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

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,…