By Guy Page

Gov. Phil Scott this week signed into law bills continuing state-only authority for cell tower siting, postponing required testing for PCBs in public schools, and giving unaccompanied teens more access to state services. 

On June 15, Governor Scott signed:

• H.527 extends the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a. This bill, hotly contested by supporters of more local control in cell tower siting, extends sole permitting authority by the Public Utilities Commission to July, 2029. Updated from earlier edition that misstated purpose of law.
• H.542 postpones required testing of schools in Vermont for polychlorinated biphenyls. This bill extends the required school testing deadline from 2027 to 2035. It also creates a study commission. 
• H.567 addresses unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt. The law allows streamlined unclaimed property collections for amounts of $1,000 or less (current law is $250) and creates a Pension and Benefits Funding Task Force to review and report on the funding methodologies of the state and school employees’ retirement and benefit funds. 
• H.577 establishes the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program.
• H.583 prohibits hedge fund and private equity owners of health care providers to influence clinical decision making
• H.606, outlines firearms relinquishment and storage procedures, including creation of a model policy for all law enforcement agencies. 
• H.639, genetic data privacy, restricts sale and use of genetic information. 
• H.657 provides more freedom for ‘unaccompanied youth’ to access state services. 
• H.921 allows restricted sale of alcoholic beverages at farmers’ markets, among other provisions. 
• H.957 changes town officer selection and property assessment in charter of the Town of Williston.