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. The devotional today will be led by representative Casey of Montpelier.

[Representative Conor Casey (Montpelier)]: Good morning. Good morning. This being Saint Patrick's Day, I thought I'd share a piece of Irish storytelling, something that long predates Saint Patrick himself or even Christianity in Ireland. It comes from the or the cattle raid of Cooley, one of the great epics in Irish mythology, a story passed down for centuries, shaped by memory and retelling. It's set in a time in Ireland, before Ireland was a country, and it was just an island warring kingdoms. And at the heart of it is Queen Maeve, a powerful, ruthless, and petty ruler who discovers her husband is richer than her by one mighty bull. It's only equal is found in the neighboring kingdom of Ulster. So naturally, Queen Maeve raises an army and marches on Ulster to claim the bull by force. The men of Ulster are cursed. They've been cursed by labor pains making them completely incapacitated, leaving only a single warrior, Cahullan, to defend his land. And so the story becomes a series of encounters between one person and an overwhelming force. A war driven by pride and carried on long after its cause has begun to fade. So the piece I'm gonna read is, an adaptation of, this mythology. It's, it's from a play I wrote called The Pangs of Ulster. Every night I go home and I hear all your voices in my head, so I have to write plays to get them out. It's it's really tough. So this play is this just starts with the prologue of it, and I'll I'll give it a read now. It begins in a time long past with the people forgotten by those who are now forgotten by us. And in this time, there lived two farmers, brothers, men who loathed one another as only brothers could. With every breath, they spewed bitterness and with every bitter word, their venom grew until one night they could bear it no longer. Under the crimson moon, the brothers fought, each the others equal, without a sliver of room between them. They fought until the blood soaked the land they had farmed as young boys. They fought until every drop of life drained from their bodies, and the two lay motionless in each other's grasp. But their hatred was such that not even death could end their quarrel, and so they were reborn as ravens in the starry sky. And above the clouds, the brothers clawed and pecked, savaging one another until their wings were broken and they fell lifelessly into the grass. Yet even still, death could not quell their hatred, and so they were born once again as mighty stags. The forest shuddered in fear as the brothers butted heads. By the time they had finished, every tree had fallen under their weight and both lay as still and silent as the forest itself. For thousands of years, the cycle continued as kingdoms rose and fell and the brothers lived and died. By now they had forgotten their names or anyone they had ever loved. They had forgotten where they what had begun their feud or even that they were once men at all. As the crimson moon's reflection rippled in a shallow pool, two eels danced in its black waters below, drawn together by an ancient revulsion. But before they could clash, something would happen to forever break the cycle. A pair of mighty bulls, the most fearsome bulls in all of Ireland bent down to quench their thirst. And as the bulls drank deeply, they each drank a brother eel, and and with it, they drank all their hatred, all their rage, all the sorrow in the world. Tonight the moon shines bright and the king of Kingdom of Conor sleeps, but tomorrow all of Ireland will tremble. Happy Saint Patrick's Day everybody. Thanks very much.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will you please rise as page meddling Howard of Montpelier leads us in the pledge of allegiance.

[Page Madeline Howard (Montpelier)]: I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under law, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, we have received a letter of resignation from representative Cooper of Burlington. Will the clerk please read the letter?

[House Reading Clerk]: Madam speaker, please accept this instrument as my formal notice of resignation from the Vermont House of Representatives. Although earlier than I anticipated, I feel the environment of the house has changed significantly and influenced my decision for the next cycle. Thank the body for the friendships and conversations over the years and the members of even the minority party who wish me godspeed over the last few days. I especially thank representative Sweeney of Shelburne for singularly taking the time to sit down and discuss his feelings with me, which influenced my decision to resign well before my party made their feelings known. We have massive problems before us that must be solved in order to improve the lives of Vermonters, new and old. Old leadership will be required. Best of luck. Robert Huber.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, we have 11 house bills for introduction today. The first is house bill nine thirty three, which is an act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws introduced by the committee on ways and means. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty three, an act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and appropriation is referred to the committee on appropriations pursuant to house rule 35A. The next is house bill nine thirty four which is an act relating to the fee for selling hunting licenses Introduced by representative Harvey of Castleton. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty four, an act relating to the fee for selling hunting licenses.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on environment. House bill nine thirty five is an act relating to emergency management introduced by the committee on government operations and military affairs. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty five, an act relating to emergency management.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill that carries an appropriation is referred to the committee on appropriations pursuant to house rule 35A. House bill nine thirty six is an act relating to providing an oath and the affirmation requirements throughout the Vermont statutes annotated. Introduced by representatives Burditt of West Rutland and Harvey of Castleton. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty six, an act relating to providing an oath option and affirmation requirements throughout the Vermont statutes annotated.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on judiciary. And house bill nine thirty seven is an act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures introduced by the committee on judiciary. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty seven, an act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill that affects the revenue of the state is referred to the committee on ways and means pursuant to house rule 35 a. House bill nine thirty eight is an act relating to establishing the Vermont homelessness response continuum introduced by the committee on human services. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty eight, an act relating to establishing the Vermont homelessness response continuum.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill that carries an appropriation, it is referred to the committee on appropriations pursuant to house rule 35A. Next is house bill nine thirty nine which is an act relating to reducing state paperwork introduced by representative Newton of South Burlington. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine thirty nine, an act relating to reducing state paperwork.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on government operations and military affair affairs. Next is house bill nine forty which is an act relating to miscellaneous public utility subject introduced by the committee on energy and digital infrastructure. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine forty, an act relating to miscellaneous public utility subjects.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill that carries an appropriation is referred to the committee on appropriations pursuant to house rule 35A. House bill nine forty one is an act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture introduced by the committee on agriculture, food resiliency and forestry. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine forty one, an act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill is placed on calendar for notice on the next legislative day pursuant to house rule 48. Next is house bill nine forty two which is an act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects introduced by the committee on agriculture, food resiliency and forestry. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine forty two, an act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and as a committee bill is placed on the calendar for notice on the next legislative day pursuant to house rule 48. And finally house bill nine forty three is an act relating to municipal permitting of ground mounted solar arrays introduced by representative Carris Duncan of Whitingham. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: H nine forty three, an act relating to municipal permitting of ground mounted solar arrays.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on energy and digital infrastructure. Members we also have five senate bills for referral this morning. The first is senate bill 173 which is an act relating to vocational rehabilitation introduced by senator Ron Hinsdale. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S one seventy three, an act relating to vocational rehabilitation.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill's been read the first time and is referred to the committee on commerce and economic development. Next is senate bill one eighty three which is an act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud introduced by senator Norris. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S one eighty three, an act relating to home improvement and home land improvement fraud.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on judiciary. Next is senate bill two thirteen which is an act relating to the use of advanced metering infrastructure devices. Introduced by senators Hardy and Watson. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S two thirteen, an act relating to the use of advanced metering infrastructure devices.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill's been read the first time and is referred to the committee on energy and digital infrastructure. Next is senate bill two twenty three, which is an act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont introduced by senators Baumgartz and Watson. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S two twenty three, an act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on environment. And finally, senate bill two thirty is an act relating to fair employment practices introduced by senator Perchlich. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S two thirty, an act relating to fair employment practices.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on general and housing. Members we have seven bills on the notice calendar that also require referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. We'll start with the three that affect the revenue of the state and therefore referred to the committee on ways and means. They are house bill two eleven which is an act relating to data brokers and personal information. House bill five sixty which is an act relating to educational technical products and house bill seven twenty seven which is an act relating to sustainable data center deployment. Next the following four bills carry an appropriation and therefore are referred to the committee on appropriations. They are House Bill four ten which is an act relating to the calculation of recidivism and other criminology measures. House Bill five eighty three which is an act relating to healthcare financial transactions and clinical decision making. House Bill eight seventeen which is an act relating to mental health support and substance use disorder prevention in schools. And finally House Bill eight sixty one which is an act relating to establishing an Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. Members, we have received two house concurrent resolutions that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. The first is HCR two fourteen which is a house concurrent resolution celebrating the essential contributions of Irish American patriots in the struggle for our nation's independence. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Assistant/Reading Clerk]: Whereas on March 1776, the British ended an eleven month long siege of Boston, Massachusetts leaving control of the city to American forces including General John Sullivan, the son of Irish immigrants, who General George Washington named his officer of the day, and who subsequently served served in New Hampshire as governor and as a federal district court judge. And his brother, James Sullivan, later served in Massachusetts as an associate state supreme court justice, attorney general, and ultimately as governor. And whereas eight signers of the declaration of independence were Irish Americans, either born in Ireland or in the colonies, namely Thomas McKean, who would later serve as president of the Continental Congress, Charles Carroll, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch junior, and George Reed. And whereas the these eight illustrious individuals spirit of independence was crucial in the establishment of the American nation. And generations later, their legacy helped inspire the founding of the Irish Republic and both constituted new societies for free individuals. And whereas John Dunlap, who emigrated from County Tyrone, printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and the first international newspaper publication of the declaration occurred in August 1776 in Ireland on the front page of the Belfast newsletter. And whereas two hundred and fifty years ago, Stephen Mollie, George Washington's Irish American aide de camp, in the letter he wrote, first used the phrase United States Of America on paper. And whereas in a concise summary of Irish Americans role in securing American independence, Lord Mount Joy declared to the British parliament in London that America was lost by Irish immigrant immigrants. I am assured by the best authority, the major part of the American army was composed of Irish and that the Irish language was as commonly spoken in American ranks as English. I'm also informed that it was their valor that determined the contest. And whereas on Saint Patrick's Day twenty twenty six, the year marking our nation's two hundred and fiftieth birthday, it is most fitting to commend the role of Irish Americans in ensuring the success of the American revolution. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives to the general assembly celebrates the essential contributions of the Irish American patriots in the struggle for our nation's independence. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to senator Mark Daley, chairperson of the senate of Ireland, and to the leadership of the American Irish state legislators caucus.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Next is HCR two twenty, which is a house concurrent resolution welcoming the 03/17/2026 namesake visit of the officers and crew of The US submarine Vermont to the state house and designating 04/18/2026 as USS Vermont day in Vermont. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Assistant/Reading Clerk]: Whereas the USS Vermont continues a leadership role within with the Austria Australia, UK, and US trilateral security partnership, strengthening deterrence in the Western Pacific. And whereas the USS Vermont completed the first ever submarine maintenance availability performed outside The US territory at at HMAS Sterling in Australia, validating readiness for submarine rotational force west with US and UK nuclear submarines. And it was awarded the Navy unit commendation, the second highest unit award in the US Navy for its deployment that ended in 2025. And whereas this outstanding US Navy vessel was the first submarine ever to earn commander submarine squadron one alpha belt awards for the consecutive months. And whereas in addition to the namesake visit occurring today, 03/17/2026, there will be a USS Vermont information display at the State House on Friday, 04/17/2026 in in anticipation of the anniversary of the launch of the USS Vermont on Saturday, 04/18/2026. And whereas the USS Vermont continues to bring great honor to her namesake state and our nation's heritage of new naval excellence. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly welcomes the 03/17/2026 namesake visit of the officers and crew of the USS Vermont to the state house and designates 04/18/2026 as the USS Vermont day in Vermont. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to present a copy of this resolution to the commanding officer of the USS Vermont, commander Matthew Lewis, and to the USS Vermont support group.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any announcements? Member from Milton.

[Representative Leland Morgan (Milton)]: Madam speaker, we just heard the resolution honoring our state's namesake, the USS Vermont submarine. Here with us today to commemorate our annual acknowledgment of this special relationship are the following. USS Vermont commander Matthew Lewis, commanding officer of the USS Vermont, lieutenant JJ Duran Lichman. We also have with us Lieutenant Jacob Kuchowski and midshipman midshipman representing Norwich University Navy ROTC. We have senior chief David McDonald representing the Coast Guard aids to navigation team at a Coast Guard station Burlington and he has some other members with him. We have base commander Bill Mattoon and sub vets from the USSVI Green Mountain base. We also have, many of us know, commander retired Bob Burt, director of the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, a Navy retired officer, and mister Gary Frymeyer, president of the USS Vermont Support Group and other members of that group. Lastly, as far as individual names, I do not wanna forget because he's sort of a constituent and he's a he's you never ever, as my senior navy officer serves, will recognize leave out that there's a master chief retired in our presence, Rod Brigham. Madam speaker, we are pleased to have the USS Vermont representatives here with us today. As you often hear me say, they are a key component of the United States military, our sword and shield that allow the rest of us to sleep peaceably in our beds at night. Madam speaker, our guests are seated in the gallery behind me. I ask that we give them a hearty and warm welcome.

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

[Representative Zachary Harvey (Hyde Park)]: Madam speaker, last Friday, we had a moment of silence for former representative Kenneth Ken a Harvey. Ken was a friend and a political mentor to me. May I read a brief biography of his life?

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

[Representative Zachary Harvey (Hyde Park)]: Ken Harvey grew up in Hyde Park, attended Memorial Central Academy, and graduated from Memorial Union High School with the class in 1969. He graduated with a business degree from Champlain College in '71, which launched his successful career. At the age of 20, he established Ken's Mobile in Morrisville, then subsequently Harvey's Sitgo and Johnson and Harvey's Mobile in Montpelier. Continued embarked on a successful entrepreneurial career, including KA Harvey manufacturing housing, county oil plumbing, and heating, Sterling, View Mobile Home Park, Johnson Mobile Home Park, and Highland Heights, all residential and developments. In addition, he also owned Maple Woods Campground, Eden Gravel Pit, and Harvey Storage units. Despite his many professional commitments, Ken decided to devote his time and energy to the citizens of Hyde Park and Lemoyle County as a public service. He was a municipal his municipal public service began in '81 when he was elected to the seat on Hyde Park's like board in '85. He expanded his commitment to the town with the accepted where he accepted the road commissioner's position. The voters of Lemoyle 1 House Legislative District were impressed immediately with his job performance as select board member. In 1983, they elected him to serve their as their representative to the general assembly for the first of five consecutive terms. Ken won the trust and respect of his legislative colleagues regardless of their partisan affiliation. He was appointed to the chair of house transportation appointed chair of the house transportation where he presided in an honest and fair manner. He voluntarily relinquished his legislative sheet, but he continued to serve as the chair of Hyde Park's like board and as the Hyde Park Road Commissioner. Ken was a founding member of Hyde Park Recreational Field Committee and was instrumental in the development of the town's newest athletic facility. He served on the Lemoyle County Sheriff's Advisory Board. The board of Vermont Colleges belonged to the Bliss Lodge forty four in Hyde Park in the Mount Vernon Mason Lodge eight in Morrisville, and he was also a member of the Morrisville Rotary Club. Ken embraced his life with positive and optimistic attitude, always taking life life challenges with resiliency and grace. He was a passionate family man who supported those he loved with encouragement and unwavering generosity. Although he was dedicated to his work, enjoyed attending pony poles, exploring the back roads of Lemoa County, and winning at the casino. He took pleasure for cooking for his family gatherings, maple sugaring, and with the maple sugaring with the guys in garden. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Charlotte.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Charlotte)]: Madam speaker, I don't know anything about basketball, and I have no idea how to run a basketball pool. And it has come to my attention that this is a thing we need to deal with this week. I have several others who are going to help me. They don't know it yet, but they're sitting in this room. I just wanted everyone to know I did not drop the ball. I don't even know if that's a basketball expression or not, but we are going to be doing March Madness. Don't get upset. Do not tell the former member from Chittenden that I neglected to get this organized so far. It nobody does their polls till the last minute anyway, I think we're gonna be alright. Just wanted to let everyone know who's coming. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington.

[Unidentified Member from Burlington]: It's that time of year. Mark your calendars. April 23, legislative cabaret, Capitol Plaza, 07:30PM. More details to come.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Cambridge. Madam speaker, the rural caucus will meet tomorrow morning from eight to 08:45 in Room 10 and on Zoom. We'll be joined by senator Rich Westman and VL Coffin to discuss local option taxes and transportation. All are welcome. There are any further announcements? Member from Winooski.

[Representative Daisy Berbeco (Winooski)]: It's also that time of year, madam speaker, for NAMI walks. Everyone watch your email for an email from me to join the team again of the state house stigma stompers to support mental health.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we will begin with house Bill seven twenty three which is an act relating to posting of land. It was referred to the committee on environment which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Randolph, Representative Zakowitz will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H seven twenty three, a act relating to posting of land.

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

[Representative Larry Satcowitz (Randolph)]: Madam speaker, h seven twenty three, an act relating to posting of land, makes changes to our statutes concerning how land is posted using notice signs to prohibit hunting, fishing, or trapping may be found today on on on page nine seventy nine of today's calendar. The bill changes statute in three primary ways. It eliminates the requirement that notice signs be dated. Vermont is the only state that requires notice signs be dated, and we heard testimony that this requirement is unduly burdensome to landowners. In addition, currently, for land to be legally posted, landowners must record this posting annually with the town clerk of the municipality in which the land is located. We are not changing that. The bill clarifies, however, that this posting is valid for three hundred and sixty five days from the time the posting is recorded, not for the calendar year. This is the common current practice, but there has been some recent confusion about how current statute ought to be interpreted. Lastly, the bill also states that land is considered posted in the case that the posting deviates from requirements if that deviation is accidental or unintentional and that a reasonable person seeing the posting would assume the land is posted. For example, the law requires signs to be no more than 400 feet apart. If they were instead four zero one feet apart, the land would still be legally posted. The committee heard testimony from commissioner, Department of Fish and Wildlife executive director, Vermont Traditions Coalition treasurer, City Of Barrie sponsor of the bill several landowners, hunters, farmers, lobbyist, Vermont Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, town clerk, town of Huntington, chief of operations, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel, General Counsel, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Chief Warden of the Warden Service Division, Department

[Representative Michael Nigro (Bennington/Pownal)]: of

[Representative Larry Satcowitz (Randolph)]: Fish and Wildlife. The act takes effect on passage. Passed on a vote of ten, zero, one. Your committee on environment respectfully requests your support of the bill.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on environment? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor please say aye. All those opposed, please say nay. 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. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Members we have an update on the order of the calendar today. We will take up next House Bill seven fifty seven which is an act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives and House Bill five forty two will get bumped to the end of the calendar today since the committee is still working on an amendment. With that, we will turn to House Bill seven fifty seven which is an act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives. The bill was referred to the committee on general and housing which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The representative from Colchester, representative will speak for the committee and affecting revenue of the state the bill was then referred to the committee on ways and means which recommends that the report of the committee on general and housing be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Barrie City, representative will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H seven five seven. An act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives.

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

[Representative Brian Minier (Colchester)]: Good morning, madam speaker. This report is for h seven fifty seven, an act relating to manufactured homes, limited equity cooperatives. I would like the member from Callis, the chair of our general of your general and housing committee to introduce the concept and the importance of manufactured housing. Then he and I will address the contents of the bill. Madam speaker, I would ask permission to yield to the member of Callis.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester yields to the member from Callis.

[Representative Marc Mihaly (Calais)]: Madam speaker, I'd like to introduce you and the body to the concept of manufactured homes. These are structures we used to call mobile homes, now a misnomer since the great majority are not mobile in any sense of the word, rather they're firmly planted on foundations. They exist in both manufactured home communities, formerly called mobile home parks, and are and freestanding on lots. Manufactured homes are now a far cry from what you may have in mind when picturing older mobile homes. They are now manufactured to a robust standard building code promulgated by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development known as the HUD code. They're well built, they're durable, and appreciate in value at rates similar to stick built homes. Your general and housing committee visited new for sale manufactured homes. They're frequently built in modules still popular known as single wides and double wides. We toured, for example, a three bedroom double wide with insulated walls, double pane windows, a wallboard interior, higher end appliances, a mudroom with a washer and dryer, and modern energy efficient heating and cooling. This high end model when planted on a foundation and hooked up to utilities would cost less than $225,000. We saw a two bedroom single wide that would cost approximately a 175,000 sited. And used single wides often cost well under a 100,000. These are excellent durable structures priced for first time buyers. We in Vermont, madam speaker, we all know face a housing crisis. There isn't enough of it, and what there is cost too much. Manufactured houses are of great importance because in the current market, they are the only the only form of housing in Vermont that is affordable to the average Vermonter without an outside subsidy. Given the limited funds we have for such subsidies, it is of supreme importance that we make it easier to buy and sell such homes, to finance their purchase, and to locate them. That is the purchase of the purpose of h seven fifty seven. Madam speaker, I'd like now to yield back to the member from Colchester.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from CALS yields to the member from Colchester.

[Representative Brian Minier (Colchester)]: Manufactured homes are occupied by working class families, older adults, people with ability issues, young families with children, widows and widowers, retirees who are downsizing or whose incomes no longer support their previous housing, and individuals living on fixed incomes. Most households fall into low to moderate income affordability levels and often do so with little, if any, reliance on state subsidies. Over the past decade, many man manufactured home communities have transitioned to owner occupied limited equity cooperatives known as LEC's. In this model, residents collectively own the land through a cooperative or nonprofit entity while also owning their individual homes, paying local and state property taxes on their homes and contributing the share costs of maintaining the community often referred to as lot rents. These communities are not profit driven. Each household holds a membership share in the cooperative and has an equal voice in the cooperative's governance. These communities are democratically managed by a resident elected board of directors. H seven fifty seven addresses long standing inconsistencies in how manufactured homes are purchased, titled, cited, and taxed creating a clearer and more consistent system for homeowners, lenders, municipalities, and state agencies. The bill also reduces upfront costs by addressing the disproportionate sales and use tax currently applied to manufactured homes. Taxes that comparably resident homes do not face. The bill reinforces that manufactured homes, modular, and prefabricated homes must be treated the same as site built homes for land use purposes because despite existing law, some municipalities still impose zoning barriers that restrict placement and limit these affordable homeownership opportunities. Together, these changes create a clearer and more consistent framework that recognizes manufactured homes as permanent and essential part of Vermont's housing landscape. Madam speaker, we will now take us through the bill by section. The bill itself may be found on the general and housing committee website under documents for Tuesday, February 17 as draft 3.1 and in today's calendar at page one zero zero three. Section one of the bill makes small changes to definitions. It refines the definition of mobile home to give financing age entities more clarity. Note that this term used in relevant statutes here is mobile home, a term currently used throughout the code. The change to term manufactured home is made on a global basis at the end of the bill rather than section by section. Section one similarly refines the definition of warranty deed clarifying that a sample deed in the code is illustrative rather than mandatory and eliminating the requirement that the owner of manufactured home park actually sign a deed between a buyer and a seller. Note that the manufactured home may be transferred into two ways, either as real property by deed or as personal property by bill of sale. The real property approach is preferred because it provides greater protection to the buyer, but both options are retained here. This section also struck a process by which a bill of sale would be converted to a deed because it was deemed overly complex and perhaps unnecessary. You will hear that section was retained in ways and means amendment. Section two clarifies the definition of mobile home park. Section three addresses limited equity cooperatives that exist as manufactured home communities. It sets out the requirements related to temporary subleasing of the individual homes such that manufactured home, LEC, must follow to perpetually maintain its public purpose of serving persons or families of low to moderate income. The section specifically states that homeowners are not permitted to sublease except under certain defined circumstances and at a defined rent. This helps ensure that the home remains affordable and that the homeowner is charging fairly for both the sublease and themselves. The ways and means report makes minor changes to this section. Finally, section three also with minor amendments by ways and means addresses the treatment of limited equity cooperative for purposes of state funding and grants. Section four provides that no bylaw may have the effect of excluding manufactured homes, modular homes, and prefabricated housing from a zoning district that allows year round residents residential development except on the same conditions as conventional housing is excluded. Madam speaker, may I yield the floor back to the member from Callis?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester yields to the member from Callis. Madam

[Representative Marc Mihaly (Calais)]: speaker, sections five through 11 of the bill all relate to taxation. The problem arises because of the historic treatment of manufactured homes as partly personal property and partly real property. Currently manufactured home purchasers pay sales and use tax when they buy the home, and then they pay property transfer tax. It's the intent of this bill to reduce the effect of this double taxation especially given that owners pay property taxes as well. I'll treat these issues very briefly since as you will hear the Ways and Means Committee has taken a somewhat different approach than the bill as it was voted out of general and housing, but the overall financial goal of the legislation remains well addressed in the Ways and Means amendment. So I can just say sections five through 11 exempt the sale of mobile homes from sales and use taxes and impose the property transfer tax on mobile home sales. Madam speaker, I'd like to yield the floor back to the member from Colchester.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from CALS yields to the member from Colchester.

[Representative Brian Minier (Colchester)]: Section 12, inconsistencies have surfaced across the state and how the property owned by manufactured home limited equity cooperatives is assessed for property tax purposes resulting in substantial variations in the appraised value. This bill, somewhat revised and relocated by the Ways and Means Committee directs the Department of Taxes to conduct an inventory of how LEC property is currently valued for property tax purposes and make a recommendation on a preferred statewide approach all to be reported to the applicable legislative committees by 11/15/2026. Section 13, this section allows manufactured home limited equity cooperatives upon request to update their registration with the secretary of state to accurately reflect that cooperative structure as a nonprofit. Section 14. This is a section that directs legislative council to change the term mobile home to manufactured home when preparing the Vermont statues annotated for publication. Section 15 effect effective date, this act will take effect on 07/01/2026. Madam speaker, your general and house committee heard from the joint fiscal office, three members of the office of legislative council, the president of Vermont Bankers Association, the finance and marketing coordinator of Feltus Homes, the owners and president of Feltus Homes, an attorney specializing in the sale of manufactured homes, the director of business services of the Secretary of State's office, the regulatory program coordinator of East Rise Credit Union, the attorney for East Rise, the president of Tri Park Cooperative Housing in Brattleboro, the the municipal policy and advocacy specialist of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, a senior officer of Pew Charitable Trust specializing in manufactured housing, and the cooperative development specialist of Cooperative Development Institute. Your committee on general and housing passed H seven fifty seven out of committee in favor eight zero three and ask for your support.

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

[Unidentified Member from Barre City (Ways and Means)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Affecting the revenues of the state, h seven fifty seven was referred to your committee on ways and means, which recommends that the bill ought to pass as amended by the ways and means committee. Our amendment takes the form of a strike all amendment and can be found on page, ten fourteen of today's calendar. The fiscal note can be found on our webpage, and members should look for draft 2.2 of the fiscal note. I wanna start by thanking the House General and Housing Committee for their work on this important sector of our housing stock, and we share their goals. To simplify and reduce transaction costs and manufactured home purchases, to avoid double taxation, and to support the availability of the most affordable kind of housing that is available for Vermonters. Your Ways and Means Committee worked to balance supporting opportunity while maintaining consistency in our tax code. As this is a strike all amendment, I will only speak to those, portions of the bill which our committee made changes to. The first change we made is in section one, pages three and five, which was to require all warranty and quick claim deeds to be substantially in the forms as laid out in the bill to ensure consistency in deed documentation. The next change our committee made was to restore nine VSA chapter 72 subsection twenty six zero five. This language, as the member from Colchester spoke to, allows manufactured homeowners to transfer their bill of sale to a deed. As we want to encourage folks to hold manufactured homes as real property, we restored this language. However, as we were just reverting language back to current law, the language itself does not appear in our amendment. The third changes come in section three concerning the tax treatment of limited equity cooperatives, LEC's. The effect of this language is the same as passed from the House General and Housing Committee, which is to allow the LAC LEC's to take advantage of state state grant programmings. On advice of the tax department, we tightened the language to be clear that this ability to access grant funding does not do anything to impact or alter the tax treatment of a mobile home park organized as an LEC. The bulk of the changes in terms of tax policy are in the next sections. Put simply, we removed sections five through 11 of the House General and Housing Committee report and replaced them with new sections five and six of our strike all amendment. Our changes produce, our changes produce the shared goal between our committees to simplify and reduce transaction costs in acquiring manufactured homes. The House General and Housing Report would have had all manufactured homes fall under the property transfer tax regardless of whether or not they were purchased with a deed or a bill of sale. We heard testimony from the tax department that this would be both complicated and expensive to administer and create further inconsistencies in the tax code, which our committee always tries to avoid. So we took a slightly different approach. Manufactured homes financed as real property with a deed will be subject to the property transfer tax and exempt from the sales and use tax. Manufactured homes financed as personal property with a bill of sale will be subject to the sales and use tax. However, as those who were paying the sales and use tax were paying significantly more in tax liability for the same product as those who were paying the property transfer tax, we expanded the exemption of the sales tax from 40% to 90%. In much simpler terms, madam speaker, regardless of whether you financed the purchase of a manufactured home with a bill of sale or a deed, you will now pay roughly the same amount of tax regardless of which tax mechanism is levied. As members will see on the fiscal note, this is expected to result in a loss of $200,000 in sales tax revenue in FY '27 and by a loss of $500,000 of sales tax revenue annually thereafter. Alright. Homestretch. Section 12 of the House General and Housing, was a report back on property tax assessments. That was removed and will be included in a later bill coming from your Ways and Means Committee regarding larger changes to property tax assessment systems. Sections thirteen and fourteen were renumbered but unchanged in our report. Finally, the effective date section has one change. All sections of this bill will go into effect on 07/01/2026, except that the tax changes, sections five and six, will go into effect 07/01/2027 to give the tax department time to implement these changes. Your committee on ways and means heard from a fiscal analyst from the Joint Fiscal Office, the president of the Vermont Baker's Association, ledge counsel from the Office of Legislative Counsel, the regulatory program coordinator from East Rise Credit Union, and the executive policy adviser for the Department of Taxes. The vote for the strike all amendment in committee was eleven zero zero, and we ask for your support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now a member from Colchester.

[Representative Brian Minier (Colchester)]: Madam speaker, the general and house committee thanks the ways and means committee for its hard work on this complex task. We reviewed the ways and means amendment and found it favorable by a straw poll of ten zero one.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the report of the committee on general and housing be amended as recommended by the committee on ways and means, member from Berry City?

[Unidentified Member from Barre City (Ways and Means)]: One quick correction, madam speaker. The effective date for the tax changes shall take effect 01/01/2027, not July 1.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And you have amended the report of the committee on general and housing. Shall Now the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on general and housing as amended? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor please say aye. 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. 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. The ayes appear to have it, the ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Up next is house bill five forty nine which is an act relating to eligibility of detainees to obtain a state issued driver identification card. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H five forty nine. An act relating to eligibility of detainees to obtain a state issued non driver identification card.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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. Next is house bill five eighty eight which is an act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the office of Professional Regulation. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: Page five eighty eight, an act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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 turn to House Bill six seventy four which is an act relating to the creation of the Vermont Sister State Program. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H six seventy four, an act relating to the creation of the Vermont Sister State Program.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? Member from Coventry.

[Representative Michael Marcotte (Coventry)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I just want to give some information about the sister state program and about what we do currently for economic development outside the state of Vermont, outside The United States. So, we fund a trade office in Montreal, which has been helping us bring businesses down to Vermont and also helping Vermont businesses to interact with our Canadian neighbors as well. But that's all we have. I know that the international office goes from time to time to other countries and discusses economic development. But the sister state program would really give us an opportunity to understand what might be out there for economic development, reciprocal business dealings with Vermont businesses and also bringing other businesses from around the world into Vermont at a very cheap cost. I think we heard on Friday that up to $25,000 would be expended. I think that's probably closer to $2,000 Currently, we're spending $75,000 a year on an office in Montreal. So I think the trade off is pretty good. The amount of small amount of money that we would spend on the sister state program to bring economic development for Vermont businesses and vice versa, bringing more business into Vermont. Also, there's another component to this, and that's, you know, looking at the cultural relationships that we can develop with other countries, and also how we can help impact those other countries that we may have a sister state agreement with. If I'll take Senegal, for example. We heard from the adjutant general that they already have an agreement with Senegal, but they've also helped arrange for agricultural practices that we have in Vermont to share them with Senegal. And so those are the kind of things that we can also do is to help other countries with better technology, providing better technology, better ways of either manufacturing or agriculture, many other things. So I think that the sister state will, I think in the years to come, we'll see as producing good economic development and good practices in trade and in technology transfers and also in the arts. And so I hope that everyone will support this.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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 seven sixty two which is an act relating to the county and regional governance study committee. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H seven six two. An act relating to the county and regional governance study committee.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill. Now we'll turn to House Bill eight forty one which is an act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures. Prior to third reading, the member from Heartland, representative Bartholomew and the member from Derby, representative Nelson offer an amendment to the bill that the first assistant clerk emailed to members at 09:28 today. This amendment is also posted on the house overview webpage and copies are available at the main table. Member from Heartland.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (Hartland)]: Madam speaker, there are a lot of zoonotic diseases. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans, diseases such as lymphocytic cori meningitis, equine encephalomyelitis, and many others most people have never heard of unless they're unfortunate enough to have contracted one of them. But, madam speaker, everyone has heard of rabies, and for good reason. The World Health Organization reports that globally, rabies causes tens of thousands of deaths annually. The Centers for Disease Control reports that each year, there are around four thousand reported cases of rabies in animals in The United States. One point four million Americans receive health care for possible rabies exposure. A hundred thousand receive post exposure prophylactic treatment. Fortunately, appropriate measures before and after exposure to the rabies virus are highly effective in preventing human disease, so fewer than ten die in The United States from the disease, usually just one or two. But rabies is frightening. Once the virus reaches the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear, rabies is nearly one hundred percent fatal. So why am I telling you all of this? We arguably have reasonably good success in this country. We promote vaccination of our dogs, cats, and livestock. There's good public education on the of contact with a rabid animal and the need to seek treatment. And access to human rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulins is pretty good. But all mammals are susceptible to rabies with the possible exception of rodents. We need to be very careful when we consider changes to how we manage rabies vaccination in animals. As a veterinarian myself, I generally support h eight forty one in its goal to develop a a certified rabies vaccinator program. Any program that results in a higher rate of effective vaccination of our pets must be a good thing. However, after the bill presentation on Friday, the member from Derby and I were that there might not be enough veterinary input mandated in the development of the program. Veterinarians generally are the individuals who oversee our animal vaccination efforts both in domestic animals and wildlife and we receive significant training in public health and epidemiology. The bill appropriately includes a section on training, administering a vaccine is not a particularly difficult process if you give the injection in the right place and actually get the vaccine into the animal. But this is not so easy with an aggressive or frightened dog or a dog with very thick fur. It's also critical that the vaccine is properly stored or it becomes useless. Issuing rabies certificates and record keeping is also critically important. All of this must be addressed to create an effective certified rabies vaccinated program. In developing the program, the bill is presented says the director of animal welfare shall consult with Vermont veterinarians. This is not specific enough. The director of animal welfare, the executive director of the Vermont Veterinary Association, and I met together yesterday and all agreed on some improved language for this amendment. So looking at the amendment, it makes some changes to subdivision two of the bill. This is the section that directs the Division of Animal Welfare to adopt rules to implement the program. The changes are only occurring under Sections A and C. So, A is reworded to say, The director shall work collaboratively with the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association for purposes of developing the rules and administering the program. This is rather than simply saying shall consult with Vermont veterinarians. Similarly, under C, the program shall authorize the director of animal welfare in collaboration with the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association to establish a program to train humane officers as certified rabies vaccinators. The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association has been around since 1898 and has three sixty member veterinarians. Their mission is to promote excellence in the veterinary community, animal well-being, and public health through advocacy, education, and outreach. The VVMA is a logical choice to identify veterinarians to work with the director of animal welfare to develop this program. So, madam speaker, that is our amendment, and the member from Derby and I ask for your support.

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

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Charlotte)]: Madam speaker, your house government operations and military affairs committee is appreciative of this amendment. And by a straw poll of seven zero three, we found it favorable.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member from Heartland and the member from Derby? 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 Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: Age eight forty one. A act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? Yes. Member from West Rutland? Okay. 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 I will now we will take up house bill nine twenty seven which is an act relating to technical corrections for the twenty twenty six legislative session. The bill was introduced by the committee on government operations and military affairs. The member from Cavendish, representative Coffin will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: Page nine twenty seven, an act relating to technical corrections for the twenty twenty six legislative session.

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

[Representative VL Coffin IV (Cavendish)]: Thank you, madam speaker. H nine twenty seven is the 2026 technical corrections bill. H nine twenty seven consent contain can be found on our committee page and also a summary of all 136 secondtions can be found on the committee page as well dated Thursday, 02/26/2026. Doctor twenty six dash zero seven eight zero. So h nine seventy two contains a 136 secondtions. Some of that contain chapter amendments, which themselves contain amendments to many statutes. There are proposed amendments in 18 of the 33 different titles of Vermont statutes annotated. Those specific titles are title two, legislature, title three, executive officers, title four, judiciary, and title five, aeronautics and surface transportation, Title six, agriculture. Title seven, alcoholic beverages, cannabis, and tobacco. Title eight, banking and insurance. Title nine, commerce and trade. Title nine a, uniform commercial code. Title 10, conservation and development. Title 11, corporations, partnerships, and associations. Title 16, education. Title 17, elections. Title 20, internal security and public safety, title 21, labor, title 23, motor vehicles, title 28, public institutions and corrections. Title 32, taxation and finance. Title 33, human services. Title 17 in the election section has the most proposed amendments. This is because of a replacement volume that will be for this title will be published in 2026. It has 64 different amendments. Title 17 amendments are primarily focused on modernizing statutory language by replacing such with more precise terms like the, that, or any, and by updating language to be gender neutral throughout. The different categories of amendments, proposed amendment types, you have terminology and nomenclature, which replaces regulations with rules to align with state versus federal distinctions and updates. It updates nonresidential to nonhomestead and appraised values to appraised value for tax consistency. It standardizes reference like the state treasurer and general assembly. We have gender neutrality, changing language to be more gender neutral and modernized. It replaces his or her or he, she, or they with gender neutral terms such as member, employee, the applicant, or the voter. It updates terminology for the developmental disabilities. Cross references statutory updates. It corrects references to repealed laws. For example, dental health program, next of kin statutes. Updates internal citations to reflect the current numbering of the chapters, such as in the unclaimed property and retirement. It corrects grammar and punctuation and style. It fixes typos. It strikes out words and corrects them for to make them from being redundant from four and only four to solely four. It adds missing conjunctions and or or to clarify intent. It breaks up run on sentences and standardized capitalization such as in state for a with a capital s and court with a capital c. It adds or strikes subsection headings to ensure uniformity across VSA. It updates outlines and structures and formats paragraphs for better clarity. For example, years of age after the age. So 18 years of age. 21 years of age. It adds the word care in between health and professionals, so health care professional. It has institutional updates, updating committee names. For example, house committee on energy and digital infrastructures and agency names replacing natural resources board with land use review board to reflect current administrative structures. It corrects errors and omissions, inserting statutory language that was previously based, passed, but erroneously omitted from codification. It corrects specific dates, such as in three VSA 05/31, it adds the year 2023. In three VSA twenty five eleven, it adds 07/01/1994. These are all technical corrections to make our laws and statutes clearer to the public, clearer to everyone reading them. It passed out of our committee with a vote of eight zero three, and we ask you for your support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now the member from Manchester, representative James offers an amendment to the bill that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Manchester.

[Representative Kathleen James (Manchester)]: Thank you, madam speaker. In the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee, we spent a little bit of time, before crossover taking a look at the composition and duties of the Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee. And we talked about, passing out our own small bill, that would tinker with some of this language and in the end, that effort didn't make the crossover deadline, but when we noticed that our colleagues on gov ops We're adding our own committee to the statutory language. I saw an opportunity to offer an amendment that would add something that we felt in our committee discussions was important which is to require that not all appointees in the house and not all appointees in the senate be from the same political party. So this is actually a fairly common, approach in a lot of our statutory language. Of our permanent joint legislative bodies, there are 10 of them, that are created by statute. Six of them already contain specific language, requiring this diversity. Two more are composed entirely of chairs which brings kind of a de facto diversity. And so, joint carbon emissions is a bit of an outlier and, I'm happy to be able to offer this amendment, and I hope for the body's support.

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

[Representative VL Coffin IV (Cavendish)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Your house committee on government operations and military affairs would like to thank the member for presenting their amendment. We heard it. Appreciate the work they've done. And we have found it favorable, seven zero three, and would ask for the body support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as offered by the member for Manchester? 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. 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. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And third reading is ordered. Now we'll take up house bill three eighty five which is an act relating to remedies protections for victims of coarse debt. The bill was referred to the committee on commerce and economic development which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Jericho, representative granting will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H three eighty five, an act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt.

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

[Representative Edye Graning (Jericho)]: Madam speaker, I'm proud to report h three eighty five, a bill that provides protections for victims of coerced debt and gives our banking institutions an additional tool to support their clients in protecting their accounts. This legislation is the product of careful work. Following Act 23, which was signed into law in May, the Department of Financial Regulation convened two study committees and each produced a detailed report, one detailing coerced debt and the other regarding transaction holds. Throughout this session, we have continued to work closely with Vermont's lending institutions, attorneys, and advocates to craft this thoughtful legislation. Coerced debt is a form of financial abuse used to control survivors and to prevent them from seeking safety or independence. It occurs when an abusive partner, trafficker, or caregiver uses force, threats, or fraud to open credit cards, take out loans, or rack up charges in someone else's name. H-three 85 recognizes a simple but critical principle. Debt created through abuse is not legitimate debt, and survivors should not be forced to carry it for the rest of their lives. Seven states including Texas, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, and Maine have already passed coerced debt provisions. Following their lead, h three eighty five establishes clear standards and a fair process. It includes safeguards against misuse by both debtors and creditors. Madam speaker, you can find the bill at the bottom of page nine eighty two of today's house calendar. Section one, the bill begins by setting out several key definitions. First, the bill describes several types of documents that may be used to support victim's claim of coerced debt. These types of adequate documentation include a report filed with law enforcement detailing the coerced debt, a court order finding the debt was coerced, and a sworn certification from a qualified third party professional, which is defined later in the bill. Coerced debt is defined to include both secured and unsecured debt incurred as a result of domestic abuse, child abuse, trafficking, or elder abuse. Coerced debt occurs when a perpetrator uses a victim's personal information without their knowledge or when they force, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise pressure a victim to incur the debt. For secured debt such a vehicle loan, the bill preserves the creditors right to repossess collateral. Mortgages and commercial loans are excluded from the definition of coerced debt. The bill defines creditor to include any person or entity that owns or collects a debt. The bill also defines debtor. In this context, the debtor is the person who owes coerced debt and who is a survivor of domestic abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, or abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. A qualified 30 part third party professional includes individuals with specific licensure or training such as law enforcement officers, attorneys, health care providers, and crisis workers who routinely work with victims of abuse. The bill includes a template for the sworn certification provided by these professionals. Finally, the bill includes a statement of coerced debt. This is the written statement a debtor a debtor submits to the creditor identifying the disputed debt and describing to the extent possible how the debt was incurred. The statement must include the identity and contact information of the perpetrator unless the victim signs a sworn statement that discloses I'm sorry. That disclosure would likely result in future abuse to themselves or an immediate family member. I'm now on page nine eighty six where it is established that causing another person to incur coerced debt is prohibited, establishing it as a civil offense under Vermont law. The bill then outlines the process a debtor may use to assert a claim of coerced debt. A creditor who needs additional information may request it from the debtor using model form a one, which is included in the bill. Once a creditor receives a complete claim, a statement of coerced debt with supporting documentation, the bill requires the creditor to say take several actions within a defined time frame. Within ten days of receiving a complete claim, the creditor will cease collection attempts and notify the credit reporting agency the debt has been disputed. Within thirty days, the creditor will receive the documentation and determine sorry. Creditor will review the documentation and determine whether to accept or reject the victim's coerced debt claim. If the creditor accepts it, the victim is not liable for the remaining debt, and the creditor must re the debt be removed from the victim's credit report. The creditor may then move to pursue payments from the perpetrator of coerced debt. If the creditor rejects the claim, they must provide a good faith basis for their denial. I'm now on the middle of page nine ninety where the civil legal remedies available to victims and creditors in coerced debt cases are detailed. This section was reviewed by the house judiciary committee and supported in a straw poll of nine zero two. If a creditor brings legal action against a victim of coerced debt, the creditor must prove by a preponderance of evidence, meaning more likely than not, that the debt was not coerced. The bill also creates a cause of action against the perpetrator, allowing creditors to seek repayment from the individual who actually caused the debt to be incurred. To provide the safety of survivors in the civil legal process, the bill allows the victims to request procedural safeguards such as ceiling court records and other protective measures to prevent retaliation. Any person who knowingly and materially violates this subchapter commits an unfair and deceptive act under Vermont's existing consumer protection statutes. We're now on section two, which begins on page nine ninety two, and it amends Vermont's existing credit reporting accuracy dispute procedures to ensure disputes stemming from coerced debt claims are handled consistently within that framework. Section three is a technical correction to nine BSA twenty four eighty k updating references to individuals and to to an amended statute. Madam speaker, for the next section, I yield to the member from Bennington.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Diego yields to the member from panel.

[Representative Michael Nigro (Bennington/Pownal)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I love Bennington. Madam speaker, section four of the bill on page nine ninety four of the house calendar strengthens the abilities of Vermont's banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to protect their customers from increasingly sophisticated frauds. In 2024 alone, the federal government received nine seventy three complaints of scams and cyber fraud from Vermonters, totaling more than $11,000,000 in losses, which works out to an average loss of $12,000 per victim. We know that many frauds go unreported due to embarrassment, shame, or continued inability to recognize the scam. However, Vermonters are much more likely to disclose these losses to their financial institutions than they are to federal partners. Accordingly, we have worked closely with representatives of those institutions to provide them with additional tools to protect their customers who are our neighbors, our constituents, and ourselves. Section Four refers to those financial institutions as covered entities and refers to subdivisions in this title that define banks, trust companies, savings institutions, and credit unions, as well as their subsidiaries and affiliates. Associated third parties are defined as any individual a customer has authorized to be contacted by the customer's covered entity, a family member of a customer whom a covered entity reasonably believes is closely associated with the customer, a co owner, authorized signatory, or beneficiary on a customer's account, or an attorney, trustee, conservator, guardian, or other individual holding power of attorney. In brief, the legislation allows for financial institutions to take protective actions if they believe that a customer is the victim of financial exploitation. This section of the bill, subsection 10,803, is found on page nine ninety six. These actions include delaying or refusing transactions, withdrawals, and disbursements, as well as changes in ownership, beneficiary designations, or other authorizations that the financial institution suspects are the results of financial exploitation. Financial institutions are not required to take these actions but may use its sole discretion based on the information available to it at the time. This authority comes with an expiration date detailed in subsection c one. The hold can last up to fifteen business days but can be canceled as soon as the covered entity is satisfied that the transaction will not result in financial exploitation. The hold is also lifted upon receipt of a court order directing the release of funds and subsection (two) allows for the financial institution to extend that fifteen business day hold by another fifteen days if the institution's financial exploitation concerns have not been mitigated. Again, this authority would be overruled by a court order ordering the release of the funds. I emphasize here that the language of the bill clearly states that transactions are subject to these delays. Specific transactions, not all account activity. So customers that an institution believes are victims of financial exploitation will not have their entire account frozen. Day to day expenses, automated bill payments, and other standard activities continue unaffected by the protective action. The legislation is clear that any protective action the institution chooses to take is in line with applicable state and federal laws governing banking and commerce. The last subsection to highlight here is language that allows for a covered entity to contact an associated third party the financial institution believe that the customer is a victim of financial exploitation. The legislation limits the financial institution from providing only or to providing only that information which is necessary to discuss the specific transaction that is suspected to be fraudulent. Covered entities are also given protection if they choose not to disclose their concerns to a third party if they suspect the third party may be involved in the financial exploitation. Section five calls for the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to work with industry representatives to provide data on the number and dollar amount of suspicious transactions and that report is due by 01/15/2027 and annually thereafter. Section six calls for the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to work with industry representatives and service providers to assess the utilization of the provisions of this bill related to coerced debt. It is due on 11/15/2029. Section seven details the effective dates of the sections of the bill. Sections three, four, and five, which govern complaints regarding claims of identity theft, suspicious banking transactions, and the report on suspicious banking transactions will take effect upon passage. Sections one, two, and six, which address coerced debt, creditor conduct and duties to reinvestigate coerced debt, and the report on coerced debt shall take effect 07/01/2028. This timeline gives lending institutions, service providers, and state agencies time to conduct outreach, update systems, and prepare for implementation. In conclusion, we have comprehensive, clear, and accessible protections that can promote safety for victims and the integrity of our financial system within this bill. The committee heard from a broad range of stakeholders including the presidents of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, the presidents of the Vermont Bankers Association, the VRP project director from Vermont Legal Aid, the staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, the senior attorney of the National Consumer Law Center, a lobbyist with the Vermont Automotive Distributors Association, the director of consumer assistance program at the Vermont Attorney General's Office, the director of policy and legislative affairs at the Attorney General's Office, the Deputy Commissioner of Banking with the Department of Financial Regulation, the Director of Policy with the Department of Financial Regulation, the Director of Policy with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, a representative from the House Committee on Judiciary, the associate state director, advocacy and outreach with AARP Vermont, and the owner of the Central Vermont Automart, a Vermonter with lived experience of coerced debt, legislative counsel from the Office of Legislative Counsel. Your House Committee of Commerce and Economic Development voted the bill out eleven zero zero. We ask for the body support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development? 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. 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. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Next is house bill five fifty six which is an act relating to exceptions to the applicability of state minimum wage. The bill was referred to the committee on general and housing which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Fairfax, Bartley, will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H five fifty six, an act relating to exceptions to applicability of state minimum wage.

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

[Representative Ashley Bartley (Fairfax)]: Thank you, madam speaker. H five fifty six, an act relating to exemptions to the applicability of state minimum wage is a very short two section strike all amendment that can be found on page nine ninety nine of today's house calendar. H five fifty six brings Vermont's Fair Labor Standards Act into alignment with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, also known as the FLSA. Under federal law, elected officials and their staff are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Vermont law currently does not provide that same exemption. Right now, even though Vermont law technically does not match federal law, most towns already operate as if it does. H five fifty six corrects this discrepancy. As as specified in section one subsection two j elected and appointed municipal officials would be excluded from the definition of employee consistent with the federal standards. Section two provides an effective date of 07/01/2026. I want to be clear. This bill was not drafted in an effort to ex exclude these specific municipal employees from minimum wage or overtime projections. Rather, this bill recognizes the unique nature of elected and appointed officials. These positions operate within budgets set by the voters and those who choose to serve do so with full knowledge of those constraints. This is a straightforward alignment, a practical fix, and a long requested clarification for our municipalities. Again, this bill does not create a new system. It simply codifies what is already happening in practice. Madam speaker, the committee heard from the bill sponsor, the Vermont League of City and Towns, our esteemed legislative council, and on a vote of nine zero two, we found the strike all amendment favorable, and we ask the body for your support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on general and housing? 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. 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. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And third reading is ordered. Now we'll take up house bill five fifty nine which is an act relating to the parole board. The bill was referred to the committee on corrections and institutions which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Bennington, representative beer will speak for the committee and then carrying an appropriation, the bill was then referred to the committee on appropriations which recommends that the bill ought to pass when amended as recommended by the committee on corrections and institutions. The member from Underhill, representative squirrel will speak for that committee. Please listen to the third reading of the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H five fifty nine, an act relating to the parole board.

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

[Representative Mary A. Morrissey (Bennington)]: Madam speaker, before the body today is h five fifty nine, an act relating to the parole board that the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions has prepared that makes improvements to the governance structure of the parole board. H five fifty nine is a strike all amendment that proposes administrative changes to the Vermont Parole Board in order to improve its effectiveness by ensuring members are well versed in the expertise necessary to carry out their responsibilities. Madam speaker, members can follow along in the house calendar on page 1,000 beginning in section one, which governs the powers and responsibilities of the commissioner of corrections regarding the parole process. We are adding additional language around the commissioner of corrections to provide regular legal training for parole board members in section one subsection six. The parole board training is updating the kind of training that the current members receive to include topics related to as they're listed in the bill, criminogenic behavior, mental health disorders, substance abuse treatment, trauma informed work. This is in response to the fact that the type of cases coming before the parole board have dramatically shifted since the nineteen seventies and nineteen eighties, and these recommended topics reflect the evolving nature of the records coming before the board for a hearing. Through testimony, we understood the differentiation between the presiding chair and the director's role in supporting the board's work. The chair directs the questioning during the hearings and assigns members for hearings in order to ensure a fair balance of work across the board's membership and requests information from appropriate state entities. So the second instance of amendment is found in section two of the bill. This is on bottom of page 1,000 today. Section two amends title 28 VSA section four fifty one, which establishes the parole board and the the composition of the board. Your committee on corrections and institutions recommends that the composition move away from the current format which is five members and two alternates and makes the membership seven permanently while eliminating the two alternate positions. And we did this in order to simplify the parole board assignments as they're being reviewed. In subsection a two, the committee clarified how the appointment of additional members shall be made. Currently, statute does not define a clear process for how vacancies are filled by the governor, and the committee included the underlying language now on page 1,001, which states upon notification of a vacancy, the governor shall consult with the parole board director and the chair of the parole board in order to ensure continuity of board operations being as preserved as best as possible in order to begin the search process with an orientation around the current board's operations and responsibilities. Your your committee also amended language regarding areas of expertise or knowledge sets to look at when making an appointment in order to best reflect again that current portfolio that we're seeing of parole cases which has evolved from the original landscape when statute was added in the nineteen seventies. In subsection a three, in order to keep statute consistent with the proposed membership changes, the committee striked language regarding alternate members and the responsibilities of chair and director in assigning parole case assignments. In subsection b, it's important to note that the committee preserved the current language and statute regarding a quorum for the board at three members by changing the composition of the parole board away from alternates, we're not increasing the number required to review a case's merit, but to more evenly disperse the the board's work among the different members. In subsection c, we've made some minor housekeeping language changes that were applied to make it consistent with statute. In subsection b, the committee clarified that the parole board shall be required to attend trainings designated by the director in collaboration with the chair on an annually recurring basis. This will keep the board's membership on a consistent timeline on understanding the wide ranging legal structure behind the parole meetings. Now in section three of h five fifty nine, now we're moving towards the bottom of page 1,001. We made amendments to title 28 VSA section four fifty five, which governs the director's position. This includes a new subsection e which states the director's responsibility for organizing the training in collaboration with the commissioner of DOC and the chair, but also clarifying in statute that the director's responsibility includes maintaining the overall function of the board, the legal compliance component, and the implementation of policies and procedures for the board given the full time clerical function that the the director of the board serves to aid in their caseload management. Now on section four, now we're on page 1,002 of today's calendar, the bill creates the parole board legal counsel pilot project. The main points highlighted in subsections, this is a one and a two of section four, support the annual training programming for the board with the topics related to, but not limited to due process procedures and parole violations, but more discretion given to specify that legal advice is needed as it relates to the board's hearings. In section four subsection B and C, we clarify the request for proposal to contract for legal services for the board in conjunction with the office of the attorney general so that they work with AHS to execute the terms of the contract. The section also includes that beginning in fiscal year twenty twenty eight, the state budget that AHS and DOC shall coordinate with the director to evaluate the board's level of need for resources regarding legal support for parole cases. Before the training implementation section four subsection d requires that the director of the parole board deliver report to the house correct committee on corrections and institutions detailing the pilot projects operation and any additional recommendations as it relates to legal support and resources for the board evaluating whether this is adequate for improving the board's casework. Section five of the bill, this deals with carryforward from fiscal year twenty twenty seven where we'll be appropriating $25,000 from the 2026 general fund appropriations again as a carryforward for the purpose of hiring external legal counsel to fill the interim gap in third party legal services. In addition to that, section six of the bill has 50,000 appropriated to the Department of Corrections for fiscal year twenty twenty seven for the stated purpose as I put in section five for a total of $75,000 towards the pilot project. So that covers section five and section six. Now moving on to section section seven on page 1,003 requires the director to submit a proposed budget to the commissioner of DOC and the secretary of AHS that makes the parole board's budgetary process more independent from DOC and AHS while still embedded within the respective entities. And finally, section eight states the bill will take passage or shall take effect on 07/01/2026. Madam speaker, your committee on corrections institutions took extensive testimony in January and February on h five fifty nine and heard from the following 13 witnesses. Director of the sorry. I'll read from this other list real quick. Director of policy and program integration with AHS, Principal Assistant and Communications Director with AHS, Staff Attorney with AHS, Chief of Agency of Human Services Unit with the Attorney General's Office, representing the Attorney General's Office, Assistant Attorney General with the Attorney General's Office, General Counsel for the Department of Corrections, Deputy Director of Field Services with the Department of Corrections, Interim Commissioner with the Department

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: of

[Representative Mary A. Morrissey (Bennington)]: Corrections, communications director for the Department of Corrections, legal counsel with the Office of Legislative Counsel, director of the Vermont Parole Board, chair of the Vermont Parole Board, member of the Vermont Parole Board, and the sponsor of the bill. Madam Speaker, your House Committee on Corrections and Institutions approved h five fifty nine on a vote of ten zero one and recommends that the House pass h five fifty nine as presented today, and we ask for the body's support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now speaking for the committee on appropriations, member from Underhill.

[Representative Trevor Squirrell (Underhill)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Your house appropriations committee reviewed h five five nine with legislative council and the joint fiscal office. There is an appropriation of 75,000 in h five five nine. 25,000 will come from a f y 2426 carry forward of a DOC suspended program along with an an FY '27 appropriation of $50,000. The House Committee on Appropriations favorably recommends H559 as amended by House Corrections and Institutions on a vote of eleven-zero-zero and we ask for the body's support. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the Committee on Corrections and Institutions? 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. 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. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Now we'll take up House Bill eight fourteen which is an act relating to neurological rights and the use of artificial intelligence technology in health and human services. The bill was referred to the committee on healthcare which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Burlington, representative Gina will speak for the committee. Carrying an appropriation, the bill was then referred to the committee on appropriations which recommends that the bill ought to pass when amended as recommended by the committee on health care. The member from Linden, representative Feltus, will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: H eight fourteen. An act relating to neurological rights and the use of artificial intelligence technology in health and human services.

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam Speaker, may I start by quoting the epitaph from Responsibilities and Other Poems by the Irish author William Butler Yeats?

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: In dreams, begin responsibility. Madam Speaker, dreams of artificial intelligence are no longer science fiction. Artificial intelligence is now reality in every part of human life. Our hospitals, our our clinics, our schools, and even our brains. And so begins our responsibility to prevent a nightmare. Our dreams of technological innovation can advance human health and well-being while protecting the integrity of the mind. AJ14 promotes the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in health and human services by establishing neurological rights and by using present tools of state government to inform our future decisions. We are in the midst of a technological revolution, one that is giving rise to learning machines modeled after us, neural networks that seem to take on a life of their own as if sparked by the fire of Prometheus. Together, artificial intelligence and neurotechnology are reshaping what it means to be human as the boundaries between mind and machine begin to blur. Neurotechnologies can be used for assessment such as neuroimaging and thermography and for intervention, including transcranial stimulation implants and brain machine interfaces. Brain implants allow paralyzed individuals the ability to control computers with their thoughts. Noninvasive wireless devices that connect with the nervous system are already available and may soon become widely used to deepen self awareness and help people unlock more of their potential. Emerging neurotechnologies and artificial intelligence are both a boon and a bane. While developers work to overcome disabilities, they are also pushing towards augmentation, expanding human abilities beyond their natural limits. Madam Speaker, may I read a quote from the first recipient to receive a Neuralink brain implant to address a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed, Noah Arbo?

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Neuralink didn't just change what I can do. It changed what I believe I'm capable of. It gave me hope. It gave me purpose. And for the first time in a long time, I'm excited for what's next. Madam Speaker, technological advances may improve quality of life, but at what cost? As the barrier between bot and brain blurs, what might we lose? Privacy? Individuality? Liberty? Madam Speaker, may I share a quote from the written testimony of Sean Pizoski, practicing neurologist and medical director at the Neurorites Foundation?

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: In my clinical practice as a neurologist, I care for patients with epilepsy, depression, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative disease. Increasingly devices and platforms can measure brain signals outside of traditional medical settings. When those signals are combined with powerful AI systems, they can reveal patterns about mood, cognitive vulnerability, and even emerging psychiatric risk. For a patient struggling with severe depression, neural data may reflect physiologic markers associated with suicidality before a crisis occurs. For a family navigating early dementia, it may reveal subtle changes in neural function before functional decline is obvious. These technologies hold tremendous promise, but if neural data is misused, sold or manipulated without meaningful consent, the consequences are not merely commercial. They affect autonomy, dignity, and mental health itself. Madam speaker, there's an Irish proverb that says, to a good start is half the work. And h eight fourteen marks an important first step in protecting human rights by establishing basic guardrails. Making Vermont the first state in the nation to codify neurological rights and building on its legacy of leadership in artificial intelligence. In 2018, Vermont became establish a formal task force to study artificial intelligence and recommend policies for responsible growth and regulation. In 2022, the general assembly created a division of artificial intelligence within the agency of digital services, complete with a director, advisory council, code of ethics, and a public inventory of the state's use of artificial intelligence. Today, the Vermont model is internationally recognized as a proactive framework that safeguards the public good without stifling private sector innovation. 14 builds on this respected state resource by empowering it to examine additional steps needed to promote the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in health care, human services, and beyond. Please feel free to follow along starting on page ten twenty of today's calendar as we review the details of H-eight 14. In section one, we have legislative intent to protect human rights, promote equity, increase efficiency, enhance accessibility, create transparency, and guarantee accountability in health care and human services through the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence technology to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, to promote the ethical and responsible use in service delivery, coverage determinations, and access, to prevent harm from the use of augmented and other artificial intelligence, to improve the experience of patients, providers and payers, and to improve quality of care, drive positive health outcomes and cultivate population health. In section two, we add to existing statute. In 18 VSA, we add a chapter 42C titled Neurological Rights. And what this does is this is the codification of the rights in Vermont law. And these rights would be mental and neural data privacy, freedom of thought, nondiscrimination in the development and application of neurotechnologies, change an individual's decision regarding neurotechnology and determine by what means to change that decision, protection from neurotechnological interventions of the mind and from unauthorized access to or manipulation of an individual's brain activity, and protection from unauthorized neurotechnological alterations in mental functions critical to personality. Now in section three, this is where we use the existing structure of government to help us make our future decisions. And we start in section three by modifying the current membership of the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. There is existing statute three VSA five zero two three, that determines the membership of the council, and what we are doing is amending that membership. We are making a few adjustments. We are adding a member appointed by the National Association of Social Workers Vermont Chapter to take the seat for the member with experience in the field of ethics and human rights. We're replacing the Commissioner of Health with the Secretary of Human Services or designee just to reflect the agency versus a piece of the agency and state government. We are adding a member with experience in healthcare appointed by the Vermont Medical Society, and we are adding a member with experience in public education appointed by the Vermont National Education Association. And we are adding the state treasurer or designee and one member with relevant knowledge and experience appointed by the governor because we are shifting the governor's appointee from a seat that's focused on ethics and human rights to a member at large. We're also changing the sunset. Currently in statute, the artificial intelligence advisory council would would would be sunset or be repealed on 06/30/2027. We're extending that to 2030 because we feel there is more work to be done by this council. And then we are asking this existing council with modified membership to provide a report. And this report would review the guidelines and recommendations from the American Medical Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Education Association, and other relevant professional organizations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in health care, human services, education, public participation, and public finance. And one may wonder why public participation and public finance and education. This is because healthcare and human services intersect those realms. And there is promise for the use of artificial intelligence in our budgeting, in the budgeting and as well as in public engagement. So it makes sense to roll all of these things into this report to get the most for the investment. We also ask that they research existing and potential I said that already and forgive me. And then the last number two, I kinda said talking about number one. Number three, we asked them to create opportunities for public education and engagement in the development of AI policy. And this goes back to the spirit of the original task force that in the process of making a a report and studying, we can engage the public, and we can we can learn from the public, and we can educate the public. And and what we what Vermont has set an example for the world that the best policy for something as transformative AI is made when it's made transparently and openly. We ask that the report be submitted by 01/15/2027, and we give some specific directions around the recommendations. We're asking for any recommendations for statutory changes related to protections for neurological right neurotechnologies, guidance on the use of generative AI by regulated professions, regulation of artificial and augmented intelligence and health insurance utilization review processes. We ask that they summarize additional ways that the government can promote the ethical and responsible use of AI in health and human services. And in education, we ask them to propose any pilot projects that improve public engagement in public finance and any reasons for further delaying or removing the 2030 sunset. So we're asking them to weigh in on if they need more time or if we're wrong delaying the sunset, because we could always move it up. And then the effective date in section five is on passage. And this is so that they can The new members can get right to work and jump in to to the current council and get started because we're giving them quite a heavy task here at a very important moment in history. Madam speaker, your house health care committee heard from the following witnesses, the deputy chief counsel, office of legislative counsel, the legal adviser of Neuro Rights Foundation, the executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Vermont Chapter, the president of the Vermont Psychological Association, the director of policy and legislative affairs from the attorney general's office, the chief healthcare advocate from Vermont Legal Aid, the director of artificial intelligence from the state of Vermont, the medical director of the NeuroRites Foundation, the chief data and AI officer from the state of Vermont, the political director of the Vermont National Education Association, the vice president of political education from the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Human Services, the director of legislative affairs from the office of the state treasurer, and the deputy executive director of the Vermont Medical Society and Vermont Psychiatric Association. Madam Speaker, the vote was nine one one, and your House Health Care Committee respectfully asked for your support. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now speaking for the Committee on Appropriations, member from Linden.

[Representative Martha Feltus (Lyndon)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The house appropriations committee heard the bill, number eight one four from the health care committee. We heard from the presenter of the bill and from JFO. And as was noted, there is an existing advisory council. However, certain members are being changed, and those members would require a per diem. However, the number is so small, and we felt that those changes could be accommodated within the budget of the agency of digital service. And it's the director of the division of artificial intelligence at ADS that works with this group. So we feel there is a de minimis, financial obligation on this bill. Our house appropriations committee voted eleven zero zero, and we urge you to pass the bill. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care? Member from Woodstock.

[Representative Charles Kimbell (Woodstock)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I'd like to, inquire

[Representative Peter Conlon (Cornwall)]: of the reporter of the bill.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Burlington is interrogated.

[Representative Charles Kimbell (Woodstock)]: Madam speaker, thank you for the work on this. I just have a question about the perceived future role of artificial intelligence in public finance as you included that? You mentioned it, but I hope I was hoping you can expand on that a little bit.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: The committee didn't hear extensive testimony about this, but I've looked into the issues so I can give you a specific example. The government of Slovakia is currently using artificial intelligence to create their federal budget. So there are examples in the world where people are using AI to help them craft budgets. AI can crunch numbers quickly, it can map out projections quicker than human actuaries. So in conversations with the treasurer's office, there is an interest in exploring what those options are and seeing if there's any ways Vermont might use AI to improve our, and the efficiency and effectiveness of our budgeting processes. And this could be applied not only for the general assembly, but we might be able to have healthcare systems, healthcare organizations use it. We also might be able to have school boards and school districts use AI to improve spending of public dollars. So there's a lot of potential there and that's why it's included in the report so we can get that information and take it into account.

[Representative Charles Kimbell (Woodstock)]: Alright. Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you member.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care, member from Northfield.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Thank you Madam Speaker and this question may indicate a little bit of obtuseness, or maybe lack of a neural link. But I'm finding I'm confused by two things, the link between two things. And I'll explain a little bit before I ask the member my question, but I look at the first part and the intent, all the aspects of the intent have to do with artificial intelligence. I look at the second part and everything there is about neurotechnology. There's no reference to, artificial intelligence. I look at the third section which is all about the artificial intelligence advisory council. There isn't any addition or clarification of a new a different purpose and in fact the one new member is supposed to have relevant knowledge or expertise but doesn't necessarily have to have any connection to neural data or neurotechnology. And then, section four, is about artificial tech intelligence. There are nine different tasks and only one of them references protections for neurological rights. So Madam Speaker, I'm wondering if I could interrogate the member from Burlington just about the connection between artificial intelligence which appears to be maybe the broader term and neurotechnology specifically. That's the question.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Burlington is interrogated.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, I'm hearing a request to elaborate on the connection between neurotechnology and artificial intelligence.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Yes. Thank you.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Neurotechnology relies on artificial intelligence in order to function. And so that's the main connection here that without the, something else I'd like to point out is that artificial intelligence involves simulations of neural networks. So computers simulating the behavior of brain cells. So I hope that makes more of a clear link. Artificial intelligence and neurotechnology are linked in that way. I would even say that because artificial intelligence is neural networks, it's a form of neurotechnology. Although, you know, we are still debating the definitions of these things, that's for sure. But I hope that helps just to understand that artificial intelligence itself is a simulation of the brain. And then neurotechnology and these interfaces, whether they're wireless or whether they're hardware that's inserted into the brain, that they would not function without the sophisticated artificial intelligence needed to process the data because the amount of data behind brain functioning is immense.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Madam Speaker, that is very, very helpful. I'm wondering about one comment. I was going to ask why there isn't a definition for neurotechnology. I may have partly heard the answer that it's not really agreed upon yet. So that changes my question. We're using a term about rights to your decisions about neurotechnology and so forth. Does that make sense to include it as a statutory right if we don't really have a definition for it yet?

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: I would say that based on the past behavior of humans, it's in our best interest to set guardrails up before it's too late. And this technology is moving so fast that we decided we didn't have the time to really dig in to the details. So we made the decision to establish rights and have the council come back with that information in a year. I hear the concern and if if it was a deal breaker, perhaps the committee could consider a a like an acting definition or something, you know, just to have something in law. I don't believe, there is a definition in statute otherwise. I would have to consult the legislative council to confirm that. But I hear the member's concern about using a word that we haven't clearly defined. I will share though that it wouldn't be the first time that we put a word out there without defining it, and we're often, you know, this the our democracy is is is a work in progress and we're always improving these things. Thank you. I hope that answered your question.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Thank you, madam speaker. That it's, very helpful and and I do actually think because of sort of no direct visible connection between these parts and the importance that I understand now between, the different components that it probably would be a really good idea for the committee to offer a definition on third reading, even if the definition is fairly broad and says it's an emerging definition or something like that because then we're actually establishing some sort of meaning for a word that we're we're relating to as having, you know, having the state recognizes our our rights in that regard. I thank the member.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care? Are you ready for the question? Member from Bradford.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Bradford)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I really appreciate the committee's work on this. I just have two questions. So the first question is, during JITalk over the summer, we had had the AI council and the cybersecurity councils discussed and and brought in and really kind of tried to dig into the lack of, legislative representation on both. And I was just curious if the committee took any testimony, to navigate to kind of explore that.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Burlington is interrogated.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, we didn't for I from my recollection, we didn't hear any witnesses suggest that we have a legislate a member of the legislature added to the council. The committee did discuss the different we extensively, and in exhaustive fashion, discussed the membership of this council and, you know, why this piece, but not that. Like why the attorney general? Why the treasurer? Why, you know, why the governor? Why not this? Why not that? And the committee talked about why not a legislator? And my impression was we landed with, we were delegating our voice to the community members that we were adding and that what we were hearing from the AI director and the chief data and AI officer was that they needed expertise from the sector, these sectors at this time in history and some direction from us to serve the state of Vermont in the best way possible. So I think that's the explanation is, or I think that answers the question. Like we didn't hear a specific request to add a legislative seat or seats, but we discussed the part that we as a body played, and we decided to give our space to the community and to our constituents with expertise in these fields.

[Representative Monique Priestley (Bradford)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Just one more question. Again, this is in line with the membership. I'm just curious, the membership is very Vermont centric, which I totally understand. But in this space with so much so many of the states and even countries relying on kind of conversations and navigating this space and how the policy is playing out, I'm just curious if there was any discussion about having any national experts and or international experts that could help with this so that we're not ending up creating definitions and things like that that are, you know, I know that Vermont does this in in some ways. Every state does this, but, trying to make sure that we're working off of, collective efforts across the country, and the world, when we're trying to, look at AI policy.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam Speaker, your House Health Care Committee did not discuss adding additional members to the council from the national or international level, but we did discuss how there are national and international guidelines. For example, our neurological rights were modeled on United Nations recommendations for neurological rights. So we used an international standard in the language for those rights. And we asked the council to review the national standards doctors, you know, M. D., educators and social workers and other professional organizations. And we ask them to include other stakeholders with the intent that there would be inclusion of those beyond Vermont. So we want to add more members to the council. There were some members of our committee who were concerned about us making the government bigger, and that's valid. Like, we added a few seats. It was a difficult choice to decide who we add and who we don't because we got a request list of maybe 14 organizations wanting a seat, local organizations, and we had to it felt a little like King Solomon. You know, you had to, like, make a, you know, tough choice about who gets added. So that being said, spirit of the bill is include is inclusion. It's to include the public. It's to look at the national level, look at the international level, and ultimately play a part in humanity's decisions at this moment in time. I did wanna mention the or address the concern about definitions. We did talk about the issue with definitions and how definitions are evolving and how it's hard to define artificial intelligence and how in Vermont statute as as artificial intelligence intersects various sectors and and starts crossing silos that we need to make sure there's some coordination. And we were assured by our our competent legislative council that they are internally working on trying to make sure that definitions are coordinated across committees as we pass AI legislation just to address that concern. But but I think I I think it would be safe to say that the committee welcomes in the international perspective into the decisions of this council even if they don't have a seat. Thank you.

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

[Representative Erin Brady (Williston)]: I wanna say I deeply, deeply appreciate the committee's work and the members' work on this on this issue. And I have one question if I may ask the presenter of the bill.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Burlington is interrogated.

[Representative Erin Brady (Williston)]: This is another question about the membership on the advisory council. I wonder if the committee, heard testimony or had conversation about the importance of independence when it comes to, the members on on the committee, or on the advisory council rather speaking specifically of, you know, the member with experience in health care, member with experience in public education, and the member with relevant knowledge and expertise appointed by the governor. Was there any conversation about ensuring that those folks were not do not currently or have not ever accepted funding from the AI industry?

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, there was not discussion about that particular concern nor is it reflected in the current statute from my understanding.

[Representative Erin Brady (Williston)]: I thank the member. It's certainly an issue that I'm interested in finding ways to ensure that the counsel we receive from bodies such as this is in fact independent rather than asking those who would be regulated to to provide advice and counsel on unnecessary safeguards and regulations. So I thank the member and may be offering an amendment before third reading. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on healthcare? 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. All those opposed please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Now we'll turn to House Bill eight sixteen which is an act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services. The bill was referred to the committee on healthcare which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from Colchester, representative Critchlow will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: Age eight sixteen. An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services.

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

[Representative Wendy Critchlow (Colchester)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, I'll be introducing eight sixteen. I strike all amendment and on a bill that establishes reasonable guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence and mental health practices. I'm sure you all wanna hear more about AI right now because I've learned a lot. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming integrated into many aspects of our daily lives, including tools that claim to offer emotional support, mental health guidance, and therapeutic assistance. While these technologies have the potential to increase access to information and support, they also present significant risk when used without appropriate oversight, particularly in areas as sensitive and complex as mental health care. Mental health treatment requires professional judgment, ethical responsibility, confidentially confidentiality protections, and accountability. AI systems, while powerful, do not possess clinical training, licensure, or the ability to understand the full human complex context behind someone seeking help. H eight sixteen does not seek to prohibit innovation. Instead, it sets to clear boundaries to ensure that artificial intelligence is not used to replace licensed mental health professionals or misrepresent itself as providing professional care. This bill is designed to protect patients, support responsible use of technology, and ensure transparency when AI tools are involved in mental health related services. By establishing these guardrails now, Vermont can encourage innovation while prioritizing safety, dignity, and the well-being of individuals seeking mental health services. This bill is about protecting people at vulnerable moments in their lives and ensuring that technology serves as a support tool, not a substitute for qualified professionals. And now I'll just walk through the bill real quick. It's on page ten twenty four in today's calendar. The purpose and intent, section one, is to establish the purpose of the bill is to set reasonable guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in mental health context. It recognizes that AI tools are becoming more common, but makes clear that they cannot replace licensed mental health professionals. The intent is to protect patients, ensure transparency, and support responsible innovation while maintaining professional standards of care. Section two is is the definitions in this bill. Mostly to define what a mental health care professional is. Section three restricts on AI representing mental health care. I'm sure everyone has heard of some of those chat GDP errors that have happened in mental health care using these tools. Section three establishes that AI systems not represent themselves as licensed mental health care providers and imply that they are providing professional therapy. This prevents misleading claims and protects individuals who may believe they are receiving professional care when interacting with an automatic system. And section four requires clear disclosure when AI tools are being used in mental health related interactions. Users must be informed that they are communicating with an AI system and not a licensed professional. This goal is transparency so individuals understand the nature and the limitations of the technology. And section five is for consumer protection and oversight. It outlines enforcement and consumer protection provisions. It allows appropriate oversight bodies to address violations and ensures that companies deploying AI mental health tools comply with the safeguards established in this bill. Section six is the effective date will take place on passage. Your health care committee heard from the following. Senior director of partnerships from the National Council for Mental Well-being, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, the Vermont Chapter, legislative council, office of legislative council, executive director from the Northeast Kingdom of Human Services, and the deputy executive director of Vermont Medical Society and Vermont Psychiatric Association. Your health care committee voted this out favorably with a vote of eleven zero one, and we ask for your support. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care? Are you ready for the question? Member from Northfield.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I was struggling to follow along, and I just wanted to check. Does the bill have five sections or six sections?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester is interrogated.

[Representative Wendy Critchlow (Colchester)]: Wow. Let's see. I did this all weekend so I should know this by heart. It does have six sections. Section six establishes when the legislation will take place. That's the effective date.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Madam Speaker, is it amended from what was in the house calendar? Because I may be in the wrong section. I believe it has section fives, madam Speaker. You're absolutely right.

[Representative Wendy Critchlow (Colchester)]: I wrote a lot of things over the weekend. There are five sections. I apologize. I haven't missed.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I I think I connected what was being described as it was being explained. I just couldn't connect it with the language, and I think I think I'll be alright. Thank you, madam speaker. I apologize.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care? Are you ready for the question? Member from Burlington.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, may I interrogate the presenter of the bill?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester is interrogated.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, did the committee consider, you know, making this apply to health care more broadly, and why, is it, narrowed down to, just mental health care?

[Representative Wendy Critchlow (Colchester)]: I I'm gonna refer this to Daisy, please. Mike. I'm sorry. The representative from Winooski.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester yields to the member from Winooski.

[Representative Daisy Berbeco (Winooski)]: Madam speaker, the committee on health care did consider applying these important changes in statute to the more broader health care system. However, because of the newness of the topic material, artificial intelligence, we wanted to be sure that we investigated every piece of how this impacts practitioners as well as patients. So we decided to do it more narrowly first just looking at mental health.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: 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 health care? Member from Colchester.

[Representative Wendy Critchlow (Colchester)]: What was the question?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Colchester. I will yield to the member from Essex.

[Representative Lori Houghton (Essex Junction)]: Thank you. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: I'd just like to correct that the vote out

[Representative Edye Graning (Jericho)]: of our committee was ten zero one.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: So the question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on health care? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay.

[Representative Conor Casey (Montpelier)]: Aye. The

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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. The ayes appear have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Up next is house bill eight eighty seven which is an act relating to crime victim status under the fair employment practices act member from Fairfax.

[Representative Ashley Bartley (Fairfax)]: Madam speaker, I move that we postpone H887 one legislative day.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Fairfax moves that we postpone action on house bill eight eighty 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 eight eighty seven for one legislative day. Next is House Bill nine seventeen which is an act relating to military affairs. Will the house sit in recess for a moment? Will the house please come to order? Member from Charlotte.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Charlotte)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion that we postpone action on H nine seventeen for one legislative day.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Charlotte moves that we postpone action on House Bill nine seventeen 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 seventeen for one legislative day. May I please see House leadership up at the podium and will members of the House Education Committee please meet in the well of the House? The House will stand in recess. Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Will the house please come to order? Members, our final bill on the action calendar today is house bill five forty two which is an act relating to terminating testing of schools in Vermont for PCBs prior to third reading. The member from Northfield will offer an amendment. My understanding is that she is not offering the amendment in the calendar. She is offering an amendment that the first assistant clerk email to members at 10:54 today. This amendment is also posted on the house overview webpage and paper copies are available at the main table. Member from Northfield.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Madam speaker, I think people may recall on Friday, we were on second reading of this bill, and I expressed some concerns about not having updates on the possible health impacts. We made an original decision balancing health versus cost. We now realize the cost is a whole lot more than we might have envisioned. But I think if we're making a cost benefit decision, we need to know the update on anything new or better known about health impacts as well. And so that's the simple thing this amendment does. Madam Speaker, there's already a Part D and that's all the existing language. There's no change in D one except that it's now D one instead of just D. And that's the language about the Secretary of Natural Resources bringing back a remediation plan and therefore what it might take to do this long term. But part two is new and that just says in the same timeline in time for next January, the start of a new session, the Commissioner of Health shall review and update the Commissioner's assessment of the health impacts on students and staff of airborne PCBs in our schools in the state. So, madam speaker, I think this this really addresses that concern of having both sides of an issue when we go through decision making on even very high cost potential extension of initiatives. So I asked for the body's support.

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

[Representative Peter Conlon (Cornwall)]: Thank you, madam speaker, and and thanks to the member from Northfield for coming into our community this morning. We had a really great conversation about these issues and ultimately sort of found ourselves working together toward the amendment you see before you. There's certainly no doubt that more information is a good thing. We think that this additional amendment to the bill is a very positive feature. And in a straw poll, we voted eleven zero zero to find this amendment friendly.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member from North Northfield? Member from Norwich.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe (Norwich)]: Thank you, madam speaker. May I just interrogate the member from, Northfield?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Northfield is interrogated.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe (Norwich)]: Member from Northfield, in this section one a number four, you have a recommendation of whether PCB testing of indoor air in public schools and recognized schools should continue. You do not mention approved independent schools. I'm just wondering about the logic of that.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Madam speaker, you referenced section a that and that is not a part of the amendment. So you would be looking at existing language.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe (Norwich)]: Okay. Thank you. My apology.

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

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe (Norwich)]: One more question. I I wondered if there was any consideration if we are doing a look back on impacts. Was there any consideration of looking at an impact on learning associated with disruption? I know that we've had school districts that began the school year outdoor intense and had their beginning of the year disrupted. I didn't know if looking at disruption was also part of this consideration.

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: No, madam speaker. I you may have seen in the calendar I had a much longer amendment initially that drilled down into all sorts of details and probably would have been a lengthy, if even possibly possible to achieve and perhaps expensive sort of study to come back next January. And it seemed at this stage to be more appropriate to just look at the, you know, the basic what would remediation be and what would the health impacts be. Clearly next session, before the current timeframe of the underlying statute expires that July, I would think the relevant committees would dig down much further into all

[Representative Zachary Harvey (Hyde Park)]: of

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: the different impacts both, fiscal and health of all types.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe (Norwich)]: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member from Northfield? 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 Second Assistant Clerk (Bill Reader)]: Age five forty two. An act relating to terminating testing of schools in Vermont for polychlorinated biphenyls.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? Member from Cornwall.

[Representative Peter Conlon (Cornwall)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Just before the vote, I wanted to, clarify a comment that was made in our previous debate, by a member, about the impact of this on the attorney general's lawsuit against Monsanto. I just want to clarify that first of all, the attorney general's suit involves much more than just the airborne PCBs in schools, but talks about PCBs in water, PCBs in soil, and PCBs elsewhere in the environment. And then I would also just point out that, you know, the lawsuit requires injured parties, and I think that we have had 47 schools that have triggered the action levels that that in and of themselves show damage, and you can probably extrapolate from the data that's been collected, has been enormous throughout the process as well as contributing to the state's case. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: 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. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Dover.

[Representative Laura Sibilia (Dover)]: Madam speaker, during debate on H eight forty nine last week, I expressed strong support for the bill and that support continues. However, over the weekend, I have had the opportunity to consider my words and have determined that I used a phrase that did not reflect the level of respect I believe we must hold for differing opinions in this body. I pledge to this body that I will continue to work to hold myself to a high standard in that regard.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Swan.

[Unidentified Member from Swanton]: Madam speaker, there is a certain member from Bennington who's not a fan of announcements. But being that it's his birthday, we clap loud enough, maybe he'll he'll hear us in his committee room. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Member from Essex Junction. Madam speaker, house Democrats will caucus in Room 11 at 01:15. Thank you. Member from Pulte.

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: House Republicans will not caucus.

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: House progressives will not caucus.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing oh, member from Hartford.

[Representative Kevin 'Coach' Christie (Hartford)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Apologies.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the house please come to order?

[Representative Kevin 'Coach' Christie (Hartford)]: I'd like to invite the body to an event happening tomorrow. The public health caucus has invited Katie Stettler, the director of performance improvement at the Vermont Department of Health to present on the state's new state health improvement plan. The ship is a five year road map for ensuring that all people and communities in Vermont have inclusive, equitable, and sustainable access to opportunities for health and well-being. It provides a framework for how agencies, community communities, and communities can take steps to address the most important health needs for people in the state. Please join us for this presentation and a catered lunch in Room 267 in the pavilion or apologies. Room change. Room 10 from twelve to one tomorrow with the public health caucus. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Fulton East, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, March 18 at 1PM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Wednesday, 03/18/2026 at 1PM.

[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 it, the ayes do have it, and this body stands in adjournment until tomorrow.