Protecting Your Data: States Take the Lead
Every day we disclose, intentionally or not, a tremendous amount of personal information. Beyond what we share or “like” on social media, search engines, mobile phones, health trackers, stores (both online and physical), and other data brokers are collecting not just our names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, but also our shopping habits, blood pressure, gait, sleep quality, fingerprints, our travel routes and the places we visit, who our friends are and their interests, and so much more. These personal and biometric data belong to us, yet they are harvested, packaged, and sold by—and sometimes stolen from— these data brokers without our knowledge or permission.
The federal government has failed to act on this issue, so 14 states have passed legislation to protect consumer privacy, our personal identification, and most importantly our children’s data. Another ten states, including Vermont, are working on data privacy bills. Building on the work done in states across the country, like Connecticut and California, the House is creating H.121 (An act relating to enhancing consumer privacy), a data privacy bill that works for Vermonters, is right-sized for Vermont businesses and aligns with other states in our region.
Boosting Vermont’s Skilled Workforce
Vermont continues to have a significant workforce shortage, especially when it comes to skilled workers. In recent years, the legislature has taken steps to upskill our current workforce and encourage skilled workers from other states to work and live in Vermont. We have significant ongoing needs in the areas of healthcare, construction, and education. In response, the legislature recently created and funded a nurse preceptor grant program and several initiatives aimed at our teacher workforce.
This year, the House is crafting its latest workforce development bill, H.707 (An act relating to revising the delivery and governance of the Vermont workforce system). It will include an overhaul of the Workforce Development Board’s composition and the creation of a task force to study proposed workforce data management models, both recommended by the Special Oversight Committee on Workforce Expansion and Development created last year. We also expect to make workforce investments in the FY25 state budget.
Consumer Protection: Vehicle Towing and Storage
H.143 (An act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles) provides consumer protection related to the towing and storage of vehicles. Like most Vermont businesses, the vast majority of towing companies are reputable, hard-working folks providing a vital service to Vermonters. But the industry is unregulated, so abuses do happen such as predatory towing, arbitrary towing fees, and exorbitant vehicle storage fees. Witnesses reported paying $600-900 to retrieve a towed vehicle. As work on this bill moves forward, the committee is considering different towing situations (e.g., an accident versus a parking violation) as well as issues involving vehicle storage, safety and owner access.