Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good morning. Good morning. Members, in lieu of a devotional today, will you please join me in a moment of silence? Members, we have a bill on the notice calendar requiring referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. House bill five forty two is an act relating to terminating testing of schools in Vermont for PCBs carrying an appropriation. The bill is referred to the committee on appropriations. Are there any announcements? Member from Essex Junction?

[Representative Lori Houghton]: Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in coordination with the member from Bennington, Representative Morrissey, to recognize the directors of court diversion and pretrial services from across our counties who are joining us in the state house. These dedicated restorative justice professionals, along with more than 80 staff statewide, work every day to support victims of crime while creating meaningful opportunities for those who have caused harm to take responsibility and make amends. Their programs help connect defendants to mental health and substance use treatment as cases move through the courts. They provide education and accountability pathways for youth cited for alcohol or cannabis possession, and they assist individuals in restoring suspended driver licenses so they can return to work and daily life. This important work is supported through state funds granted by the attorney general's office. In the last fiscal year alone, these programs served approximately 4,500 Vermonters. We are grateful for their commitment to accountability, restoration, and stronger communities. Additionally, I would like to recognize that today's group includes the former member from Rutland who had the pleasure of working who I had the pleasure of working with in the house judiciary. Thank you for welcoming the entire group to the people's house.

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

[Representative Michael Marcotte]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, the early college and free degree promise students from the community college of Vermont are with us. They're joining us from across the state today to talk about their education to career pathways. Many of these students are earning debt free associate's degrees just one year after graduating from high school, and their majors will lead them to jobs in Vermont's critical occupations. These pathways through community college are a bright spot at a time when Vermont's high school graduation and college going rates are declining and now the lowest in New England. And they will a few of them will be joining your house committee on commerce and economic development after the floor to discuss some of their chosen pathways. Please join me in welcoming them. And when you see them around the State House today, ask them about their stories. They're in the gallery.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest member from Coventry please rise and be recognized? Member from Fairfield.

[Unidentified Representative (from Fairfield)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I don't really have anything to say about February 20, but I do have something for February 21, which is tomorrow. Few things in history happened that are pretty cool and some of them kind of tragic. The trial of Joan of Arc began. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels published the communist manifesto. Malcolm x was assassinated. President Nixon went to China. But what's relevant to our body is that the member of Ludlow has a birthday, and we would like you all to help us wish him a happy birthday. And he likes everybody to know he is in fact a week younger than a Dean.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Member from Rutland City.

[Representative James Masland]: Madam speaker, I'd like to welcome a past member of the house back to the house and a constituent. Please welcome back Will Nodd.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the former member please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Fairfax.

[Unidentified Representative(s) (mixed: Fairfax / Waitsfield / Poultney)]: Thank you, madam speaker. May I quote the inaugural address of the eighth dean of the Vermont, law school?

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

[Unidentified Representative(s) (mixed: Fairfax / Waitsfield / Poultney)]: Thank you. Leadership means the capacity to envision a world different from the one we're in and the drive to change things to make them better. These words perfectly reflect the leadership we see every day from the member from Kairos. Through his guidance, thoughtfulness, and commitment to public service, he is the true embodiment of a leader, someone who not only envisions a better future, but works tirelessly to help us achieve it. Today, because we're in the body today, I would like to wish the member a very happy birthday. It is also tomorrow. And thank you and thank him for his continued leadership, mentorship, and dedication to the body and the people of Vermont.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Member from Thetford.

[Representative James Masland]: Thank you, madam speaker. A number of people here commented on my story yesterday about the Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War two and about my relationship with the Okamoto family. There is a sequel that you all might be interested in. When I was in college in California, one afternoon, a phone rang and this very soft voice said, This is Cherry Okamoto. We're just down in Los Altos and we would like you to come down for dinner. So, of course, I did and became reacquainted with the Okamoto family, Reo, Cherry, Esther, and Kiyomi, and got to know them again in a way that was very, very meaningful to me and kept up with them as long as they were above the sod, as we could say. So I just thought you would all like to know the sink well, madam speaker. It was very meaningful to me. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Mhmm. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members, we have one bill on our action calendar today. House Bill nine zero seven is an act relating to legislative review of reporting requirements. Member from Virgins.

[Unidentified Representative (from Fairfield)]: Madam speaker, I move that we postpone action on h nine zero seven legislative review of reporting requirements one legislative day.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Virgins moves that we postpone action on House Bill nine zero seven 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 ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and you have postponed action on house bill nine zero seven for one legislative day. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Weitzfield.

[Unidentified Representative(s) (mixed: Fairfax / Waitsfield / Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I would just like to remind the body that next Wednesday, February 25, Bolton Valley Ski Resort will be hosting a legislative ski night from five to ten p. M. There was an email that went out with a sign up sheet. I will recirculate that email to the body today and I encourage anyone who's interested to attend.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 24 at 10AM?

[Unidentified Representative(s) (mixed: Fairfax / Waitsfield / Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Tuesday, 02/24/2026 at 10AM.

[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. The ayes appear to have