDjsjOoyJ3~jjyyJXXTmdsltUi0C7FXBpOVC8lHSH3L5nRsVs-Cbpuza3uZveQnXdaCZ2lsXD9ZBHFgLIUF7Ciichiuj7IHhMPDqC9v5Aou~FODvVCXn6NMgWRIjvN25G~7Y6KA8O1nrxnXU8Alo8nKfUfZpfNeqqwOQNv2YumNRiK1kGVOxp41bOptng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture voted April 16 to approve legislation clarifying that gross‑receipts and excise requirements apply to contractors performing work in the U.S. Virgin Islands regardless of whether the contractor is physically located in the territory.

Sponsor Senator Clifford A. Joseph Sr. framed Bill 36‑0063 as a necessary correction to ensure that entities that contract for territory-funded projects pay the gross‑receipts tax the law intends to capture. “All businesses doing work in our territory must pay their fair share,” the sponsor told the committee when he introduced the measure.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue testified in support of the clarifying language. Director Joel Ailey explained that the bureau’s interpretation must include income produced by entities that are formed or headquartered outside the territory when their activities produce economic gain in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The bureau described the tax as a non‑deductible charge applied at each stage of commerce (general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers) and told the committee clarifying language would reduce administration and collection ambiguity.

Committee members discussed potential revenue implications for recovery and public‑works spending. Office of Management and Budget testimony during the hearing noted the territory may spend large sums on federally supported reconstruction and professional services; the committee heard examples to show how a small rate applied to large program flows can represent material revenue for the territory. The bill was adopted by the committee and forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further action with a favorable recommendation.

Formal committee action: The committee moved, seconded and recorded a favorable committee vote and directed the measure to Rules and Judiciary. The committee reported the motion passed and listed the item as forwarded for further consideration.","The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture voted April 16 to forward legislation (Bill 36‑0063) clarifying that gross‑receipts taxes apply to contractors performing work in the U.S. Virgin Islands regardless of the contractors’ physical location. The committee approved the measure for referral to Rules and Judiciary.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds bill to ban credit/debit-card surcharges after broad defenses from business groups

Senate committee hears broad accounting of U.S. Virgin Islands agriculture needs and plans

Committee approves bill to clarify gross-receipts tax applies to contractors doing work in USVI