Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Monique Priestley]: Will

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: the house please come to order and members kindly take your seats. Good morning. In lieu of a devotional today, would you please join me in a moment of silence? Will you please rise as page Winnie Liu of Montpelier leads us in the pledge of allegiance. Members, we have 16 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 to suspend rules in order to introduce bills by number only.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Pultely moves that we suspend our rules 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. Ayes appear have it. The ayes do have it and you have suspended rules to introduce bills by number only. Please listen to the first reading of bills by number only.

[House Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven seven five.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To general and housing.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven seven six. To health care. H seven seven seven.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To education.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven seven eight.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To environment.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H 779. To education. H 780. To judiciary. H seven eighty one. To judiciary. H seven eighty two.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To education.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven eighty three.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To commerce and economic development. H seven eighty four. To commerce and economic development.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven eighty five.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To human services.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven eighty six.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To judiciary.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: H seven eighty seven. To environment. H seven eighty eight.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To transportation. H

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: seven eighty nine.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: To transportation.

[Assistant Reading Clerk (bill numbers)]: And h seven ninety.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: As the house committee on appropriations budget adjustment act, this bill is placed on the calendar for notice on the next legislative day pursuant to house rule 48. We have a joint resolution to take up at this time. JRH seven is a joint resolution strongly supporting the existing US Denmark treaty related to Greenland and opposing American efforts to secure sovereignty over the island offered by representative Greer of Bennington and others. Please listen to the reading of the resolution by title only.

[House Reading Clerk (titles)]: JRH seven, joint resolution strongly supporting the existing US Denmark treaty related to Greenland and opposing American efforts to secure sovereignty over the island.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now this resolution has been read for the first time and it is treated like a bill and referred to the committee on government operations and military affairs pursuant to house rule 52. Members, we have received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR one sixty two is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the 2025 Colchester High School Lakers division two championship football team. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[Assistant Clerk (reading resolutions)]: Whereas football is an inherently rough and tumble game, not known for its gentleness and grace. And the twenty twenty five division two championship contest played in South Burlington featuring the third seeded Colchester Lakers and the fifth ranked Fairhaven Slaters epitomized this description. And whereas despite an afternoon filled with a plethora of fumbles and turnovers, each squad exhibited true grid iron grit, which reflected the intensive engagement of all the players. And whereas in the first half, a clear victor did not initially emerge as while the Lakers assumed the opening seven zero lead, the Slaters then soon then soon surpassed Colchester with a temporary twelve seven scoring advantage. But Colchester concluded the first half on top fourteen two and it remained ahead for the balance of the game. Winning the division two title with a well earned 27 to 20 victory. And whereas the confident Lakers who won Colchester's first football championship since 2009 were Jackson O'Dell, Parker Walker, Liam McHugh, Hugh Seidner, Paxton Lafal, Maxon Richardson, Landon Hogan, Sawyer Ciphers, Conor Denaher, Gunnar Perrin, Michael Thomasin, Colton Lafave, Dylan Jacobs, Logan Richette, Brody Coffins, Christian McInerney, Severin Dykeman, Barrett Eckert, Jacob Rabar, Mason Shelter, Miles Degree, Tristan Fredett, Eric Rock, Tyler Reed, Noah Abbott, Sawyer Eichem, Jake Mark Jesseau, Tucker Mitchell, Calvin Ealy, Sawyer Collins, Austin Cassidy, Miles Anders, Dylan Neely, Dom Schifflety, Spencer Sartell, Sebastian Burtbach, and Aiden Gamlon. And whereas head coach Tom Perry and assistant coaches Mike Bombardier, Brennan Carney, Nick Corcoran, Anthony Dennis, Bobby Hamlin, Malcolm Hussman, Ryan O'Hara, and Bailey Olsen expertly advised and mentored the team throughout the thrilling 2025 football season. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly congratulates the twenty twenty five Colchester High School Lakers division two championship football team. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Colchester High School.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any announcements? Member from Colchester.

[Representative Sarah "Sarita" Austin]: You have heard the reading of a resolution recognizing the Colchester High School football team for winning the twenty twenty five division two state championship. This football team delivered a season to remember Through hard work, discipline, and unwavering teamwork, these student athletes rose to every challenge and represented their school and community with pride. It is my great honor to introduce this team and their coaches and their athletic director to the Vermont legislature.

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

[Representative Monique Priestley]: Madam speaker, I have two friends, in the balcony today, Mel Kemper and Ally Clayton, who help keep me sane outside of this building, and please help me welcome them to the People's House.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guests of the member from Bradford please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington.

[Representative Barbara Rachelson]: Thank you, madam speaker. The member from East Montpelier and I had introduced h c r one seven four, which is in the concurrent resolution addendum and is not being read. But but the h c r one seven four recognizes today as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 20 so eighty one years ago on this day, Auschwitz was liberated and that was a really huge deal because most everybody that went to Auschwitz was killed. I want to just remind people that over 11,000,000 people were murdered by the Nazi regime during World War two including 5,000,000 in addition to the 6,000,000 Jews, 5,000,000 others were murdered including Roma people, people with disabilities, LBGTQ plus individuals, Soviet prisoners of war, Polish civilians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others. And today, they estimate that there were only a hundred and ninety six hundred thousand survivors of the Holocaust that are still alive. We know that hatred lives today still, and it's really important to remember this day. My mom's best friend, where she lives in her senior housing, was a little girl that was she and her family were picked up in Romania and were on their way to Auschwitz, But my mom's friend, Martha, had the measles. And so they ended up sending her to Bergen Belsen instead where she actually interacted with Anne Frank fairly regularly. But that probably saved her life because most of the children at Auschwitz were killed. So, again, there's way too much hatred and discrimination in this world against Jews and others, and it's a good reminder that we do not wanna repeat, these horrible lessons from the past. So thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Well, members, rise for a moment of silence and remembrance. Member from Cambridge.

[Representative Lucy Boyden]: Thank you, madam speaker. The rural caucus will be meeting tomorrow morning, Wednesday, from eight to 08:45 in Room 10 and on Zoom. We will be continuing our discussion on municipal authority and agriculture as well as the rollout of act one eighty one. Legislators will also be able to share rural related bills that they've been working on. All are welcome.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we will begin with house bill five zero eight, which is an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Burlington. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (titles)]: H five zero eight, an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Burlington.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill pass? 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 passed the bill. Up next is House Bill five thirty two which is an act relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. The bill was referred to the committee on general and housing which recommends that the bill ought to pass the member from CALUS. Representative Mollie will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (titles)]: H five thirty two, an act relating to mandatory retirement of college professors.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Callis.

[Representative Marc Mihaly]: Madam speaker, this bill is a technical correction that brings Vermont law into compliance with long standing federal law on age discrimination. For

[Representative Monique Priestley]: more

[Representative Marc Mihaly]: than three decades, the federal age discrimination and employment act has prohibited mandatory retirement based solely on age, and that included tenure faculty in higher education. A contrary provision in Vermont law remained unnoticed until spotted by the sharp eyes of our legislative council a few months ago. That Vermont code section contrary to the applicable federal law allows Vermont institutions of higher education to require professors to retire at age 70. In reality, Vermont institutions of higher education have simply followed the federal law. This bill, h five thirty two, simply strikes the relevant Vermont code section, thus making Vermont law and federal law consistent with each other. This struck section is in section one of the bill at 32 VSA section four ninety five g. The committee heard from legislative counsel. The committee recommends that the bill be adopted by a vote of ten zero one. Madam speaker, I apologize now for any appearance of conflict that may occur since I am an emeritus professor and I am over 70, but alas, I did agree at the request of legislative counsel to carry this bill and I ask the support of the body.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill be read a third time? 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 third reading is ordered. Members, our final bill on our action calendar today is senate bill 23 which is an act relating to the use of synthetic media and elections. Member from Virgins.

[Representative Matthew Birong]: Madam speaker, your committee on the house government operations and military affairs requests that we postpone action on s twenty three one legislative day.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Virgins moves that we on action on senate bill 23 for one legislative day. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do have it, and you have postponed action on senate bill 23 for one legislative day. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from.

[Representative Theresa Wood]: Thank you, madam speaker. The older Vermonters caucus will meet tomorrow in Room 10 at noon. We will hear from doctor Joe Bowen, commissioner of the Department of Disabilities Aging and Independent Living, and Angela Smith Zhang, the deputy commissioner, who will share updates and initiatives, at the department impacting older Vermonters and the aging services network, including accomplishments in '25 and looking ahead to '26. Topics will include multisector plan on aging, age strong Vermont, workforce initiatives, housing, and efforts to stabilize and strengthen the long term care system. Room 10 tomorrow at noon. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Essex Junction?

[Representative Lori Houghton]: Madam speaker, house Democrats were caucus in Room 11 starting at 10:40, and I wanna announce to the body that we have a special guest joining us today, congresswoman Becca Ballant will be there around eleven.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Pulteney.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, house republicans will caucus ten minutes after adjournment in Room

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 10. Member from Burlington.

[Representative Brian Cina]: Madam speaker, the house progressives are not having a caucus this week. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The chair has one announcement. Just a reminder that we are going to be meeting now at 03:30PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays. So you will now start hearing me asking for motions to adjourn for 03:30. Any further announcements? Seeing none. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, January 28 at 03:30PM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Wednesday, 01/28/2026 at 03:30PM.

[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 eyes appear to have it. The eyes do have it. And this body stands in adjournment until tomorrow at 03:30.