[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6262570,"mediaKeyId","3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a","parentId",3115048,"title","Committee hears proposal to eliminate subminimum wages and raise base wage for many workers","audioSeconds",1594,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",5194000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a&start=3600&end=5194","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262570/Vermont/Committee-hears-proposal-to-eliminate-subminimum-wages-and-raise-base-wage-for-many-workers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262570-dd025fb448e3055d026fa96314d9ddc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152714&Signature=bc-tmRuTywzwwR9SlkkpnYqRsbsQrUXNBf1dWsBmAIzHe4ChzoxCiQwipgt7kb6gDe84nclk4TqfPsWd8CAOch5gwXp8ENvNvbdCyibz~M7-p7wuF61HR4pBLv8L64EHO06OluY8qJEaEtP33DIXi7Rr1Fpsg5ZumcKSQH7k4HMdaNg3gznW7bx258ipNmMMvyHdLlKEkhT7X8WWXR4Rs5Y1hXNMsPD0owTgoNu-ZD~6gNwjZ1XPd8TUfT1MUytPOGDoZSoGcnfSSvvzCN7FxJzWWJAWEVKejt1EeLuMblDxHM26VkeV5fw1empHQfHCtWksY4-PgAunTnItpQcb0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-25T00:04:04.323Z","article","Senator Tanya presented S.128 to the committee as a broad revision to Vermont wage-and-hour law that would eliminate multiple statutory exclusions from minimum-wage coverage, extend overtime eligibility and raise the state hourly rate in the draft to $25 starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Sophie, committee staff, described the bill as two linked changes: (1) removing a list of exclusions that currently leave groups — including many agricultural workers, domestic-service workers and some other categories — outside the state minimum-wage and overtime protections; and (2) raising the statutory minimum in the draft to $25 per hour (the sponsor said the number was chosen as a near-livable-wage benchmark compared with MIT and Basic Needs estimates).

The bill would also phase out the subminimum tipped wage and make tipped workers eligible for full minimum wage and overtime protections; it would require employers to ensure total compensation (wages plus tips) meets the statutory floor and to pay any shortfall. The draft adds incarcerated workers to the pool of employees eligible for minimum wage and directs the Department of Corrections to update policies accordingly.

Committee members and staff discussed several implementation questions: how to compute in-kind deductions for room and board for live-in domestic workers, how overtime will be calculated for newly-covered groups, and whether detailed fiscal and economic analysis is needed to measure employer impacts. Patrick (Joint Fiscal Office) previously noted the office does not produce dynamic economic modeling and that fiscal impacts require follow-up analysis by finance committees.

Supporters argued the changes would address long-standing low pay for certain groups and reduce reliance on tipped income; opponents raised concerns about cost pressure on small employers, agricultural operations and other sectors where margins are thin.

No formal committee vote was taken. Sponsors and staff said technical follow-up and fiscal analysis would be needed before the committee advances the proposal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Economic Development - 2025-04-24-9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Tanya presented S.128, a proposal to remove subminimum-wage exclusions, extend overtime protections and raise the baseline hourly wage in Vermont.","taxTitle","Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",37662,"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},6262575,"Committee hears case to exempt military retirement and survivor benefits to recruit retirees to Vermont",2966,101000,3067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a&start=101&end=3067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6262575/Vermont/Committee-hears-case-to-exempt-military-retirement-and-survivor-benefits-to-recruit-retirees-to-Vermont","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262575-e7714a3c8945773f475fac4040e8b0c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152714&Signature=lswxnixj~N2dcKuF3bhUVf7vXRLNkp7DBnuvRxGAP6CClRhOwgllDi0AHVY3S4strw3KM-hrpKU4-6K6MclvGXHhVSdO158fIJsPmrEoVWqynuPRdlU6Kn4dnFC85NbP3HierJckpNlkuLOaeueEmSHeWGRJ-ZEdEX-gGE3KNblo0iR33g0Ak1JslvRGtn~mDxays8~F3RNsk~S~Li5uYuTph5ekorR71m5uzj3XQsNzt8t-iP5vbvM~pN0S9M9dlTucUfy23W-MNjSCcycot2RF0ONzX~1KjNOr1BCoc2RvM3u0NTYFpFLG8HQtqhdrRJQpkNda7BvoBSiRH2NKxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committee hearing, business owners, veterans’ family members and economic advocates urged lawmakers to exempt military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments from Vermont income tax as a tool to recruit and retain military retirees and their families.

Brian Carpenter, a retired brigadier general and owner and general manager of Champlain Valley Equipment, told the committee that many military retirees seek second careers in the trades or start small businesses and that Vermont is at a competitive disadvantage without a retirement-income tax exemption. \"Without the carrot of, the retirement exemption, I just don't see us being an attractive place for retirees to move,\" Carpenter said. He noted the average age of military retirees is about 47 and cited Fort Drum, N.Y., as a nearby troop concentration with services retirees might use.

June Heston, a surviving spouse of a Vermont National Guard brigadier general, described financial pressure on survivors and families and urged lawmakers to consider the moral as well as the economic case. \"We owe it to them to honor this commitment,\" Heston said, noting that survivor benefits can replace roughly 55% of a service member's pension and that survivors often make location decisions for financial reasons.

Meghan Sullivan, vice president of government affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, framed the proposal as an economic-development measure. Sullivan cited modeling approaches used in other states — including a South Carolina REMI study provided to the committee — and said an exemption can produce a net fiscal benefit if it attracts enough retirees. \"Passing the exemption is critical, but alone is not necessarily a sufficient recruitment strategy,\" Sullivan said, urging active outreach and complementary workforce supports.

Patrick from the Joint Fiscal Office presented the office’s fiscal estimates and demographic context. He said Vermont has roughly 3,900 military retirees on file and about 3,600 receiving benefits, with total annual pension benefit income of roughly $90 million and an average benefit near $25,000 per retiree. The Joint Fiscal Office provided a consensus estimate that an exemption as proposed would result in about $3.9 million in foregone personal income tax revenue annually, a figure that would change if more retirees moved to the state.

Committee members pressed witnesses on practical matters such as how taxpayers currently claim the existing Social Security/military exemption worksheet, federal reporting from the Department of Defense, and the difference between veterans (a broader group) and military retirees (those generally eligible for a pension). The chair indicated the measure will be sent to the Senate Finance Committee for the tax-policy portion of the proposal.

Why this matters: Witnesses said military retirees bring federally funded income, workforce participation in high-demand fields (health care, skilled trades, law enforcement, logistics), entrepreneurship and volunteerism. Proponents framed the exemption as an investment to address Vermont’s demographic decline among working-age veterans and to fill critical labor shortages.

Next steps: Committee members did not take a formal vote at the hearing. Lawmakers said they plan to forward tax-related elements of the proposal to the Senate Finance Committee for fiscal review and further consideration.","At a Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committee hearing, business owners, veterans’ family members and economic advocates urged lawmakers to exempt military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments from Vermont income tax as a tool to recruit and retain military retirees and their families.",{"_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":56,"_74":56},6262565,"Committee reviews broad housing concept to ease permitting, increase density and speed build-out near water and sewer",5389,5389000,-1,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a&start=5389&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a/thumbnail_5389000.jpg","/articles/6262565/Vermont/Committee-reviews-broad-housing-concept-to-ease-permitting-increase-density-and-speed-build-out-near-water-and-sewer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262565-48cb362e0f5de003f22b9bea3880ac2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152714&Signature=R4UM~4h30fC6lsYxi-2YRjmgmYkKDVVqb3dyWk4x2g8m6~U2AsOOGZzw3snTsPZUq4Dho7T1ojKxyKuDAfkZXlHCZvN2gy85ANxg8zlLfvUONSqwwIYFTsoS4Vj6WgipAGh0LyCPYafADwtDldcJkR-SK33MIgDtQZr~7TEQq-gQMMfSLrrLgFmMQjoxMI3YWHX7uu6wTddURVYGtS5HObD6aYkYySoClSL17G7NGZUTPCjg6XRKlvWiNwyOn3zrgjbsinz5eUd8gziNYgjIhoWXld3F55uH2O4zc4HLjRPhUqQzzysp5BDs~IakXZResXV7p5ejkvM40NmszkOK5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sophie, committee staff, presented a multi-part housing concept to the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committee that the presentation labeled \"S.133\" and that staff described as a package to increase year-round housing production by clarifying permitting in areas served by municipal water and sewer, allowing more by-right multifamily development near utilities, and creating a state toolkit to guide local implementation.

Sophie said Vermont’s large average lot sizes, limits on multifamily development, and layered permitting — including Act 250 and local historic-preservation and local permitting processes — have constrained housing supply, driven rent and price growth and contributed to longer spells of homelessness. \"You do not have to get a permit to build housing for your own family on your own land,\" Sophie said, describing one proposed change to accelerate redevelopment; she also proposed clearer standards for redevelopment in industrial zones and for constructed wetlands so projects are not derailed when a regulated wetland appears during site development.

The presentation included maps and demographic slides staff said underlie the policy push: Vermont’s owner-occupancy and household-size patterns, areas with municipal water and sewer, environmental-justice maps that flag lower-income and limited-English-proficiency communities, and statewide housing inventory and vacancy metrics. Sophie said the concept would pair regulatory changes with a development-density algorithm and a housing toolkit (drawn from examples in other states and organizations) to give municipalities and developers clearer templates for by-right, compact housing forms.

Committee members asked technical questions about municipal opt-in or opt-out structure, property taxation incentives, Act 250 carve-outs for industrial redevelopment, wetland delineation and appeals, and whether the proposed toolkit would include technical blueprints to lower permitting cost and uncertainty. Sophie said some elements (for example, an opt-in or opt-out tier) remain subject to negotiation and staff recommended additional coordination with natural-resources and municipal governance committees.

Sophie and committee members also framed the housing proposal as connected to other committee work: workforce shortages, climate policy (smaller-unit multifamily reduces transportation and heating emissions) and housing affordability. The chair indicated the committee would take up related bills in subsequent meetings and coordinate cross-committee work where natural-resources or finance issues arise.

No formal committee action was taken at the presentation. Staff said they will continue to refine text and mapping if the committee elects to carry pieces of the concept forward.","Committee staff presented a multifaceted housing concept (referred to as S.133 in the presentation) aimed at expanding by-right multifamily development, simplifying permitting near municipal water and sewer, and creating a state toolkit to guide density.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6262574,"Senator introduces bill to restrict employer credit checks, criminal-history screening and drug tests until job offer",1321,3137000,4458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a&start=3137&end=4458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115048-dedc707066481f9d74b76e46b1350c0a/thumbnail_3137000.jpg","/articles/6262574/Vermont/Senator-introduces-bill-to-restrict-employer-credit-checks-criminal-history-screening-and-drug-tests-until-job-offer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262574-40997ebf2b8f19ef0222df24e9ab29dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152714&Signature=PAcoqACo3hE2QOcGWbsZr7mAvM2BEe5z2bLGlvUBY03qrJpHkqqmC-oQgRGL4cpuxDPvR1u9y9Cyay-qqXTHWrNIVHckcPAR3igZMy7tv7gfYnt~QHsfmdInzYhh-S5kGtDbIPCZWcDiwg39VFPZUr4W4B8ICZebXTTPHJb2zJUfxQBungIc2OwIgtYIbxm9eSBU6AXXv2ePwe1VFsxlOPs98bnHckgTlC-XDNLsBkqUmMdaOIdRGIbhQyJcfS99EEZb2DSC75ckZQUGlVxcOSvTmdQQ1lfxBjzlxp~Yx2Shc9SQvXymf7vuJvfitCb9WaF0L7hG~fwMnLJkpwNmjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Tanya outlined S.90 to the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committee as a three-part proposal to restrict employer use of credit checks, criminal-history checks and drug testing before a conditional job offer is on the table.

Tanya said the bill would bar employers from seeking credit history, criminal-background information or requiring drug tests during initial application or early interview stages and would instead allow those checks only after an employer extends a conditional offer of employment and can demonstrate that the information has a direct relationship to the specific job duties. \"What we do in our home time is not really our employer's business unless it's our employer's business,\" Tanya said while explaining the privacy rationale.

Sophie, staff to the committee, explained exceptions that remain in the draft: financial institutions and positions handling payroll may still rely on credit information when the employer demonstrates a direct relationship to duties; federal regulatory requirements (for example, commercial driver licensing rules tied to drug testing) would continue to apply and supersede state limits.

The bill also clarifies the definition and scope of criminal-history inquiries, focusing on convictions or recent adjudications rather than arrests or unadjudicated contacts, and raises the civil penalty for violations in that section from $100 to $1,000. Committee members asked how disputes over whether a check was ‘‘directly related’’ would be decided; Sophie said the employer would make the initial determination and an aggrieved applicant could pursue a civil remedy.

Supporters on the panel said the measure addresses workforce shortages exacerbated by broad pre-employment screening, while some members cautioned about enforcing consistent practices and the risk of litigation if employers treat candidates inconsistently.

No formal committee vote was taken at the hearing; advocates and staff will return to answer technical questions if the committee advances the bill.","Senate members heard an overview of S.90, which would limit when employers may obtain applicants' credit reports, criminal-history information and drug tests. The bill narrows pre-employment inquiries to conditional job offers and keeps exceptions for roles where the information is directly related to duties or required by federal law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears proposal to eliminate subminimum wages and raise base wage for many workers

Committee hears case to exempt military retirement and survivor benefits to recruit retirees to Vermont

Committee reviews broad housing concept to ease permitting, increase density and speed build-out near water and sewer

Senator introduces bill to restrict employer credit checks, criminal-history screening and drug tests until job offer