Latest news with #VermontKidsCode
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a day ago
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Vermont signs Kids Code into law, faces legal challenges
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – One of the ten bills Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed Thursday has the goal of making Vermont children safer online. The bill faces challenges in court, but its supporters say it is necessary in a rapidly changing world. Senate Bill 69, known as the Vermont Kids Code, aims to protect kids from 'abusive' practices of social media companies. Governor Phil Scott, in his statement on signing the bill, said, 'As we see more and more kids using technology, I believe most would agree we need to take steps to protect them in a reasonable and responsible way when they're online.' ACLU Vermont releases statement following Scott's hotel-motel transition bill veto Among other provisions, the bill prohibits companies from selling children's data, keeps parents and other adults from secretly using apps to track kids, and making it so adults cannot message children without their explicit and unambiguous assent. It also says that social media companies must have push notifications disabled by default on children's accounts. Read the full text of the bill hereDownload Other states have recently passed similar laws, such as Maryland's Kids Code and California's Age-Appropriate Design Code. They have faced lawsuits on free speech grounds, with judges blocking enforcement of the laws until litigation is resolved. NetChoice, the advocacy group behind those lawsuits, says the goal to protect children is just an excuse to police speech online. Bus 'totaled' after catching fire in Mount Holly 'An unconstitutional law will not keep anyone safe,' said NetChoice vice president Carl Szabo about the Maryland law. Scott referenced the current legal struggles in his statement, saying, 'With ongoing lawsuits in other states, I recognize this new law will likely face a legal challenge. But I'm hopeful with the enactment of this law delayed until January 1, 2027, it will allow enough time to provide clarity and change the law if necessary.' Kaitlynn Cherry, a youth advocate from Sunderland, said Vermont needs to be proactive. 'Our future selves will thank us when we have safety, privacy, and autonomy in our digital experiences.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Vermont passes bill for towns to fund new construction, enacts other reforms
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A long-awaited compromise on housing that gives towns more options to fund building projects, a bill addressing the impact of social media on children that will likely face challenges in court, and a reform that will seal many criminal history records were among ten bills Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law Thursday. Senate Bill 127, on housing, was perhaps the bill that took the most work by both chambers of the state assembly. The bill establishes the Community Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP), which lets cities and towns fund housing projects by taking out loans to be repaid later, with the increased tax revenue gained from the projects. It was passed by the Vermont Senate this past March, and went through a long process of amendment before final passage May 30. VT Governor calls for action on housing legislation This bill on housing also includes a provision to award up to $20,000 to people helping to build houses in empty lots, and establishes a state program to offer low-interest loans to cities and towns aiming to improve their infrastructure. Scott made a special statement on Senate Bill 69, the Vermont Kids Code, which you can read more about in its own article below. Vermont signs Kids Code into law, faces legal challenges Senate Bill 12 changes the procedures for sealing someone's criminal history after they have completed serving a sentence. Under previous Vermont law, when asking for a crime to be sealed the burden of proof is on the petitioner to show that sealing 'serves the interests of justice', while S. 12 moves this burden over to the state. The governor also signed S. 45, which protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits for activities that comply with generally accepted farming practice, S. 122, which funds several groups that aid small businesses in the state and explores the development of a convention center, and S. 126, which aims to lower health care costs by allowing 'reference-based pricing,' along with four other bills. VT House passes healthcare 'redesign', now goes to Senate The Vermont state legislature is currently scheduled to adjourn for the summer on June 17, The adjournment has already been postponed at least once as the legislature said it needed more time to work out important reforms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
