Legislators consider bill keeping ad dollars in state

A bipartisan group of Vermont lawmakers on Tuesday called on the Vermont House to pass legislation that would keep state advertising dollars in Vermont.

During a press conference at the Statehouse, Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas urged the House to pass H.244, which is scheduled for a vote on the House floor this week.

They were joined at the event by House champions from opposite sides of the aisle — Rep. Barbara Rachelson, D-Burlington, and Rep. Kenneth Wells, R-Barton — as well as leaders of the Vermont news media.

The bill, which was recently approved by the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, would require the state to spend 70 percent of its advertising dollars on Vermont-based news organizations — rather than out-of-state social media and search firms. The revenue-neutral proposal would ensure that tax dollars are spent on local businesses and nonprofits, such as community newspapers, radio stations, television stations and digital news outlets.

The bill exempts spending on tourism and job ads, an acknowledgement that the state sometimes seeks to reach audiences outside of Vermont. It also calls for new transparency, requiring the state to report each year on how much money is spent on advertising and where it goes.

The Senate is currently considering a companion bill, S.84.

“It just makes sense to me and many other Vermonters that Vermont government ought to be supporting Vermont businesses at each and every opportunity,” Rodgers said, thanking Copeland Hanzas and Rachelson for leading the charge. “I expect the House and Senate will follow suit in passing H.244.”

“A free and independent press is a key part of keeping government accountable and transparent,” Copeland Hanzas said. “Fact-checked and thorough reporting by Vermont’s local news outlets is absolutely critical and this legislation is a great way to keep our local, community news outlets viable.”

“This bill gives Vermont media a home-field advantage in capturing state advertising. Vermonters want to keep ad dollars in the Green Mountain State and this bill guarantees that will happen,” said Wells, a former photojournalist, editor and publisher of newspapers in the Northeast Kingdom. “After all, who knows local businesses better than Vermont residents who produce the advertising and put their wares and services in the best possible light while providing a guide for buyers in the Green Mountain state? Let’s all buy Vermont media first.”

Rachelson said she was proud to introduce a revenue-neutral bill that would support Vermont news organizations.

“This bill is about the Vermont government spending our resources wisely,” she said. “Why wouldn’t we want to keep our dollars here in Vermont, where they can support Vermonters and help our media outlets?”