Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill H0244 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1		-	BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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3		-	H.244
4		-	IntroducedbyRepresentativesRachelsonofBurlingtonandWatersEvansof
5		-	Charlotte
6		-	ReferredtoCommitteeon
7		-	Date:
8		-	Subject:Publicpropertyandsupplies;DepartmentofBuildingsandGeneral
9		-	Services;contracting;advertising;media;newsorganizations;radio;
10		-	television
11		-	Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestorequirethat
12		-	theStateexpendaminimumof80percentofthetotalannualvalueofits
13		-	contractingforprint,digital,radio,andtelevisionadvertisingservicesonlocal
14		-	organizations.
15		-	AnactrelatingtoStatecontractingstandardsforadvertising
16		-	ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
17		-	Sec.1.29V.S.A.§ 902(a)isamendedtoread:
18		-	(a)TheCommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractfor
19		-	andmakeallpurchases,includingallfuel,supplies,materials,andequipment,
20		-	foralldepartments,offices,institutions,andotheragenciesoftheStateand
21		-	counties.However,heorshetheCommissionermaydelegateauthorityto
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40		-	19 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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42		-	thosegovernmentalagenciestopurchasedirectlyindividuallyapprovedtypes
43		-	andclassesofitemswhentheinterestsoftheStatearebestservedthereby,
44		-	providedthatanysuchdelegatedauthorityshallbesubjecttothesame
45		-	limitationssetforthinsubsections910(a)–(c)ofthissubchapterasapplytothe
46		-	Commissioner.HeorsheTheCommissionershallalsocontractforand
47		-	purchasematerialsfortherepairandfortheconstructionandequipmentof
48		-	newbuildingstobeerectedbytheState,unlessotherwiseprovided.Heorshe
49		-	TheCommissionermaypurchasesuchsupplies,materials,andequipmentas
50		-	arerequisitionedbythesupervisorsofthenaturalresourcesconservation
51		-	districts.HeorsheTheCommissionermayalsocooperatewithandadvise
52		-	officialsofanypoliticalsubdivisionoftheStateoranyinstitutionofhigher
53		-	educationcharteredinVermontandaccreditedorholdingacertificateof
54		-	approvalfromtheStateBoardofEducationintheirpurchaseofanyofthe
55		-	supplies,materials,andequipmentneededbythepoliticalsubdivisionor
56		-	institutionofhighereducation,andmayactastheagentofthepolitical
57		-	subdivisionattherequestoftheauthorizedofficialsoragentthereofinthe
58		-	purchaseofsupplies,materials,andequipment.
59		-	Sec.2.29V.S.A.§ 910isaddedtoread:
60		-	§ 910.STATECONTRACTSFORADVERTISING
61		-	(a)WhencontractingforprintordigitaladvertisingservicesfortheState
62		-	oritsagencies,departments,instrumentalities,orinstitutions,the
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85		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractwithlocal
86		-	newsorganizationsfornotlessthan80percentofthetotalannualvalueofthe
87		-	printordigitaladvertisingservices.
88		-	(b)Whencontractingforradioortelevisionadvertisingservicesforthe
89		-	Stateoritsagencies,departments,instrumentalities,orinstitutions,the
90		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractwithlocal
91		-	broadcastorganizationsfornotlessthan80percentofthetotalannualvalueof
92		-	theradioortelevisionadvertisingservices.
93		-	(c)Notwithstandingsubsections(a)and(b)ofthissection,the
94		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesmayexcludefromthetotal
95		-	annualvalueofadvertisingservicesanyadvertisementfocusedontourism.
96		-	(d)TheCommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallmaintaina
97		-	listoflocalnewsorganizationsandlocalbroadcastorganizations.
98		-	(e)Asusedinthissection:
99		-	(1)“Localbroadcastorganization”meansanorganizationlicensedto
100		-	broadcastintheStatebytheFederalCommunicationsCommission.
101		-	(2)“Localnewsorganization”meansanorganizationthat:
102		-	(A)engagesprofessionalstocreate,edit,produce,anddistribute
103		-	originalcontentconcerningmattersofpublicinterestthroughreporting
104		-	activities;
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126		-	(B)employsafull-timeemployeewhodedicatesatleast30hoursa
127		-	weektoprovidingcoverageofanareaoftheStatefordisseminationtothe
128		-	localorStatecommunityandliveswithin50milesofthecoveragearea;
129		-	(C)(i)haspublishedatleastoneprintpublicationpermonthoverthe
130		-	previous12monthsandeitherholdsavalidU.S.PostalServiceperiodical
131		-	permitordedicatesatleast25percentofitscontenttolocalnews;or
132		-	(ii)onaverageovertheprevious12months,haspublishedonline
133		-	atleastonepieceperweekaboutthelocalorStatecommunityandhasatleast
134		-	33percentofitsonlineaudienceinVermont;
135		-	(D)hasdisclosedinitsprintpublicationoronitswebsiteits
136		-	beneficialownershipor,inthecaseofanonprofitentity,itsboardofdirectors;
137		-	(E)inthecaseofanorganizationthatisexemptfromtaxationunder
138		-	26 U.S.C.§ 501(c)(3),declaresasitsstatedmissioninitsfilingswiththe
139		-	InternalRevenueServicethecoverageoflocalorStatenews;and
140		-	(F)overthepreviouscalendaryeardidnotreceivemorethan
141		-	50 percentofitsgrossreceiptsfrompoliticalactioncommittees,otherentities
142		-	describedin26U.S.C.§ 527,orfromorganizationsexemptfromtaxation
143		-	under26 U.S.C.§ 501(c)(4),(c)(5),or(c)(6).
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161		-	18 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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163		-	Sec.3.29V.S.A.§ 911isaddedtoread:
164		-	§ 911.CONTRACTSFORADVERTISING;REPORTING
165		-	Annually,onorbeforeJune30,theCommissionerofBuildingsand
166		-	GeneralServicesshallsubmittotheGeneralAssemblyareportsummarizing
167		-	anyadvertisingservicespurchasedbytheStateanditsagencies,departments,
168		-	instrumentalities,orinstitutionsduringtheprecedingfiscalyear,includinga
169		-	summaryoftheamountsspentbyentityonadvertisingservicesandwhere
170		-	thosefundswerespent.
171		-	Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE
172		-	ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
173		-	Sec.1.29V.S.A.§ 902(a)isamendedtoread:
174		-	(a)TheCommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractfor
175		-	andmakeallpurchases,includingallfuel,supplies,materials,andequipment,
176		-	foralldepartments,offices,institutions,andotheragenciesoftheStateand
177		-	counties.However,heorshetheCommissionermaydelegateauthorityto
178		-	thosegovernmentalagenciestopurchasedirectlyindividuallyapprovedtypes
179		-	andclassesofitemswhentheinterestsoftheStatearebestservedthereby,
180		-	providedthatanysuchdelegatedauthorityshallbesubjecttothesame
181		-	limitationssetforthinsubsections910(a)–(c)ofthissubchapterasapplyto
182		-	theCommissioner.HeorsheTheCommissionershallalsocontractforand
183		-	purchasematerialsfortherepairandfortheconstructionandequipmentof
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193		-	10 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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195		-	newbuildingstobeerectedbytheState,unlessotherwiseprovided.Heorshe
196		-	TheCommissionermaypurchasesuchsupplies,materials,andequipmentas
197		-	arerequisitionedbythesupervisorsofthenaturalresourcesconservation
198		-	districts.HeorsheTheCommissionermayalsocooperatewithandadvise
199		-	officialsofanypoliticalsubdivisionoftheStateoranyinstitutionofhigher
200		-	educationcharteredinVermontandaccreditedorholdingacertificateof
201		-	approvalfromtheStateBoardofEducationintheirpurchaseofanyofthe
202		-	supplies,materials,andequipmentneededbythepoliticalsubdivisionor
203		-	institutionofhighereducation,andmayactastheagentofthepolitical
204		-	subdivisionattherequestoftheauthorizedofficialsoragentthereofinthe
205		-	purchaseofsupplies,materials,andequipment.
206		-	Sec.2.29V.S.A.§ 910isaddedtoread:
207		-	§ 910.STATECONTRACTSFORADVERTISING
208		-	(a)WhencontractingforprintordigitaladvertisingservicesfortheState
209		-	oritsagencies,departments,instrumentalities,orinstitutions,the
210		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractwithlocal
211		-	newsorganizationsfornotlessthan70percentofthetotalannualvalueofthe
212		-	printordigitaladvertisingservices.
213		-	(b)Whencontractingforradioortelevisionadvertisingservicesforthe
214		-	Stateoritsagencies,departments,instrumentalities,orinstitutions,the
215		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallcontractwithlocal BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
216		-	2025 Page7of9
217		-	broadcastorganizationsfornotlessthan70percentofthetotalannualvalue
218		-	oftheradioortelevisionadvertisingservices.
219		-	(c)Notwithstandingsubsections(a)and(b)ofthissection,the
220		-	CommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesmayexcludefromthetotal
221		-	annualvalueofadvertisingservicesanyadvertisementfocusedontourismand
222		-	anyemploymentsearchorjobposting.
223		-	(d)TheCommissionerofBuildingsandGeneralServicesshallmaintaina
224		-	listoflocalnewsorganizationsandlocalbroadcastorganizations.
225		-	(e)Asusedinthissection:
226		-	(1)“Localbroadcastorganization”meansanorganizationlicensedto
227		-	broadcastintheStatebytheFederalCommunicationsCommission.
228		-	(2)“Localnewsorganization”meansanorganizationthat:
229		-	(A)engagesprofessionalstocreate,edit,produce,anddistribute
230		-	originalcontentconcerningmattersofpublicinterestthroughreporting
231		-	activities;
232		-	(B)employsafull-timeemployeewhodedicatesatleast30hoursa
233		-	weektoprovidingcoverageofanareaoftheStatefordisseminationtothe
234		-	localorStatecommunityandliveswithin50milesofthecoveragearea;
235		-	(C)(i)haspublishedatleastoneprintpublicationpermonthoverthe
236		-	previous12monthsandeitherholdsavalidU.S.PostalServiceperiodical
237		-	permitordedicatesatleast25percentofitscontenttolocalnews;or BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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239		-	(ii)onaverageovertheprevious12months,haspublishedonline
240		-	atleastonepieceperweekaboutthelocalorStatecommunityandhasatleast
241		-	33percentofitsonlineaudienceinVermont;
242		-	(D)hasdisclosedinitsprintpublicationoronitswebsiteits
243		-	beneficialownershipor,inthecaseofanonprofitentity,itsboardofdirectors;
244		-	(E)inthecaseofanorganizationthatisexemptfromtaxationunder
245		-	26 U.S.C.§ 501(c)(3),declaresasitsstatedmissioninitsfilingswiththe
246		-	InternalRevenueServicethecoverageoflocalorStatenews;and
247		-	(F)overthepreviouscalendaryeardidnotreceivemorethan
248		-	50 percentofitsgrossreceiptsfrompoliticalactioncommittees,otherentities
249		-	describedin26U.S.C.§ 527,orfromorganizationsexemptfromtaxation
250		-	under26 U.S.C.§ 501(c)(4),(c)(5),or(c)(6).
251		-	Sec.3.29V.S.A.§ 911isaddedtoread:
252		-	§ 911.CONTRACTSFORADVERTISING;REPORTING
253		-	Annually,onorbeforeJune30,theCommissionerofBuildingsandGeneral
254		-	ServicesshallsubmittotheGeneralAssemblyareportsummarizingany
255		-	advertisingservicespurchasedbytheStateanditsagencies,departments,
256		-	instrumentalities,orinstitutionsduringtheprecedingfiscalyear,includinga
257		-	summaryoftheamountsspentbyentityonadvertisingservicesandwhere
258		-	thosefundswerespent.
259		-	Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.244
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261		-	ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
	1	+	BILL AS INTRODUCED H.244
	2	+	2025 Page 1 of 5
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	5	+	VT LEG #379381 v.2
	6	+	H.244 1
	7	+	Introduced by Representatives Rachelson of Burlington and Waters Evans of 2
	8	+	Charlotte 3
	9	+	Referred to Committee on 4
	10	+	Date: 5
	11	+	Subject: Public property and supplies; Department of Buildings and General 6
	12	+	Services; contracting; advertising; media; news organizations; radio; 7
	13	+	television 8
	14	+	Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require that 9
	15	+	the State expend a minimum of 80 percent of the total annual value of its 10
	16	+	contracting for print, digital, radio, and television advertising services on local 11
	17	+	organizations. 12
	18	+	An act relating to State contracting standards for advertising 13
	19	+	It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
	20	+	Sec. 1. 29 V.S.A. § 902(a) is amended to read: 15
	21	+	(a) The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services shall contract for 16
	22	+	and make all purchases, including all fuel, supplies, materials, and equipment, 17
	23	+	for all departments, offices, institutions, and other agencies of the State and 18
	24	+	counties. However, he or she the Commissioner may delegate authority to 19
	25	+	those governmental agencies to purchase directly individually approved types 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.244
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	27	+
	28	+
	29	+	VT LEG #379381 v.2
	30	+	and classes of items when the interests of the State are best served thereby, 1
	31	+	provided that any such delegated authority shall be subject to the same 2
	32	+	limitations set forth in subsections 910(a)–(c) of this subchapter as apply to the 3
	33	+	Commissioner. He or she The Commissioner shall also contract for and 4
	34	+	purchase materials for the repair and for the construction and equipment of 5
	35	+	new buildings to be erected by the State, unless otherwise provided. He or she 6
	36	+	The Commissioner may purchase such supplies, materials, and equipment as 7
	37	+	are requisitioned by the supervisors of the natural resources conservation 8
	38	+	districts. He or she The Commissioner may also cooperate with and advise 9
	39	+	officials of any political subdivision of the State or any institution of higher 10
	40	+	education chartered in Vermont and accredited or holding a certificate of 11
	41	+	approval from the State Board of Education in their purchase of any of the 12
	42	+	supplies, materials, and equipment needed by the political subdivision or 13
	43	+	institution of higher education, and may act as the agent of the political 14
	44	+	subdivision at the request of the authorized officials or agent thereof in the 15
	45	+	purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment. 16
	46	+	Sec. 2. 29 V.S.A. § 910 is added to read: 17
	47	+	§ 910. STATE CONTRACTS FOR ADVERTISING 18
	48	+	(a) When contracting for print or digital advertising services for the State or 19
	49	+	its agencies, departments, instrumentalities, or institutions, the Commissioner 20
	50	+	of Buildings and General Services shall contract with local news organizations 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.244
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	52	+
	53	+
	54	+	VT LEG #379381 v.2
	55	+	for not less than 80 percent of the total annual value of the print or digital 1
	56	+	advertising services. 2
	57	+	(b) When contracting for radio or television advertising services for the 3
	58	+	State or its agencies, departments, instrumentalities, or institutions, the 4
	59	+	Commissioner of Buildings and General Services shall contract with local 5
	60	+	broadcast organizations for not less than 80 percent of the total annual value of 6
	61	+	the radio or television advertising services. 7
	62	+	(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the 8
	63	+	Commissioner of Buildings and General Services may exclude from the total 9
	64	+	annual value of advertising services any advertisement focused on tourism. 10
	65	+	(d) The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services shall maintain a 11
	66	+	list of local news organizations and local broadcast organizations. 12
	67	+	(e) As used in this section: 13
	68	+	(1) “Local broadcast organization” means an organization licensed to 14
	69	+	broadcast in the State by the Federal Communications Commission. 15
	70	+	(2) “Local news organization” means an organization that: 16
	71	+	(A) engages professionals to create, edit, produce, and distribute 17
	72	+	original content concerning matters of public interest through reporting 18
	73	+	activities; 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.244
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	78	+	(B) employs a full-time employee who dedicates at least 30 hours a 1
	79	+	week to providing coverage of an area of the State for dissemination to the 2
	80	+	local or State community and lives within 50 miles of the coverage area; 3
	81	+	(C)(i) has published at least one print publication per month over the 4
	82	+	previous 12 months and either holds a valid U. S. Postal Service periodical 5
	83	+	permit or dedicates at least 25 percent of its content to local news; or 6
	84	+	(ii) on average over the previous 12 months, has published online 7
	85	+	at least one piece per week about the local or State community and has at least 8
	86	+	33 percent of its online audience in Vermont; 9
	87	+	(D) has disclosed in its print publication or on its website its 10
	88	+	beneficial ownership or, in the case of a nonprofit entity, its board of directors; 11
	89	+	(E) in the case of an organization that is exempt from taxation under 12
	90	+	26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), declares as its stated mission in its filings with the 13
	91	+	Internal Revenue Service the coverage of local or State news; and 14
	92	+	(F) over the previous calendar year did not receive more than 15
	93	+	50 percent of its gross receipts from political action committees, other entities 16
	94	+	described in 26 U.S.C. § 527, or from organizations exempt from taxation 17
	95	+	under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4), (c)(5), or (c)(6). 18 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.244
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	99	+	VT LEG #379381 v.2
	100	+	Sec. 3. 29 V.S.A. § 911 is added to read: 1
	101	+	§ 911. CONTRACTS FOR ADVERTISING; REPORTING 2
	102	+	Annually, on or before June 30, the Commissioner of Buildings and General 3
	103	+	Services shall submit to the General Assembly a report summarizing any 4
	104	+	advertising services purchased by the State and its agencies, departments, 5
	105	+	instrumentalities, or institutions during the preceding fiscal year, including a 6
	106	+	summary of the amounts spent by entity on advertising services and where 7
	107	+	those funds were spent. 8
	108	+	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 9
	109	+	This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 10