AGP Executive Report

AI policy in Congress: Rep. Lori Trahan (Westford) and a Republican partner unveiled a bipartisan AI safety bill after weeks of talks, but it’s already sparking backlash from Democrats and tech-safety groups who say it could undercut state efforts on child safety and civil rights. AI ownership talks: Separate reporting says Sam Altman has discussed with senior Trump officials the idea of major AI firms voluntarily giving the federal government equity stakes, with returns potentially funding public goals like a household dividend. Data centers vs. communities: A new national fight is heating up over data centers’ electricity demand, with lawmakers and regulators debating moratoriums and rate protections as local opposition spreads. Vermont clean-tech & aviation: Beta Technologies showed off its all-electric Alia A250 and conventional CX300 in Vermont flight demos, while DeltaClimeVT announced clean-energy pilot projects to test Vermont’s future. Vermont environment & health: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, linked to Parkinson’s; Vermont also reminded anglers to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River basin. Northern lights: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm watch, with a chance the aurora could be visible in Vermont tonight if skies cooperate. STEM workforce pipeline: Vermont’s ACE Aviation Careers Education Academy returns to Hartness State Airport for hands-on STEM and flight exposure for ages 12–16. Local land & learning: Vermont Land Trust honored 2026 Land Steward Awards winners, and schools across Greater Rutland County showcased farm-based learning tied to local food systems.

Northern Lights Watch: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm (G3) watch for tonight, with a chance auroras could dip as far south as Vermont and Massachusetts—though clouds may spoil the view. Clean Energy & Grid Tech: Vermont’s DeltaClimeVT energy accelerator picked four utility-linked pilot projects totaling $110,000, aiming to test cleaner tech for grid reliability and expand EV charging access. Aviation in Vermont: Beta Technologies showcased its all-electric eVTOL Alia A250 during flight demos in Burlington, alongside its conventional CX300, as it pushes toward FAA certification. Broadband Planning: A new look at BEAD implementation urges Vermont lawmakers to keep state broadband offices empowered and staffed so connectivity buildouts don’t stall before deadlines. Education & Workforce: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Vermont’s Essex-Westford career and technology center amid protests tied to federal workforce-development priorities. Local Tech & Privacy: Commentary flags Manchester’s license plate reader rollout as a surveillance and security risk, citing concerns about access beyond local control. Health & Environment: Vermont’s paraquat ban—linked to Parkinson’s risk—was highlighted as the legislature adjourned, alongside other 2026 policy moves.

Aviation Innovation in Vermont: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy flew in Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft at the company’s Burlington HQ, highlighting next-gen eVTOL and charging infrastructure as the FAA/DOT push real-world testing. Data Center Pushback: States are moving to regulate data centers as critics cite noise, energy and water use, and waste—while supporters argue they’re essential for AI growth. Privacy Policy Fight: A coalition led by California AG Rob Bonta urged Congress to reject the SECURE Data Act, warning it would weaken state privacy protections. Clean Energy in Court: Seven states including Vermont sued to reverse a Trump-era offshore wind deal, arguing federal rules were violated and the rescission could reshape renewable development. Public Tech Policy: Bernie Sanders renewed calls for public ownership of AI gains via an “AI sovereign wealth fund,” fueling debate over whether the U.S. can treat AI like a public resource. Health & Research: UVM-linked reporting points to new flu prevention approaches from U.S. research, while Iowa announced a major environmental health tracking initiative. Vermont Water Rules: Wake boat regulations tighten mid-June, limiting where they can operate and increasing buffers around other users.

Flu research from UVM: Researchers say they’ve uncovered how different flu strains enter human cells—and how to block that process—pointing to new ways to prevent infection. Vermont PFAS still a problem: Despite bans, PFAS “forever chemicals” linger in ski wax rooms, with ongoing health concerns. Climate science in court guidance: AG Bonta joined a push to stop the Federal Judicial Center from removing climate science from its judicial manual. Offshore wind legal fight: Vermont is part of a multi-state lawsuit challenging a nearly $1B Trump-era deal to cancel offshore wind leases. AI and public ownership: Bernie Sanders argues the public should own a major stake in the AI boom via an “AI sovereign wealth fund.” Vermont forests at risk: Sen. Peter Welch pressed the Forest Service over reorganization plans that could endanger research tied to Vermont’s Green Mountain Forest. EV charging delays: Massachusetts is still waiting on NEVI-funded chargers to go live, raising questions about rollout speed and contracts. Health care access: A major investigation reports detainees across the U.S., including at a Vermont facility, allege serious medical neglect. Local tech & policy: Public Assets Institute adds board members Jonathan Williams and Carlen Finn, continuing its focus on Vermont budget and economic research.

Rural Tech & Education: UVM’s RISE Summit returns June 16 with a keynote on “AI and the Future Rural Economy,” aiming to spur partnerships that build rural prosperity. STEM in Small Towns: Smithsonian’s “Spark! Places of Innovation” is touring Vermont and New Hampshire, kicking off in Bellows Falls (June–July) and continuing through libraries in Barnet and Swanton. Public Health Monitoring: A major CDC wastewater surveillance program faces steep federal funding cuts, raising alarms as a new COVID variant spreads and states worry about losing an early-warning system. Wildlife & Conservation: U.S. Forest Service ecologists are injecting American elm saplings in Benson with Dutch elm disease fungus to study how to save floodplain forests. Vermont Policy & Tech Law: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block Vermont’s consumer protection lawsuit against Meta over alleged harms to kids, letting the case continue. Clean Energy Fight: Seven Democratic-led states, including Vermont, sued the Trump administration over a TotalEnergies offshore wind buyout deal, arguing it was unlawful and threatens jobs and power supply. Healthcare in Detention: A KFF/AP investigation reports detainees across 33 states describe medical neglect in ICE facilities, including cases involving Vermont. Workforce & Schools: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon toured Vermont’s Center for Technology in Essex and Vermont State University’s Williston campus amid protests over federal education priorities.

Rural Tech & AI: UVM’s Leahy Institute will host the RISE Summit June 16 on “Partnerships for Rural Prosperity,” with a keynote panel on “AI and the Future Rural Economy,” aiming to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. Wildlife Conservation: Vermont researchers and partners are mapping pollinator preferences across farms in places like Norwich to guide more targeted conservation and planting. Health Tech: Copley Hospital in Morrisville is rolling out contrast-enhanced mammography to better detect breast cancer in people with dense breast tissue. Aviation Innovation: BETA Technologies in Vermont hosted a historic eVTOL flight by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, tied to a new FAA pilot program for advanced air mobility testing. Energy Storage Debate: Vergennes will hold a public info session June 3 on Lightshift Energy’s proposed 4.99 MW battery storage project amid resident concerns about lithium-ion safety and permitting. Education Policy: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Essex Tech Center, drawing protests over federal education direction and school choice. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Montpelier approved funding for a “River’s Edge Master Plan” to plan dam removal, flood mitigation, access, and bridge improvements. Immigration Medical Neglect: A major AP-KFF investigation highlights detainees’ claims of delayed or denied medical care, including at a Vermont facility.

Medical Imaging Upgrade: Copley Hospital in northern Vermont added contrast-enhanced mammography, pairing standard mammograms with IV contrast to better spot abnormalities—especially in dense breast tissue. Cybersecurity & Fraud: Vermont saw a sharp jump in cyberscams in 2025, with nearly 1,600 residents reporting losses totaling over $26 million, as scammers increasingly use business-email tricks and cryptocurrency. Nursing Excellence: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned Magnet designation for the fourth straight time, highlighting continued nursing quality and patient outcomes. AI & Work Politics: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing an “American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act” that would transfer 50% ownership of major AI labs to the public via stock, aiming to steer the technology toward public benefit. Aviation Innovation: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited Vermont to fly on Beta Technologies’ electric eVTOL, as the FAA expands real-world testing for advanced air mobility. Public Health Outdoors: Tick-bite ER visits are rising nationally, with warmer weather driving more tick activity in the Northeast and Midwest—Lyme disease remains the most common concern. Engineering Leadership: Norwich University civil engineering professor Tara Shenoy Kulkarni was named an ASCE fellow for her work in water resources, resilience, and nature-based solutions. Rural Tech Convening: UVM’s RISE Summit on June 16 will focus on “AI and the Future Rural Economy,” spotlighting community-university partnerships.

Aviation & Innovation: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made history by flying in an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft at Vermont’s BETA Technologies, as the FAA rolls out a new pilot program for advanced air mobility testing. AI Policy: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing an “AI Sovereign Wealth Fund” idea—seeking a public stake via a one-time 50% transfer of equity in major AI firms—while progressives argue AI should be regulated for workers and communities, not just profits. Healthcare Tech: Copley Hospital in Northern Vermont added contrast-enhanced mammography, aiming to improve breast cancer detection for patients with dense tissue. Energy Efficiency: Efficiency Vermont’s Better Building by Design conference handed out “Best of the Best” awards, including a new workforce development honor. Workforce & Education: UVM’s RISE Summit (June 16) spotlights “AI and the Future Rural Economy” and community-university partnerships. Public Safety & Environment: Vermont’s paraquat ban continues to ripple outward as the state tightens rules on neurotoxic herbicides and wake surfing. Local Tech/Business: Robbins Lumber resumed full operations after the Searsmont mill explosion, and Vermont’s legislature adjourned after passing a compromise education reform bill.

Nursing Excellence: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the fourth straight time, highlighting continued nursing quality and patient-centered care. Space & Defense Contracting: Reuters reports SpaceX pushed back on Pentagon Starlink pricing for military drone use, and the Pentagon is now considering thousands of additional Starshield terminal subscriptions—potentially shifting hundreds of millions in taxpayer spending. Vermont Workforce Pipeline: Northwest Career & Technical Center’s Skilled Trades Signing Day (June 5) will feature students signing letters of intent with Vermont employers across trades like electrical, construction, engineering, and cosmetology. Childcare Under Pressure: A new UVM-led study finds ICE enforcement between 2023 and 2025 reshaped the childcare workforce, reducing capacity and employment—especially among immigrant women in regulated settings. Clean Energy & Risk: Vermont regulators are looking into soil testing options after damaged solar panels in Shaftsbury raised concerns about potential lead and silver contamination. Language & Safety: UVM researchers published findings in Science Advances suggesting human language meaning is shaped more by safety needs than by emotion-based models. Policy Watch: The U.S. House advanced a bill that could let states make daylight saving time permanent.

Health & Workforce: A new UVM-led study finds intensified ICE activity between 2023 and 2025 reshaped the childcare workforce, with childcare centers cutting enrollment, closing classrooms, and in some cases shutting down—hurting families who rely on stable care. Cannabis Policy: The DOJ’s move to reclassify medical marijuana (Schedule I to Schedule III) may unlock some federal tax benefits, but states still face a messy, uneven patchwork as the DEA weighs broader next steps. Entrepreneurship: LaunchVT Demo Night returns June 16 at Hula, featuring the 2026 cohort’s startup pitches and investor judges from VCET, Mamava, and CORI. Public Health Data: The first state-level ALS incidence estimates from the National ALS Registry put Vermont at 2.25 new cases per 100,000 (2012–2019), among the higher-rate states. Energy & Environment: Vermont is the first state to ban paraquat, a neurotoxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s risk, with a limited orchard/berry permit window and funding for alternatives. Solar Oversight: Vermont regulators are investigating a Shaftsbury solar array incident after high winds damaged panels, raising concerns about potential soil contamination. Science & Language: UVM researchers challenge a long-running view of word meaning, arguing language patterns may be driven more by safety than emotion. Tech & Education: Vermont continues debating classroom tech use, with renewed pushback against ed tech in schools.

Solar & Environment: Vermont regulators are probing a Shaftsbury solar array after high winds blew down panels, raising concerns about lead and silver contamination and whether soil testing is needed. Public Health Policy: Vermont became the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked to higher Parkinson’s risk, with a limited orchard/berry exemption window and requirements for disclosure and alternatives research. AI & Language Research: UVM researchers published in Science Advances challenging a long-running view of how word meanings map to emotion, arguing language patterns may be driven more by safety-related structure. Energy Tech Regulation: A separate trend story highlights “balcony solar” plug-in panels spreading after state policy changes—Utah’s law is cited as a catalyst for broader adoption. Workforce & Families: New research from UVM and partners finds intensified ICE enforcement reshaped the childcare workforce, with childcare centers cutting capacity and immigrant women’s employment dropping. Healthcare & Nursing: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned Magnet redesignation for the fourth straight time, citing nursing excellence and patient outcomes. Local Tech/Startup: LaunchVT’s Demo Night is set for June 16, featuring the 2026 cohort pitching to investor judges.

Vermont Paraquat Ban: Gov. Phil Scott signed a landmark law making Vermont the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked to Parkinson’s risk, with limited crop exemptions through 2030 and a Nov. 1 start date. Education Policy: Vermont lawmakers passed major education reform without forcing district mergers, instead setting up a fast process for voluntary consolidation votes in 2028. Child Care & Immigration: New UVM-led research finds intensified ICE enforcement reshaped the childcare workforce, shrinking capacity in regulated childcare centers and hitting immigrant women hardest. Grid Software Funding: Texture, a grid-management platform, secured $12.5M to help utilities and co-ops monitor transformer load and avoid outages as EV and battery demand rises. Lyme Research Push: RFK Jr. announced up to $2M for Lyme disease research using AI and open data, plus public awareness funding, during a New Hampshire visit. Healthcare Recognition: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned Magnet designation again, highlighting nursing excellence. Solar Policy Watch: Plug-in “balcony” solar is spreading, but legality varies by state; Vermont is among those advancing rules. AI & Work: Bernie Sanders pressed tech CEOs on AI’s impact on jobs, warning automation could leave workers without a path forward.

Health Care & Nursing Excellence: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the fourth straight time, highlighting improved nurse communication and patient outcomes. Vermont Workforce & Training: Vermont Works for Women’s Trailblazers is taking applications for a July–September workforce training program in Manchester, with OSHA 10, hands-on trade skills, and paid internship opportunities. Cardiac Tech Fundraiser: The 2nd Annual Rotary Champ Challenge (July 26) aims to raise $250,000 for Northwestern Medical Center’s cardiac department, targeting a Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography machine. Neurotech & Policy: A new advisory flags legal gaps as consumer neurotechnology moves from observing brain signals to intervening in real time. Public Health Policy (National): The DOJ’s medical cannabis reclassification could unlock some federal tax benefits, but the federal-state divide remains. Environment & Energy: Shaftsbury is investigating wind damage and a small fire at a 2.2 MW solar array, with filings pointing to repeated wind-related panel damage. Education & Research: UVM-led research finds ICE enforcement reshaped the childcare workforce, reducing capacity and affecting families, especially working mothers. Tech & Startups: LaunchVT’s Demo Night (June 16) will showcase the 2026 accelerator cohort to investor judges, with cash awards and donated services.

Paraquat ban (health + farming): Vermont became the first state to ban the weed-killer paraquat, citing research linking it to Parkinson’s disease and other health risks; the law phases out use and sale starting Nov. 1, with exemptions for some fruit growers but a full stop by 2030. Solar safety (local energy): Shaftsbury is investigating a solar array after wind damage and a small fire, with state and utility correspondence tied to knocked-down panels and grid disconnects. Broadband affordability (digital access): A federal BEAD discussion focused on tightening performance monitoring and compliance, with panelists saying the next phase will emphasize affordability alongside faster connectivity. AI governance (state tech policy): Vermont’s governor is moving toward an AI task force to guide how the state adopts AI technology. Online child safety (internet policy): AG Jay Jones joined a coalition opposing the federal KIDS Act, arguing it could weaken state enforcement and shift control to tech companies. Workforce + training (Vermont jobs): Weidmann Electrical Technology expanded in St. Johnsbury, adding about 60 jobs, supported by a $15M tax credit. Entrepreneurship (startup pipeline): LaunchVT’s Demo Night is set for June 16, featuring investor judges and cash awards for the 2026 cohort. STEM in schools (hands-on learning): Stafford Technical Center celebrated its refurbished Auto Tech garage and approval as a licensed inspection station, aiming to open for the next academic year. Nursing quality (health tech + care): Rutland Regional Medical Center renewed its Magnet designation for the fourth time, highlighting nursing excellence and patient outcomes.

Paraquat ban (public health): Vermont became the first U.S. state to ban the herbicide paraquat after lawmakers pointed to research linking it to Parkinson’s disease. Gov. Phil Scott signed the law phasing out use and sale starting Nov. 1, with limited exemptions for fruit growers until 2030. Solar scrutiny (energy infrastructure): Shaftsbury residents and state agencies are asking questions after wind damage and a small fire at a 2.2 MW solar installation, raising concerns about safety and oversight. AI & policy (governance): Vermont is moving to regulate and plan for AI use, including an executive-order task force aimed at workforce and investment opportunities. Education tech debate (schools): A national analysis finds many of the biggest school districts facing cuts or deficits this year, while another report highlights growing parent pushback against classroom tech. Wildlife & environment (conservation): Vermont Institute of Natural Science released a recovered American bittern back into the wild, and the Fish and Wildlife Board rejected proposals for bear baiting. STEM in practice (training/jobs): Stafford Technical Center celebrated upgrades to its automotive tech shop and a new licensed inspection-station approval, and Weidmann Electrical Technology announced a major St. Johnsbury expansion tied to new jobs. Community science & learning (youth): “Bake for Good” brought Vermont 4-H youth together online to learn breadmaking and share food with neighbors.

Paraquat ban: Vermont became the first U.S. state to ban the weedkiller paraquat over Parkinson’s risk, with a limited orchard/berry exemption until 2030 and annual reporting plus funding for alternative weed control research. Wildlife & science in action: VINS released a rare American bittern back into the wild after rehab from a car hit in Barre. Forest tech & materials: Vermont’s Forests, Parks & Recreation outlined a forest-industry road map, including research on using wood cellulose to strengthen concrete. Education policy: Public Assets held a meeting to help Vermonters understand how Act 73 could change the education tax system. AI governance: Gov. Phil Scott’s Vermont Artificial Intelligence Economic Task Force is set to assess AI’s economic impact and propose workforce and policy actions. Online safety law: Vermont’s social media addiction case against Meta is moving forward after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Meta’s appeal. Public waters rules: NMMA criticized Vermont’s tighter wakesurfing regulations as arbitrary and not science-based.