Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the House please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good afternoon. Members, the devotional today will be led by the reverend Earl Cooper Camp of the church of the good shepherd in Barrie City in Saint Mary's Parish in Northfield.

[Reverend Earl Cooper Camp]: Good afternoon, my friends. The other morning in Barrie, as members of our church mission outreach team, prepared a community meal for the lunch that we serve, I asked, what I should say at these devotionals today. I needed a little bit of help because even though I'm a preacher, was at a loss for words. And so immediately, Betsy read away, one of our volunteers said, talk about listening. And I thought that was a really good suggestion. And then Tony Martell, a young man who regularly comes to help out added, especially listening to the voices of those who we don't always hear. Brilliant. Just goes to back up what we hear in the gospel, seek and ye shall find, not ask and it shall be given unto you. And I thought about this, and I did a little bit of googling as well, and found out that Vermont's own Calvin Coolidge, a man of few words, once said, a great man is a good listener. Now as a pastor, I should be a good listener, but I'll be the first to admit I'm not very good at it. And as a preacher, I'm much too enthralled by the sound of my own voice. But my wife Elizabeth is a psychologist, and she listens to children and adults who act like children, and has taught me a lot about listening. It is so important not just to hear what the other says, but also to listen deeply, to engage our minds actively in listening, to be an empathetic listener. This form of listening, it opens up our deepest human traits, and indeed, it's opening up our hearts and our souls to our friends and our neighbors. In this body, of course, much is said, much is heard, and I hope and pray there's much listening going on as well. Listening for those with whom we agree and finding a bond in that agreement. Listening with those who we disagree with and working to understand those differences. Through listening, finding the ways to work out points of disagreements and difference, so that compromise and progress become possible. And perhaps most importantly of all, as my young friend Tony said, listening for the voices you don't always hear, especially the vulnerable Vermonters seniors, children, those who are in the midst of a housing crisis, those with difficult medical needs, those who are hungry, those hard working people employed in low wage jobs who still can't make ends meet. Listening for these voices as well is important in your work, improving life for all Vermonters. And finally, finally, listening for your to yourself. Listen deeply to your own heart, to your own soul, to be guided in gratitude and concern for your colleagues and all our neighbors as we seek the well-being of all. And so many thanks for listening to me. And so if you please lift up your spirits in prayer with me. So most merciful and glorious God, as we come here today, open our hearts to listen for your way, to listen to each other, and to listen for those voices we do not always hear. So that guided by your loving kindness, we may seek the welfare of all in our work here today. This we ask in your most gracious spirit. Amen. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, we have 18 bills for introduction today. So with that, member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to introduce bills by number only?

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

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: H seven four two. To judiciary. H seven four three. To general and housing. H seven four four. To judiciary. H seven four five.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To judiciary,

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: h seven four six. To environment, h seven four seven.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To judiciary,

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: h seven four eight. To environment, h seven four nine. To environment, h seven fifty.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To education,

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: h seven fifty one.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To energy and digital infrastructure.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: H seven fifty two.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To energy and digital infrastructure.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: H seven fifty three.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To energy and digital infrastructure.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: H seven fifty four.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To judiciary. H seven fifty five. To commerce and economic development. H seven fifty six. To general and housing.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: H seven fifty seven. To general and housing.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: H seven fifty eight. To agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: And h seven fifty nine.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: To ways and means. Members, we have a bill on the notice calendar requiring referral to money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. House bill six forty eight is an act relating to banking, insurance and securities. Caring an appropriation, the bill is referred to the committee on appropriation. Members, today the senate message to us two joint senate resolutions that the senate adopted regarding to our next joint assembly. The first is JRS 35, which is a joint resolution providing for a joint assembly for the election of an adjutant and inspector general and two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation. Please listen to the reading of the resolution by title only.

[Reading Clerk (House Staff)]: JRS 35, joint resolution providing for a joint assembly of the election of an adjutant and inspector general and two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the resolution has been read and is placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day pursuant to House Rule 52. The second is JRS 36, which is a joint resolution establishing the procedure for the conduct of the election of the two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by pro purity vote by the general assembly in 2026. Please listen to the reading of the resolution by title only.

[Reading Clerk (House Staff)]: JRS 36 joint resolution establishing a procedure for the conduct of the election of two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by plurality vote by the general assembly in 2026.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now this resolution has been read and is placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day pursuant to house rule 52. Are there any announcements? Member from Essex.

[Representative Alyssa Black (Essex)]: Madam speaker, I would like to thank the member from Colchester for eagerly recognizing my district mate's birthday a day early yesterday. The fact is that she deserves to be celebrated twice because she is just wonderful. Please join me in wishing the junior member from Essex a very happy birthday today.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Member from Burlington.

[Representative Barbara Rachelson (Burlington)]: Thank you, madam speaker. So this will seem like deja vu, but I would like to introduce my other or one of my two, interns this this year. Kaylee Busch is originally from Arlington, Vermont. She's a senior at the University of Vermont. She's getting her bachelor's in social work. She's been interning with me since August. And I've gotta say the first semester, I kept saying to her, wait till we get to Montpelier. This will get way more interesting because she's been mostly doing research, and we've been meeting on campus. So Kaylee is here today at the State House. She'll be here three days a week, and she is in the gallery. So I hope everyone will welcome her.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guests of the member from Burlington please rise and be recognized? Member from Hartford.

[Representative Kevin "Coach" Christie (Hartford)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I'm excited to welcome to the people's house today, a dear friend and supporter of my work in this body. He is a farmer, and believe it or not, you wouldn't know it looking at the weather outside today, but he was working on, blueberry bushes today, to make sure we have a successful season, come July. So, if you could help me in joining and welcoming my friend Isaac Oxford to the People's House.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guests of the member from Hartford please rise and be recognized? Member from Essex Junction.

[Representative Lori Houghton (Essex Junction)]: Madam speaker, the chair from appropriations asked me to remind everyone that the second budget workshop will take place tomorrow in Room 10 from noon to one. The topic is understanding the budget documents. And there is a email that she sent to everyone to sign up for the workshop. And she says this workshop is interactive and designed to be practical, engaging, and useful, and prizes are involved. So hope to see you there.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we have one bill on our action calendar today. House Bill five forty five is an act relating to issues, immunization recommend issuing immunization recommendations. The bill was referred to the committee on human services, which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Guilford, representative Eastes will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[Reading Clerk (House Staff)]: H five forty five, an act relating to issuing immunization recommendations.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Guilford.

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Thank you, madam speaker. H 45 is a bill for the particular moment in which we find ourselves today. Passage of h five forty five will enable Vermont to keep lifesaving immunizations available to its own citizens. I invite members to track this report by turning to page one twenty seven in today's calendar. Madam Speaker, the bill, under consideration, was first crafted and requested by the Commissioner of Health in anticipation of potential changes in federal immunization policy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The commissioner's request was well timed, indeed. Just the day before this bill was introduced to the house, the CDC introduced a series of significant policy changes for immunizations. Overnight and against the recommendations of such organizations as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, thirty five percent of the CDC's previously recommended immunizations were removed from the schedule. As we work through this report, we wish to speak plainly and clearly. This bill contains no mandates or directives for immunization for individuals or families. What this bill does instead is to enable the state of Vermont to issue its own evidence based recommended immunization schedule. The federal schedule will also be available. It authorizes the Department of Health to continue purchasing those recommended immunizations at the lowest available cost, and it provides for continued insurance coverage at no cost to those seeking immunizations. The bill works on three levels. It updates technical language in current statute. It proposes authority for issuing issuing recommended immunizations in Vermont. It offers a sunset to return that authority to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in six years. Regarding updates and technical language, there are numerous instances throughout current law in which the word vaccine or vaccination is recommended to be changed to recommended immunization. The term is defined as a vaccine or other immunizing agent that provides protection against a particular disease or pathogen. Another example, there are several instances in which Department of Health is changed to department. Turning now to the guts of the bill, let's start with section one. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to operate a program with the goals of ensuring universal access to recommended immunizations at no charge to the individual or family and reducing the cost at which the state may purchase recommended immunizations. Section one further reaffirms that the commissioner shall engage in health care health care professionals, health care facilities, and health care health insurers broadly in the success of the immunization program, shall gather and analyze data to ensure the quality of the immunization program, and shall determine which recommended immunizations are to be purchased by the immunization program and purchase immunizations at the lowest available cost for use by by all. The bill ensures that immunizations may still be purchased from the CDC if available, and if not, may be purchased at the lowest available cost elsewhere. Additionally, it affirms that immunizations will remain available without cost to the recipient and that payment for recommended immunizations will be the responsibility of insurance companies, as is current practice. Finally, Section I proposes slight adjustments to the membership and responsibilities of the existing Immunization Funding Advisory Committee in order to accommodate new authority. The thrust of this bill is described in section two, which proposes to add a new section a section of new law. This new section authorizes Vermont's Commissioner of Health to create a schedule of recommended immunizations, again, to remain clear no mandates for immunization are proposed. A few details about section two. The commissioner shall periodically issue recommendations to promote the maintenance of public health and disease prevention in the state. To develop the immunization schedule, the commissioner shall consult with the Vermont Immunization Advisory Council as well as an array of other professional boards. Professionals who prescribe, dispense, or administer immunization shall be immune from civil and administrative liability, and if the commissioner deviates from a recommendation from the Vermont Immunization Advisory Council, this shall be publicly documented and disclosed. Sections three through seven gather law from multiple provisions to clarify and make consistent authorities and capacities to recommend immunizations. It's worth noting here that the Committee on Human Services collaborated with the Office of Professional Regulation on sections four and five. Section three amends current law to address the personnel and membership of the Vermont Immunization Advisory Council provide policy, medical, and epidemiological expertise to the department with regard to the safety of immunizations and immunization schedules. The bill proposes slight adjustments to this committee personnel in order to accommodate new authority. Section four amends current law to protect covered individuals from insurance companies imposing any costs for immunization, such as co payment, coinsurance, or deductible requirements. Section five amends current law to protect individuals from health plans imposing any cost for immunization. Section six amends current law to enable pharmacists to prescribe, order, or administer immunizations. Section seven amends current law to enable pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations. Sections eight through 13 comprise sunset language to reinstate current law in six years, but with proposed updates and technical changes intact. Since these sections describe current law as it stands now, I will not redescribe each for the body. Section 14 is the sunset clause itself, which repeals h five four five if it is enacted, reinstating current law with the exception of some language, and that would take effect on 07/01/2031. Section 15 proposes that this bill become law upon passage. Madam speaker, to prepare this bill, the committee heard from legislative counsel from the office of of legislative counsel, chair of the house committee on judiciary, the commissioner of the of the Department of Health, the immunization program manager of the Department of Health, the policy director of the Department of Health, general counsel of the Department of Health, the president of the American Nurses Association, Vermont, the nurse a nurse practitioner from Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association, the president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the deputy executive director of the Vermont Medical Society, the pharmacy director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, vice president of government affairs at MVP Health Care, the director of the Office of Professional Regulation, general counsel of the office of professional regulation, assistant general counsel of the department of financial regulation, a citizen from Danville, the director of Vermont stands up, a board member from health choice Vermont. The committee also received written public comment from citizens from Westford and Shelburne, Vermont, and a nurse and health journalist. Madam speaker, your committee on human services voted ten one zero and respectfully request your support as well as that of the body. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from South Burlington.

[Representative Martin LaLonde (South Burlington)]: Madam speaker, the house judiciary committee was asked, to look us at a provision at a subsection in section two, which is 18 VSA section eleven thirty a in in particular subsection c which provides immunity for individuals who have followed the recommendations in providing immunization. The committee heard from the executive director of the Vermont Medical Society, a citizen from Danville, general counsel of the Department of Health, the deputy executive director of the Vermont Medical Society and American Academy of Pediatrics, legislative counsel, and a lobbyist on behalf of the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association. Essentially, witnesses testified and and we agreed that providing this immunity provision is necessary to ensure the availability of immunizations. Without the immunity provision, health care providers would be less inclined to provide immunizations, and we want to ensure the continued access to immunizations that are scientifically based based on the recommendations included in the provision. So providing such immunity has precedent. Similar language can be found in 18 VSA section four thousand two and fifty seven that deals with healthcare professionals who prescribe, dispense or distribute opioid antagonists to prevent opioid related overdoses. So we do have precedent for this and the committee vote was nine one one finding that there was no problem with this particular provision. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now for the committee on ways and means, member from Georgia.

[Representative Carolyn Branagan (Georgia)]: Madam speaker, in ways and means, we deal with revenues of the state. We do not deal with policy. We deal with whether or not there is enough money coming in to pay for the goods and services needed by the state of Vermont. H four fifty four, we found has no fiscal impact at all. And after a straw poll, we discovered there was a unanimous decision on our committee to approve the bill, and, we released, h five forty five with our approval.

[Representative Casey Toof (St. Albans Town)]: Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now for the committee and appropriations member from Saint Albans Town.

[Representative Casey Toof (St. Albans Town)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The appropriations committee received this bill, and we would like to thank the Human Services Committee on its work. There is no money attached to this bill. There is an existing advisory committee, but there is no extra money needed for these positions. Since there is no appropriations, the house appropriations committee took a straw vote, and it passed eleven zero zero. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the member from Cabot, representative Burtt, will offers an amendment to the report of the committee on human services that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Cabot.

[Representative Gregory "Greg" Burtt (Cabot)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I appreciate everyone's time, particularly, thank you for chair Wood for letting me speak this morning at their committee. And the main reason why I brought forth this amendment was not a concern with any other part of the bill except for making sure that the patients that receive these recommended immunizations are properly informed. There are some differences obviously that are inherent to this bill that stands before us and those have to do with the state taking over portions of what would normally be regulated by the federal government and I just wanted to make sure that the patients receiving the recommended immunizations knew that and that it was clear and that was the intention behind the amendment. And I can outline more of those parts of the amendment to the body given the votes that have come out of the committees. I am going to withdraw my amendment. But I am thankful to the body and to the committee for listening to this. I think informed consent is a very important issue. And when we make changes in the statute, I do think it's important to weigh the balance of the rights of, in this case, a patient juxtaposed with the powers and immunities of our institutions. And I think as representatives to our constituents, we owe it to them to be very careful that when we do tip the scales in any way that we weigh that very carefully. And in this case, I felt like it was appropriate to do that. So I thank you. And, madam speaker, I take leave of the house and withdraw my amendment.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Absent objection. Leave is granted. Now the question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on human services? Are you ready for the question? Member from Newberry.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Thank you, madam speaker. May I inquire the presenter, please?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Guilford is interrogated.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Just a question. I don't I didn't see it in here. Is there a vaccine schedule for students to be able to go to school?

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: I think I need to take a recess, if I may, to get a correct answer here.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The House will stand at ease for a minute.

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Member from Guilford.

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Respectfully, the question at hand is not not taken up by this bill.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: I'm okay. If anyone would like to answer that, if we have a recommended vaccine schedule before a child can enter preschool or elementary school. Please, may I hear the question again? I'm just trying to understand if prior to preschool or kindergarten or whenever a child may enter our public school systems, there is a vaccine schedule that they have to have had followed or may receive a waiver from?

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: I've been advised that there is such a schedule. I don't know that personally.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Will this change, this bill change what schedule we are recommending?

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Not I don't think so. No?

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Could I get a definitive answer from someone?

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Shall we take another recess?

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: That'd be great.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The house is standing at ease for a moment. Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Member from Guilford.

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: Advise that there is such a schedule as the questioner asks, but this bill has nothing to will not change that schedule, does not address it at all.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: So it's not the intent of the committee to require this new, possibly new suggested vaccines or I shouldn't say new. I don't know what the schedule will be that's suggested in this bill.

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to create a new schedule a schedule of recommended immunizations. And anyone who reads that is free to do whatever they want.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Okay. So it's not the intention of your committee to

[Representative Zon Eastes (Guilford)]: There are Can I excuse me? Thank you. There are no mandates regard in this in this bill what whatsoever.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Is it the intention of this committee to recommend that a new vaccine schedule by the department be what is used for our school system?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Burlington, what is your point of order?

[Representative Alyssa Black (Essex)]: Well, this question's been asked and answered.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Not sufficiently to my liking.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Alright. Will the house please stand at ease and may I see folks at podium please? Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Member from Burlington? Member from Burlington, I find your point of order not well taken after the huddle at the podium and after further clarification about what the member was asking. I think we have a better understanding of the line of questioning. So upon your point of order not taken, member from Guilford, member from Newbury.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Newbury district)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I was just wondering if during committee discussion, it came up that we possibly use a new vaccine schedule given this authority as our school requirement. No. Thank you, member, and thank you, madam speaker.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the Committee on Human Services? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and you have amended the bill. Now the question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. Aye. The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do have it, and third reading is ordered. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Are there any announcements? Seeing none. Member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Friday, January 23 at 09:30AM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Friday, 01/23/2026 at 09:30AM.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And this body stands in adjournment till