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Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility outlines 2025 priorities to Commerce & Economic Development Committee
Summary
Johanna de Grama of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility introduced the organization and summarized member priorities for the 2025 session: climate legislation, early childhood supports, housing, paid family and medical leave and employee basic needs; data privacy was discussed but not identified as a top member priority.
Johanna de Grama, representing Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, told the House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development on Jan. 22 that the group’s nearly 600 members across all 14 counties will prioritize climate action, support for the care economy and housing measures during the 2025 legislative session.
"My name is Johanna de Grama, and I represent the nearly 600 members of Vermont Businesses For Social Responsibility," she said, describing the organization as a statewide nonprofit business association that advances social and environmental goals through education, policy and business leadership.
De Grama told the committee VBSR will "strongly support the Global Warming Solutions Act" and would continue to work with partners such as Let’s Grow Kids on early childhood educator standards and certification. She said the organization will also press for housing initiatives that support middle‑ and low‑income Vermonters and pledged continued support for paid family and medical leave.
Committee members asked whether data privacy was a priority for VBSR’s membership. De Grama said members had not identified data privacy as a lead issue for this session but that the organization would engage if asked and encouraged the committee to seek business input on privacy proposals to avoid unanticipated burdens on small firms.
Members of the committee introduced themselves and invited VBSR to follow up with detailed membership lists and testimony from specific businesses if the committee seeks industry perspective on particular bills. De Grama offered to meet members in person and provide targeted information about sectors and district‑level members.
The committee did not take any votes on bills during the testimony and scheduled further hearings on legislative items during the session.
