Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Members, we have received a letter of resignation from the member from Saint Albans Town representative Tooth. Will the clerk please read the letter?

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Dear governor Scott, it has truly been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Saint Albans over the last seven years. Other than being a father, nothing has brought me more joy and a sense of accomplishment than representing Saint Albans City and Saint Albans Town in the Vermont state legislature. I have recently taken a new job as town manager of the town of St. Albans and have welcomed our new child into the world. I hereby resigned my seat in the House of Representatives effective 01/16/2026. I look forward to continuing working for the people of Saint Albans in my new role, best KCJ Tooth, Saint state representative Franklin eight.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member, we wish you all the best and don't be a stranger. Members we have 27 house bills for introduction today. With that, member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to introduce bills by number only?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion that we suspend rules in order to introduce bills by number only.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Pulte moves that we suspend our rules to introduce bills by number only. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have suspended our rules to introduce bills by number only. Please listen to the first reading of bills by number only. H six six one. To general and housing.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six six two.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To health care.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six six three.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To environment. H six six four. To health care.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six six five.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six six six.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To general and housing.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six six seven.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To general and housing. H six six eight. To commerce and economic development. H 669. To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H 670.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H 671.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy two.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy three.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To environment. Age six seventy four. To commerce and economic development.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy five.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To human services.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy six.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To health care.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy seven.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy eight.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To general and housing.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six seventy nine.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six eighty. To health care. Age six eighty one.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To education.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six eighty two.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To judiciary.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six eighty three.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To judiciary.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: Age six eighty four.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Transportation.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H six eighty five.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To health care.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: H 686.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To government operations and military affairs.

[Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask]: And h 687.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To education. Members, we have a house resolution to take up at this time. HR 11 is a house resolution authorizing limited remote committee voting for the remainder of the calendar year 2026 offered by representatives Houghton of Essex Junction, McCoy of Houghton and Logan of Burlington. Please listen to the reading of the resolution by title only.

[House Reading Clerk (name unknown)]: HR 11, House Resolution Authorizing Limited Remote Committee Voting through the remainder of calendar year 2026.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now this resolution has been read and it is placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day pursuant to House Rule 52. We have a joint senate resolution to take up at this time. JRS 32 is a joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on 01/16/2026. It was offered by senator Bartholomew was read and adopted on the part of the senate. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk (name unknown)]: Resolved by the senate and house of representatives that when the two houses adjourn on Friday, 01/16/2026, we'll be to meet again no later than Tuesday, 01/20/2026.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now you have heard the reading of the resolution, and the question is, shall the house adopt the resolution in concurrence? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and the resolution is adopted in concurrence. Members, we don't have an action calendar today so this will be our only set of announcements. Are there any announcements? Member from Dorset.

[Representative from Dorset (identity uncertain)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, we heard testimony or excuse me, devotion from chaplain major Eric Stupford, serves in the Vermont Air National or excuse me. Let me start over here. Today, we have chaplain major Eric Stupford, serves in the Vermont Army National Guard as the full time support chaplain and the deputy joint force headquarters chaplain. He has served in the Vermont Army National Guard for thirteen years and deployed to Kosovo as part of the k four twenty nine in 2021. He lives in Wheelock, Vermont with his wife, Tessie, and their four children, Abraham, John, Zoe, and Owen. Would you please join me in welcoming him to the house?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest of the member from Dorset please rise and be recognized? Member from Guilford.

[Representative Sara Coffey]: Thank you, madam speaker. I just want to let everyone know that tomorrow afternoon, Thursday at 04:30, the newly forming creative sector caucus will meet. Our guest will be Susan Evans McClure from the Vermont Arts Council. All are welcome in Room 41. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Brattleboro.

[Representative from Brattleboro (identity uncertain)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I would like to introduce my intern from UVM. Audrey is a senior at UVM majoring in environmental science and political science. She will be here on Wednesdays, visiting different committees, taking notes, and just generally being a great help. And I'm very lucky to have her and to have the whole UVM intern program, which is a really wonderful addition to our work here. So please welcome her. She's in the balcony.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest and member from Brattleboro please rise and be recognized? Member from Jericho.

[Representative Trevor Squirrell]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today in the card room, we had directors from Vermont's Career and Technical Education System. They work hard to prepare high school students and adult learners for high wage, high skill, and high demand careers. Though generally, also though through regionally operated career technical centers, high school students gain industry aligned skills, professional credentials, and work based learning experiences in highly technical fields while also earning their high school diplomas. Adult learners access Vermont CTE centers to earn advanced credentials in their current fields or to change career paths to thriving Vermont industries. CTE strengthens Vermont's workforce pipeline by preparing students for immediate employment, post secondary education, and lifelong career success while also supporting employers and regional economic development. This form of education is a proven strategy for increasing student engagement, expanding access to opportunity, and ensuring Vermont's future workforce is skilled, adaptable, and locally grounded. This afternoon with us in the balcony, we have Nicole McTavish from Hannaford Regional Technical Center in Middlebury and Eric Remmers from Green Mountain Technology and Career Center.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guests and the member from Jericho please rise and be recognized. Member from Burlington.

[Representative Tiffany Bluemle]: Thank you, madam speaker. I too have my intern in the balcony today. I'd like to introduce her. Her name is Merrill Hartman. Merrill's a senior at UVM. She's studying poli sci and law and society. Some of you may know Merrill because she was part of the legal research team. She also was in my nonprofits and social change class last semester and did her internship at CDOEO and is a zealous housing advocate. I ask that you welcome her. She is in the balcony.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest of the member from Burlington please rise and be recognized? Member from Waterbury.

[Representative Theresa Wood]: Thank you, madam speaker. I just want to make members aware of a screening happening this Thursday in Room 11. It's a documentary called heightened scrutiny, and it's a representation of the case that was brought to the Supreme Court to allow transgender youth to access medically necessary gender affirming care that their medical professionals were prescribing. It will be this Thursday in Room 11, begins at 4PM, and it will include a panel discussion following the screening. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Cornwall.

[Representative Peter Conlon]: Thank you, madam speaker. It's always a pleasure to have a constituent make the trip over the mountains here. Would you please help me welcome Tanya Biker, who is not only a constituent, but is a professor of economics at Middlebury College, and probably most importantly to those of us in Cornwall, the very capable chair of the Cornwall Select Board.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest member from Cornwall please rise and be recognized? Member from Weston.

[Representative from Weston (identity uncertain)]: Thank you, madam speaker. This Friday at noon in Room 10, the caucus for Vermont's economy will have our inaugural meeting. Please join us. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Fulton East.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, we just heard the resignation letter read for representative Tooth. This is two in one week that we're losing from the House Republican caucus. Excuse me. This one means a little bit more to me. He's, sat next to me for three years and five on the leadership team. We've been through a whole bunch that no one knows about as I'm sure the majority can commiserate with or anybody in leadership. He's gonna be so greatly missed by the whole caucus. I'm so happy for him though to have landed such a phenomenal job and with a beautiful wife and family and new baby to join them. So good luck, farewell, and godspeed, representative Tooth.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The speaker has an announcement, just a reminder that we will adjourn until tomorrow, but members please stay in the chamber for our caucus of the whole on the election of an adjutant and inspector general. Are there any further announcements? Member from Milton?

[Representative Michael Morgan]: Madam speaker, just a reminder that this evening from five to 7PM over at the Association of General Contractors building on 1 Grave Street here in Montpelier, there will be a, joint governor's Veterans Advisory Council on Vermont National Guard update for folks, and I believe both adjutant general candidates will be there as well. There'll be some refreshments available. So those looking to not make supper or dinner at your places, you you can take advantage of that as well. So hope to see you there. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Lull.

[Representative from Ludlow (identity uncertain)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, tomorrow will be the first meeting of the Vermont Legislative Sportsman's Caucus. It'll take place from, at 04:30 in Room 10, and the speaker will be Jason Batchelter, the, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Saint Albans Town.

[Representative from Weston (identity uncertain)]: Thank you, madam speaker. And I don't need another standing ovation. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone. Thank you so much. It's been really it's been a pleasure.

[Representative Casey Toof]: Thanks.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: We'll miss you, member. Are there any further announcements? Members, today we have two tough goodbyes. I'm not gonna be able to. As you know, today is Mollie's last day here in the building. Mollie, this building will not be the same without you here. We wish you all the best, and please come visit. Always welcome. We miss you. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Pulte me, can you please us a motion to adjourn until Thursday, January 15 at 3PM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Thursday, 01/15/2026 at 3PM.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear