Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Good morning, everyone. This is the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. It is Friday, 02/13/2026 at 09:04 in the morning. So as we always do on Fridays, we begin our morning with conversations with our legislative interns. We have one from UVM, one from Norwich. Abbey, Bailey, which one of you would like to go first as well?

[Cabot Sales (UVM intern)]: Take one. Cabot Good morning. For the record, Cabot Sales, UVM intern. This morning, again, I will be going over the senate committee on economic development, housing, general affairs, giving an overview of what they've been talking about. So starting Tuesday, they discussed their housing bill s three twenty eight, and the topics they went over were increasing tax credits for BHFA down payment assistance, increasing VITA's lending authority to work on multi unit housing projects, still working with BHFA. And they discussed common interest communities and expanding the rights of people in common interest communities to rent out their units and allow them to install electric vehicle charging stations. And there's a little more information there if you wanna look at that. On Wednesday, they discussed s three twenty seven, which is their economic development bill. They talked a lot about the support system for small businesses in Vermont, specifically legal services from the Vermont Small Business Law Center and expanding that, allowing more funding there. The small business law center was asking for $800,000 to expand the legal services. They do have a backlog of demand for legal services and small businesses. They also discussed the micro business development and financial coaching. So Capstone Community Action requested increases to support low to moderate income entrepreneurs with financial consulting and assistance. And they also heard from the Vermont Professionals of Color Network asking for more support, for their programs. Right? And Thursday, they discussed several different bills. S three zero six, an act relating to first responders and communications, which is defining people in in communications related to first responders as as people in communications who are eligible for other services. It's just S307, which is an act relating to overtime pay for firefighters. S292, an act relating to granting higher education employees the right to strike. And S two seventy seven, an act relating to prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses. And finally, to discuss act or S two seventy eight, their act relating to cannabis. And that's the overview.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: Thank you. Thank you.

[Bailey Davis (Norwich intern)]: For the record, my name is Bailey Davis. I'm the Norwich intern for the committee here. So what I did this week is back here. I got more information from Education Commission of the States, in particular Annie Gianni, who worked here as a committee, I believe, a committee assistant, and also in the summer worked for the Vermont Department of Education. So she's obviously, you know, well versed in our states and all the issues that we have. And, obviously, I, you know, asked her specifically regarding CTE education. I don't know if you guys have the my document, but there's a lot of good information there for you. In the interest of time, not gonna go over everything just because a lot of it is, review from kind of, like, what I talked about, a few weeks back. But what is interesting, and what's, like, I think is particularly, you know, helpful, especially going into next week. I believe you guys, have a focus on CT next week, is there's a 50, state CT data point, website, and so I joined the Zoom. I'm gonna share my screen and show you guys that real quick. There we go. So, yeah, so this is the the data point. So this has in terms of CT requirements, it's kind of like the holy grail. It has every single requirement for each state, including arms armed forces overseas. So as you can see here, if you go to Vermont, you can filter into Vermont. Select that. It shows here. So what entity houses the state CTE director, and obviously Vermont Agency of Education, how are the funds distributed, student based, and and so on and so forth. You can see, you know, the different requirements. What are the teacher certification licensure requirements? And the certification, like I talked about a few weeks ago, teacher, CTE, training, plus work experience. You have the different sources there and actual codes related to that. And so I mean, I think it's a very useful resource because then you can also add in, say if you want to go to Montana, right, or New Hampshire. Let's go to New Hampshire. Yeah. And you can compare directly. So then you have New Hampshire right above it. You can just see kind of the differences based on, like, you know, what they do versus what we do. And so yeah. I mean, especially, like I said, going into next week, there's it is a great resource. Additionally, there is this report here, and this is a report that the Education Commission of the States made. And what it what it basically goes over is the different challenges that, you know, CT educators and just lack of CT education in general on how it typically is being addressed. And, obviously, for the interest of time, not gonna go over everything, but it's a it's a quite detailed report, and I think it's another great resource that, of course, Annie over at ECS was able to provide me. So so and then finally

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Billy, does that break it break down to what states offer a comprehensive integrated system within a high school?

[Bailey Davis (Norwich intern)]: I don't believe that's on here. Of course, it's something I can look into at another point. But I know, like, in something in Vermont that they're doing that I can get into is I don't know if you heard a senate bill. I believe it's three thirteen. Or no, I think it's actually it's House Bill. Let's go over here. It's House Bill five thirty two. Sorry, no, it is three thirteen. That requires that high schoolers are able to, if they just go to like a CTE school, if that's their choice, is the big concern was that the schools would lose funding because they're losing that student. But obviously, you know, it's important that we have people in those pipelines. And that's what I was going to go over next is the different laws. Obviously, you guys can't see that. But the if you look at the the document I provided, there's a bunch of different CTE laws. These are all recent, so within the last, like, two or three years. So Texas, for example, passed a law, and it was signed into law in 2025, that, the departments of of licensing and regulations is directed to establish standards for recognizing CTE programs, and obviously there's a whole list here. I'm not going to go over everything, but in particular here in Vermont, like I said, we have three thirteen which requires that students who want to go into CTE are allowed to do that. They're kind of guaranteed universal access is how the bill is worded, and it establishes a student centered funding model. And then House Bill five thirty two, which is currently in the Senate Committee on Education, did pass the House, repeals the aging statute. So for professors, there's a mandatory retirement at age 70, and obviously, because we're having trouble filling those, you know, CT education jobs to begin with, that's kind of, you know, a disincentive, right? We're getting rid of people who maybe still want to teach and really, if they can do it, why is there you know, why should we be getting rid of them? So but, yeah, like I said, there's a whole list here of current bills in various different states from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and whatnot for you guys to look over as well. So and I'll open up to any questions if there's any.

[Unidentified Committee Member]: So I'm just noticing your So it does happen there. It says that you pulled one of the key findings. At least 38 states plus DC placed their CTE director in their K-twelve education system. They have integrated systems. So that's what So Mr. Marcotte was that information is right there. So not having that integrated, we're in the mind.

[Bailey Davis (Norwich intern)]: Yeah. I know there's specific CT centers, at least in Vermont, specialized in different things. Like, obviously, in Burlington, for example, you'll focus more on arts, technology, whatnot. Meanwhile, other places, you'll have more of a focus know, say plumbing or carpentry, whatnot. So again, it's like that's another thing you got kind of I was trying to look into is, is there a limited access to particular fields based on where your location is? Or is that something that because I mean, can it be reasonable for someone who's in, you know, say, like the Southeast part of the state to drive all the way to Burlington if they want to go into, like, health care fields or whatnot? But, if there's any questions,

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: after that. I don't have a question, but it's it's great. Very good. Could you check to see so there's see, there's at least 38 states that have their CTE director in that in there was another stat. The 28 states fund secondary CTE using a student based funding model. Yes. But can you find if there are other states that that have an integrated system that there's just one funding model for the whole school that everything. So that's the true integration.

[Bailey Davis (Norwich intern)]: Okay. Yeah. This is these are all the stats I got directly from the ECS Education Commission with States. Of course, I can go into more depth and get back to you.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Okay. That'd be great. Thank you. That'd be really helpful. Anything else that we're looking at to help us on? We'll look and and we'll get back to you if we find something else to Bailey to Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Questions for Bailey's? Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Evan and Bailey, thank you for your work. Certainly continue to appreciate it. Committee, any reports from the committees you're liaison to?

[Monique Priestley (Clerk)]: Can I give a quick update on Mike's status? I checked in at the Speaker's office. I haven't heard anything at all. He is still in hospital at Dartmouth.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Okay. A PGS worker? Yeah.

[Unidentified Committee Member]: Yeah. That's Can we I don't know if we should have this conversation. We can Oh, no. I'm sorry. No. No. That's fine. Thinking about that.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: The

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: Environment Committee has spent a decent amount

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: of time this week on the beverage container bill. I'm not exactly sure the direction they're going, but it has been a significant,

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: I figured you'd be interested in, piece of the agenda this week.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: But that's the only real thing that I think has any overlap from either of my committees.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: Healthcare is mainly focused on budget kinds of issues, I think.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Yeah, and just hearing from Alyssa, it doesn't sound like their that bill that they were working on. Private equity? Yeah. She's she's having a hard time with

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: that. Yes.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Assume this is why she wasn't on the. Yep. So it's even more important for us around 02/2005. Right? Yeah. I think we've got it looks like things are getting pretty much nailed down with that.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: Yeah. We're waiting to hear back. We had a meeting with some folks apt to the floor yesterday and have some new draft language for the that sort of edits down that conversation for non competes, we're waiting to hear back some feedback from Jamie. I think we heard from Chris.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: We're waiting for Jamie's gonna check-in

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: and with his then we'll get that to Sophie.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: Yeah, the work is really trying to craft what do we mean by reasonable conditions? Reasonableness in terms of when you reasonably occupy. So it was a good meeting. It was good, yeah. My takeaway was we'll get there.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: Yeah, I think close. We're

[Unidentified Committee Member]: You're still working on I just wanna follow-up on the the two zero five. I'm trying to reach out to some broadcasters because they use those, like WCAX. They use non competes, this bill could affect them in a negative way.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: It will affect them in a negative way. Maybe better for their employees. We have to understand how they Right. As long as they meet threshold and they are

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: It's all about trying to get this balance between business and they got legitimate interest, right? And then you got an employee in sort of trying to balance those. Right? So, yeah, I'm you know, I think a lot of businesses probably I think

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: it's Yeah. Interested in yourself. Actually, there's a there's a broadcasters association. Oh. The Vermont broad BBA, Vermont Broadcasters Association.

[Unidentified Committee Member]: I will get their contact information and reach out to them. For GovOps, five eighty eight is still being taken testimony on and that's the professions and occupations related to office of professional regulations. I don't know. I don't know how to think about it.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Five twelve, which is the ticket. Yeah. Ticket. Is taken out of the week too. So we want everyone to really think this weekend's on the direction of where we're going on that one.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Environment/Healthcare liaison; Noncompete working group)]: Do we have the cat?

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: We have a cat or not? I think the direction I'm looking at is I'm willing to put the cap on and we'll see how if it it's a detriment to the monitor now. I don't I don't think it will be because we don't have our events aren't very big in Vermont. You gotta remember, this only applies to Vermont. So whatever is happening, even the Noah Khan concert in Massachusetts, that's under Massachusetts law, it's not under Vermont law. So even if you're a Vermonter, you can still get caught up in that. It's very little help by our venues here. Generally, I'm not crazy about capping prices, but I think in this case it warrants it, and so that's where I'm leaning that way, so. I'm still It doesn't mean you have to lean the same way.

[Unidentified Committee Member]: Yeah, I'm still not real thrilled about CAPS. You know, I think about You know, first of all, a lot of these things, never reported. So for them to say that this isn't, that this is hardly happening, I question that because so many of these things when people, when it happens, they don't even say anything. They just throw up their hands and say, oh, well, look at this. And they never buy tickets again. The other concern I have is, and I guess I'd need to hear more from them and what how much if if what word what would happen if you know, what if you have a ticket for $10 and you're you're you're putting it on StubHub, and now you can only market up 10¢ you know, a dollar, and it's $10 to list it. Well, now you're taking a loss. So I'm at the lower end of the tickets. The other thing I'm concerned about is how many tickets, as much as we we feel like these these ticket companies are raking people's holes, how how many people would not have found the tickets otherwise? You know, especially if you're a visitor and you're traveling to the airport, you're going, I'm going be in Vermont for a week, I'd like to, you know, I wonder what's going on. Well, you say 110% price cap, the worst case scenario to me is, these companies are saying, we're just not going to carry the tickets there, because it's just not profitable. So now you have someone coming to Vermont and they don't know the Flint Theater from a hole in the wall. They never find the tickets and never never do the show anyway. So it's my concern.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Well, so one thing we gotta remember is that these are resellers. They're not the sellers of the tickets. They're resellers for somebody that's already purchased a ticket. So there are avenues for people searching the Internet. If they hear that there's something going on, they put the name in and it's gonna populate wherever they are. So I think I'm not too worried about that end of it. I think we all need to remember that we're talking about reselling. And I think some of the things that we've seen already on the step up stuff is is makes me pause. Mhmm. Especially when tickets haven't even been on sale yet and they're already out there. Yeah, there's a lot of things that I worry about.

[Unidentified Committee Member]: Yeah. I mean, I would just say this, you know, I think that if it's legislated properly, we don't need a cap, if we have proper disclosures and things like that. That said, if we were to go with a cap, I would feel much better if there was a carve out for people to have contracts. So, example, a venue could contract a reseller and they could do whatever they wanted for prices. If they wanted to mark it up 50%, that's fine, because that's all built to the contract.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: No, I agree. I think that makes sense. We can write to have that written into. Okay. Yeah. So we're being called before. Back here. There's definitely 15 but I can hear we have Maria's people. The suspicious transaction, Blind Dude, we haven't seen that yet. And then at 11:30, we've some people from Vermont Housing. It's crazy cold. They're coming in. Get a whole lineup of people that I don't know how they're gonna get through a half an hour.

[Unidentified Committee Member (Noncompete working group; likely same as Speaker 2)]: I saw that once they have an hour ago.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: We don't know that they stay in between us and lunch. Okay. Good. So we'll go off.