Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats. Good morning. The devotional today will be led by Jeff Hewitt who is a poet from Callus.

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: My wife likes to shovel snow. That's why we live in Vermont. We waken to a good foot of it bending the lilac, and the power is out. Yippee. And she's hauling on her boots and out the door heading for the shovel. Once the car and a two wide path are cleared, she shovels a nice fat run to the compost and now apparently is shoveling the entire lawn so she can rake up the few leaves she missed in October. People these parts talk like this, at least some of them. Vermonters. Seems we Flatlanders found refuge, comfort in their values, plus the landscape. Why, we could grow our own food. Not sure we were welcome at first, fast talking from somewhere or drive too fast, but we were the ones whose cars they rescued from snowbanks, refusing compensation, maybe telling the story later with a laugh. Vermont can be tough when your pipes freeze, that first winter here, and a fool crawls under the sink with a handheld propane torch and manages not to start a fire and not to thaw the pipes. And thus, a lesson is learned. Hell, it worked last time. If not for mistakes, maybe we learn from the what ifs of memory, knowledge too late that one was a joke on a ladder leaned against the house, all three stories, hoisted cinder blocks and mortar for a chimney. Oh, and forgot to mix sand with the mortar. So the thing kind of weaved. Wendell Savage was born in that house, squinted up at the chimney, touched his chin. I never saw smoke that wouldn't bend. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Members we have six bills for introduction today. The first is House Bill eight forty one which is an act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures introduced by representative Waters Evans of Charlotte. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty one, an act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on judiciary. House Bill eight forty two is an act relating to the commission on public school employee health benefits introduced by representative of Dorset and others. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty two, an act relating to the commission on public school employee health benefits.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on general and housing. Next is house bill eight forty three, which is an act relating to monitoring of municipal wastewater discharges introduced by representative North of Ferrisburg. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty three, an act relating to monitoring of municipal wastewater discharges.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on environment. House bill eight forty four is an act relating to sales tax and a new surcharge paid on fuel by owners of short term rental and second home properties introduced by representative leaders of Lincoln. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty four, an act relating to sales tax and a new surcharge paid on fuel by owners of short term rental and second home properties.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on ways and means. House bill eight forty five is an act relating to an income tax deduction for the purchase of snow tires introduced by representative of South Burlington. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty five, an act relating to an income tax deduction for the purchase of snow tires.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on ways and means. And finally, house bill eight forty six is an act relating to artificial intelligence and elections introduced by representative Gina of Burlington and others. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: H eight forty six, an act relating to artificial intelligence and elections.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on government operations and military affairs. Members we have a bill on the notice calendar requiring referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. House bill six eleven is an act relating to miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access. Carrying an appropriation, the bill is referred to the committee on appropriations. Members we have received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR 175 is a house concurrent resolution in memory of the venerable j standard baker of Shelburne. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading/Assistant Clerk (Unidentified)]: Whereas, Stan Baker, whose forebears were Green Mountain boys and whose names are reflected in the town's Bakersfield and standard, wrote his own page of Vermont history. And whereas a Swarthmore College graduate, Stan Baker was a cofounder of and teacher at the Outer Creek School, a registered play therapist, a licensed mental health counselor, and a mental health clinic clinical director in Addison and Chittenden Counties. And whereas in the nineteen nineties, he and his life partner, Peter Harrigan, professor of fine arts theater at Saint Michael's College, desired to marry, but as the same gender couple, this was legally impossible. And whereas in partnership with two other LGBTQ plus couples, they sued for the right to marry. And in 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court in the landmark decision, Baker versus State, January Vermont January established marriage equality under the Vermont constitution. And the holding lead to act 91 of 2,000 establishing civil unions and ultimately act three of 2,009 authorizing civil marriage. And whereas in 2009, Stan Baker, a strong justice advocate was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church and his local church leadership included service as a chaplain at Fletcher Allen Healthcare, now the University of Vermont Medical Center, a deacon of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in Burlington, an archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, And nationally, he served on panels examining marriage as a five time clergy deputy to the house of delegates. As a chair of twenty twenty four house of deputies general convention legislative committee on prayer book, liturgy, music. And also in 2024 was elected to the executive council of the Episcopal Church. And whereas in June 2025, Stan Baker died at seventy seventy nine years of age and his survivors include his husband, Peter Harrigan, and numerous family members and admiring friends. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of the venerable j Standard Baker of Shelburne and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to members of the family of Stan Baker and to the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.

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

[Representative Karen Dolan]: Madam speaker, we just heard the reading of the resolution remembering the venerable Stan Baker. He was one of the plaintiffs in the historic Baker versus state case that paved the way for civil unions and then marriage equality in our state. Stan also played so many roles supporting communities through his work in his church and as a mental health counselor. Today, we have joining us Stan's husband, Peter Harrigan, along with this with Stan's sister, Peg Harrigan. Please join me in welcoming Peter and Peg to the Peoples House.

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

[Representative Zon Eastes]: Madam speaker, I won't be making an announcement about the creative sector right now, but we'll wait for that. Vermont the Vermont Access Network, Vermont's 24 community media centers and nine community radio stations, deliver a range of essential media services to Vermonters across the state. From live coverage of public meetings and events, local news, weather, and election coverage, arts and culture programming, emergency communications, media education, and job training for youth and adults, plus preservation of local history. And in this particular political climate, community media provides open space for community conversation and serves as the frontline that attacks on democracy. They're creating a thriving community based media ecosystem among a world that is lose is at risk of losing its local identity to large corporations. Among rapidly declining revenues from cable companies in recent years, Van has appreciated the operating support from the legislature to share the voices and stories of Vermonters. To chat them up and learn a little bit more about them, Van will be in the card room today until 2PM. And I see some of them in the gallery here. May we welcome them to the people's house.

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

[Representative Emilie Kornheiser]: Thank you madam speaker. I would like to introduce our devotional speaker today, poet Jeff Hewitt of Callis. Jeff is a longtime family friend, worked for a number of years with my husband and children at Governors Institute for the Arts inspiring many young people in the practice of poetry. He continues to delight many of many people including us today with his charming humor. Please welcome him to the people's house.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest of the member from Brattleboro please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from West Windsor.

[Representative Elizabeth Burrows]: Thank you, madam speaker. At noon today, the Human Rights Commission is holding a press conference in the Cedar Creek Room. And, at it, it, they will or sorry. Among the people speaking will be, participants from the Human Rights Commission's November, Civil Rights Summit, which was attended by a number of our own legislators, and they will, present some of the findings from that summit and also suggest, policy recommendations. That's at noon in the Cedar Creek Room. Thank you.

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

[Representative Shawn Sweeney]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, the caucus on Vermont's economy will meet at noon in Room 10. Our topic is state permit reform. We'll hear from expert on emerging best practices and what's happening in other states.

[Representative Karen Dolan]: Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we will begin with house bill six forty eight, which is an act relating to banking, insurance, and securities. Prior to third reading, the member from Starksboro, representative Olsen, offers an amendment to the bill that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Starksboro.

[Representative Herb Olson]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, I offer to you and to the body an amendment to h, six forty eight as shown on page three thirty one of today's house calendar. H six forty eight is the Department of Financial Regulation's annual housekeeping bill. As members were following the section by section description of the bill yesterday, I'm sure many paused at sec 48. As members read sec 48, I suspect some asked, what does this section mean? The amendment I proposed today should help that issue. Sec 48 of the bill approved on second reading and the amendment offered now both deal with federally exempt securities. The intent of sec 48 is to acknowledge that these securities in accordance with federal law cannot be regulated by a state, but issues can be required to submit a state notice filing together with the state fee. The amendment offered today simply clarifies this concept in terms one hopes everyone can understand. Madam Speaker, after your Committee on Commerce and Economic Development took favorable testimony from the department's director of policy by straw poll of eleven zero zero, the committee indicated its support for the amendment and I ask for the body's approval of the amendment. Thank you madam speaker.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member from Starksboro? 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 amended the bill. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (Unidentified)]: Page six forty eight, an act relating to banking, insurance and securities.

[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. Now we'll take up house bill seven ninety which is an act relating to fiscal year twenty twenty six budget adjustments prior to third reading. The member from Middlebury representative shy and others offer an amendment to the bill that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Middlebury.

[Representative Robin Scheu]: Madam madam speaker, I mentioned this as I was going through the budget adjustment bill yesterday. In section 77, also known as e 12, the three twelve, the HIV AIDS funding, we had appropriated $45,000 and it had all been appropriated to the Vermont Cares organization and it turns out we should have been, we were notified that we needed to spread it out among the other three, between three organizations instead of just one. And so what you see here that there's no new money, we're just changing the allocation, so Vermont Cares will get an additional 25,000, the AIDS project of Southern Vermont will get an additional 15,000, and the HIV HCV resource center will get an additional 5,000, and that's the same $45,000. The committee vote on this was eleven zero zero, and we ask for your support. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member for Middlebury and others? 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 amended the bill. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (Unidentified)]: Page seven ninety. An act relating to fiscal year twenty twenty six budget adjustments. The

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: question is, shall the bill pass?

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: The

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: member from Newbury request that when the vote is taken, it'd be taken by roll. Is the member sustained? The member is sustained. When the vote is taken, it will be taken by roll. The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, will the clerk please call the roll?

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Arsenault of Williston. Yes.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Two minutes. Will the house please come to order? Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? I would like to remind members that we are in the middle of a roll call vote. Members and guests are prohibited from using computers, phone, phones or any type of electronic device. Please refrain from the passing of notes and conversation during the roll call And when the clerk calls your name, please answer in a loud and clear voice so the clerk can accurately record your votes. The question is, shall the bill pass? Will the clerk please continue to call the roll?

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Austin of Colchester. Bailey of Hyde Park. Bartholomew of Heartland. Yes. Bartley of Fairfax. Yes. Rebecca Vanusky. Yes. Byrong of Vergens.

[Representative Matthew Birong]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Bishop of Colchester. Black of Essex? Yes. Bloomley of Burlington? Yes. Bosch of Clarendon? Putnamary City? Yes. Boyden of Cambridge? Bridget Burrows,

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: West Rutland. Burkhardt, South Burlington. Burrows,

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: West West Windsor. Windsor.

[House Reading/Assistant Clerk (Unidentified)]: Yes. Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Burt Cabot. Campbell, Saint Johnsbury. Yes. Canfield of Fairhaven. Yes. Carris Duncan and Whitingham. Casey Montpelier.

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Casey Hubbardton. Yes. Steven Esme Cole. Charlton Chester.

[House Reading Clerk (Unidentified)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Christy of Hartford. Gina Burlington.

[Representative Brian Cina]: Yes. With explanation.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Coffin of Cavendish. Yes. Cole of Hartford. Yes. Conlon and Cornwall.

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Cooper Pownall.

[Representative Zon Eastes]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Corcoran of Bennington.

[Representative Herb Olson]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Critchlow of Colchester. Tamara of Venusburg? Yes. Dickinson of Saint Albans Town? Yes. Doverbridge of Williamstown? Yes. Dodge of Essex? Dolan of Essex Junction? Yes. Dolgin of Saint Johnsbury? Donahue Northfield?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Duke of Burlington? Yes. Durfee of Shaftsbury? Yes. Eastes Of Guilford? Yes. Emma's of Springfield?

[Representative Elizabeth Burrows]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Feltus of Linden? Yes. Galfetti at Barrytown. Garifano of Essex. Yes. Woman of Rockingham.

[House Reading/Assistant Clerk (Unidentified)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Goodnow Brattleboro. Yes. Ghostland on Northfield. Yes. Granny of Jericho. Greer Bennington. Yes. Greg Burkhardt.

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Hugo Briggsier. Yes. Harper of Glover. Harvey of Castleton.

[Representative Zachary Harvey]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Hedrick of Burlington. Higley of Loht? Yes. Hope Van Norwich? Yes. Cooper of Randolph? Cooper of Burlington?

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Houghton of Essex Junction?

[House Reading/Assistant Clerk (Unidentified)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Howard of Rutland City? Yes. Holland of Rutland Town? Point Of Hartford? Hunter of Manchester? Yes. James of Manchester?

[Representative Kathleen James]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Gisenska Burke? Yes. Keyser of Rutland City? Yes. Kimball Woodstock? Klepner, Burlington?

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Kornheiser, Brattleboro? Yes. Krasno, South Burlington? Lieber Morgan? Yes. Lallie S. Shelburne? Lone of South Burlington. Yes. Lomon of Morristown. The rush of Franklin. Yes. Lipsky of Stowe. Yes. Logan of Burlington.

[Unidentified Member from Georgia (likely Representative Anthony “Tony” Micklus)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Long and Uffin. Yes. Leaders of Lincoln. Luno of Saint Albans City. Yes. McGuire of Rutland City. Yes. Malay Pittsburgh. Yes. Mark of Coventry. Yes. Maslin and Thetford. Yes. McKenna Montpelier. McCoy and Portley? Yes. McFawn of Barrytown? Yes. McGillibrand Port? Yes. Nicholas of Milton?

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Mollie of Callis? Yes. Minnie of South Burlington? Yes. Morgan Ela Milton? Morgan Emma Milton?

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Morris of Springfield?

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Morrissey Bennington? Yes. Maura Weston?

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Roakia Putney? Yes. Nelson of Derby? Yes. Nielsen of Brandon? Nigrov Bennington? Yes. North Of Ferrisburg? Yes. Noise of Olkert? Yes. Due to the South Burlington? O'Brien at Dunbridge? Yes. O'Dee Burlington? Oliver Sheldon? Yes. Olsen of Starksboro? Yes. Page in Newport City? Yes. Parsons in Newbury? Yes. Pezzo of Colchester? Yes. Pinson Aldo Dorset? Yes. Poucher Heinzberg?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Powers of Waterford? Yes. Priestley Bradford? Yes. Bridget Burditt?

[Jeff Hewitt (Devotional Speaker)]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Quimby Linden? Rachel's in Burlington? Yes. Zach Whitsland Randolph? No. Shyam Middlebury? Yes. Sheldon and Middlebury? Sebeco your Dover? Yes. Southworth Of Walden? Squirrel Of Underhill. Yes. Steady Milton. Yes. Stevens Waterbury. Yes. Stone Of Burlington. Yes. Sweeney of Shelburn.

[Representative Herb Olson]: Yes.

[BetsyAnn Wrask (House Clerk)]: Tigla Villa Carrint. Tyler Milton? Yes. Taylor Munden? Taylor Munden? Taylor Munden? Sorry, thank you. Thomas Tomlinson? Yes. Torrey Mortown? Yes. Walker or Swanton? Yes. Wads of Zaccha Berry City? Waters Evans of Charlotte? Yes. Wells Of Brownington? Yes. White O'Hatesfield? Yes. White O'Bethol? Winter Blood Low? Yes. Woodwater Berry? Yes. Yacavonia Morristown? Yes. Basha Clarendon? Brady of Williston? Carris Duncan of Whitingham, Christine Hartford, Galfetti of Barrytown, Hartwell Glover, Cooper Randolph, Boyd of Hartford, Krasno, South Burlington. Lamont of Morristown. Yes. Nielsen of Brandon. Newgen of South Burlington, Quinby of Linden, Saquitz Randolph, Sheldon of Middlebury, and Wassa Zacoberry City.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: For purpose of explanation, member from Burlington.

[Representative Brian Cina]: Madam speaker, I vote yes on this budget adjustment due to the many beneficial or harmless modifications included within it. But I do so with great objection to the governor's decision to waste taxpayer money by obligating the state to leases on private property when there's plenty of public property that could have been used and when remote work could have continued to support the efficient provision of government services.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Members please listen to the results of your vote. Those voting yes, 133. Those voting no, zero. The ayes have it and you have passed the bill. Members, due to this time sensitive, ness of this bill, member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to message our action on house bill seven ninety to the senate forthwith?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to message our actions on h 70 to the senate forthwith.

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

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Believe I said 70. It's h seven ninety.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Pultely moves that we suspend our rules in order to message our action on House Bill seven ninety to the Senate forthwith. 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 and message our action on House Bill seven ninety to the Senate forthwith. Members, that completes our orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Starksboro.

[Representative Herb Olson]: Thank you madam speaker. Madam speaker, I wish to announce the presence today in the people's house, a great number of students from rural community schools together with their parents and community members. The students are here to witness the workings of democracy in Vermont and to showcase their many accomplishments. The students come here with the assistance of the organizers of the celebration of rural schools day. They have set up tables in Room 11 where legislators can meet with students to talk about the educational and social value of their rural community schools. These are the young people growing up to become part of the fabric of their local community and of the broader community that is our state. If you can, please come down to Room 11 today. Many students will be there until 01:30 this afternoon. They are eager to join you in a conversation about their education. Madam speaker, I ask that the body recognize these students, community members, and their rural community schools. They are seated in the galley. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest of the member from Starksboro please rise and be recognized? Member from Georgia. Thanks,

[Unidentified Member from Georgia (likely Representative Anthony “Tony” Micklus)]: madam speaker. I I really enjoyed the resolution we heard earlier today of a gentleman named Stan Baker. I have never met him, but I wish I had met him. Sounded like he had long roots here in the state of Vermont. I was wondering if he was related to remember Baker who was a cousin of Ethan Allen. Oh, and he was one of those green mountain boys involved in everything including the many attempts to capture Mont Ticonderoga, yes, and other places too. Anyway, nice resolution. We are in the middle, madam speaker, of the remembering of the 200 of our country. Two hundred and fifty years ago, this week in 1776, a large bunch of artillery arrived in Massachusetts. It came from Fort Ticonderoga and arrived in Framingham, which is just outside Boston. And 25 year old Henry Knox, a bookseller from Boston made it happen. His he designed the plan, working out all the logistics to move 60 tons of iron, cannon and other armaments by boat and horse drawn sledge over poor quality or non existent roads to semi frozen rivers, forests, swamps, very rough terrain. Knox and his artillery train left the shores of Lake Champlain on the southern end and headed to Lake George and then on to Boston. So all of his trip was through New York and Massachusetts, not through Vermont. But the journey was rough, the terrain was bad, and so was the weather, swinging between blinding blizzards, sub zero temperatures like today. Can you imagine taking a team of oxen? What did they travel in a day? Five or 10 miles that distance hauling a cannon? I mean, rough work. Dangerous thaws. While deep snow was exhausting for the men and the oxen, it was actually a necessity that Knox had intentionally planned for. The massive weight of all the cannon would have been impossible to pull over muddy roads, but the snow acted as a lubricant for the sleds. So they did it. Knox and his team hauled cannon 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to the Continental Army camp just outside Boston in the dead of winter. You remember, madam speaker, that Fort Ticonderoga was captured by our own Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys. The captured fort had lots of cannon, several mortars, and a large amount of flint and lead. This equipment was badly needed in Boston to defend the city from the British. In fact, the British were already inside Boston. Benedict Arnold sent a report of the inventory of the artillery to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, and Ethan Allen sent his own report to congress. However, for many reasons, too many to read to you this morning, none of these people were able to come get the weapons and deliver them to Boston. So the cannon and other armaments sat there at the fort until Henry Knox persuaded general Washington to let him try to move the armaments to Boston. Somehow, Henry Knox and his men managed. So if somebody's 25 years old, to me now at this point in life, that's young. He was a baby, but he did it. And he did it because he was a bookseller and he read all the books in his shop before he sold them. And a lot of them had to do with logistics, with engineering, with armaments, and so he knew a lot at least from books about doing this and he managed. The king's army was driven from Boston once and for all and, in fact, the cannon never fired a shot. But when they were in Boston, they were so scary, so frightening that the the British soldiers decided to leave. And the war's momentum shifted then, not because of a fight, but because of the determination, planning, and grit of a young man. And what happened to Henry Knox? Remember, madam speaker, we were at war. Soldiers were badly needed, especially smart ones. He became a major general at 31 years old and chief of artillery for the colonial army. He was present at many of the battles of the revolution and ended up being the first secretary of war under president Washington. Knox was the was the senior officer of the army when general Washington resigned. So remember his name, Henry Knox. And madam speaker, the revolutionary war lasted eight years. So we have eight years now that we can talk about battles and whatever happened in this revolutionary war. Just letting you know.

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

[Representative Jed Lipsky]: Madam speaker, I'll make this brief. But because truth matters and accuracy matters, I thank the member from Georgia and her reporting. But it was teams of oxen that pulled most of the cannon. I know this because I participated in a two hundred centennial reenactment. And and there I and I participated and it came through our village. So thank you, madam speaker.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 3 at 10AM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Tuesday, 02/03/2026 at 10AM.

[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.