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Chamber warns data-privacy debate harmed member engagement; urges civil committee process
Summary
The Vermont Chamber said the recent data-privacy debate and related public commentary reduced some members’ willingness to testify and urged committees to maintain respectful, civil engagement with businesses.
Chamber leaders told the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee on Jan. 15 that a recent data-privacy debate and follow-up commentary had a chilling effect on some businesses’ willingness to testify to the legislature.
"The chamber was named in an article ... that I think was unfair and unfounded. Wildly misleading," Keisha, a committee participant who spoke during the session, said when raising members’ concerns. Amy Spear said the episode had a "dampening effect" and reported calls from members who said "my business can't afford to be treated like that if we come in, we're not going to come into the building anymore." The Chamber asked for a renewed commitment to respectful, civil discourse when businesses testify.
Committee members responded that they shared the goal of civil, respectful public testimony and pledged to maintain decorum. The transcript shows no committee action on the substance of the underlying data-privacy bills; committee members noted that data-privacy work is starting in the House and that related jurisdictional technology issues may come to this committee later.
What happened: Chamber requested and received public assurances from committee participants that testimony will be treated respectfully; no votes or formal legislative changes were recorded in the meeting.
Why it matters: Business stakeholders told the committee that reputational concerns can limit direct engagement in the legislative process; committee members committed to civil engagement to encourage witness participation.
