Bill S.84, introduced by a group of Vermont Senators, aims to establish new standards for state contracting related to advertising services. The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services allocate a minimum of 80 percent of the total annual value of contracts for print, digital, radio, and television advertising to local news and broadcast organizations. Additionally, the bill allows the Commissioner to exclude advertisements focused on tourism from this calculation and requires the maintenance of a list of eligible local organizations.

The bill also introduces a reporting requirement, stipulating that the Commissioner must submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing the advertising services purchased by the state, including the amounts spent and the entities involved. The new provisions will take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill includes amendments to existing law, such as changing references from "he or she" to "the Commissioner" and adding specific definitions for local news and broadcast organizations to ensure clarity in the implementation of these contracting standards.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 29-902(a), 29-902