The Democratic-controlled Vermont Legislature on Monday overturned a number of the Republican governor's vetoes, passing measures to prevent drug overdoses, restrict a pesticide that's toxic to bees and to require state utilities to source all renewable energy by 2035. But the Legislature failed to override Gov. Phil Scott's veto of a data privacy bill that was considered to be among the strongest in the country.
It would have allowed consumers to file civil lawsuits against companies that break certain privacy rules. Scott vetoed the legislation last week, saying it would make Vermont “a national outlier and more hostile than any other state to many businesses and non-profits.” The Vermont House voted to override his veto but the Senate sustained his decision.
The vote came after the Legislature reconvened Monday to try to override Scott’s vetoes of seven bills. Each chamber needed two-thirds of those present to vote to override to be successful in passing the bills. Senate President Pro Tem Philip Baruth, a Democrat, thanked colleagues at the end of the day, calling it “an incredibly productive day, a long day and an exhausting day in many ways but with brilliant results.
” Gov. Scott, on the other hand, called it a sad day for Vermonters "who simply cannot afford further tax burdens and cost increases. Many will talk about these votes as a major loss for me, but it’s really a major loss for Vermont taxpayers, workers and families.
” Scott said last month that t.
