Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the house come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good morning. The devotional today will be led by representative John O'Brien of Tunbridge.

[Representative John O'Brien]: Good morning. Let me ask you a question, an anatomy question. What is the only muscle in the human body that is attached at one end? The tongue. Yes. Remember from Shelburne gets it right. Now when I was in school, we learned from a nineteen o one tongue map, you might remember this tongue map if you're old enough, that the tongue was divided into four regions, and each of those regions could recognize one of the four basic tastes. At the tip of the tongue, that recognized sweet. At the far back was bitter, and the sides at various points were sour and salty. Well, the map was wrong. It turns out that we have taste buds that recognize those basic tastes spread all over the tongue. The tongue map also did not include the now accepted fifth basic taste, umami. What is umami? Umami translated from Japanese means, variously, deliciousness, savory, or meaty. It was discovered in nineteen o eight nineteen o eight by a University of Tokyo chemist, Kukune Akita, who identified in the broth of kombu seaweed this unique amino acid, a distinct glutamate as in monosodium glutamate. Akita went on to found a company that commercially synthesized MSG. Bill Bryson, in his book The Body, writes, MSG has had a hard time of it in the West since 1968 when the New England Journal of Medicine published a letter, not an article or a study, but simply a letter from a doctor noting that he sometimes felt vaguely unwell after eating in Chinese restaurants and wondered if it was the MSG added to the food that was responsible. The headline on the letter was Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. And from this small beginning, it became fixed in many people's minds that MSG was a kind of toxin. In fact, it isn't. It appears naturally in lots of foods like tomatoes and has never been found to have deleterious effects on anybody when eaten in normal quantities. Anecdotal evidence supports this bias. My mother, raising children in the nineteen sixties, was always on the lookouts for toxins in foods, including all those red dyes, saccharin, trans fats. Crisco, Cap'n Crunch, and Tab were not my friends. MSG was also on her bad list. And in fact, a small percentage of people do have adverse reactions to MSG. My wife and I have great friends who took their daughter, age nine, to a Chinese restaurant and she suffered a debilitating migraine after eating and has had migraines ever since. So maybe more research needs to be done. But enough about MSG, let's return to umami. As soon as we enter the world, we taste umami. It's present in breast milk. And as we look past this morning's floor session to lunch, we will find on the menu. It occurs naturally in the pepperonis and tomatoes on pizza. Yes. It's in cheeseburgers too. That cheddar and caramelized onions both have it. Aged cheeses like Parmesan are high in this glutamate. Soy sauce, kimchi, miso, and fish sauce are packed with it. Shiitake mushrooms, sardines, anchovies, boom. It's in the mall. Unami also has a flavor enricher superpower and science proves this. When combined with another flavor, it exponentially makes something taste more yummy. So as you contemplate this story of science, discovery, misinformation, and bias, you might indulge in a snack that was concocted just to appeal to your Unami taste buds, Unami taste buds. And that would be the snack called Doritos. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will you please rise as page Ela Morrison of Barretown leads us in the pledge of allegiance. I

[Ela Morrison (House Page)]: pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good job.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Members we have three senate bills for referral this morning. The first is senate bill three twenty three which is an act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects introduced by the committee on agriculture. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (short titles)]: S three two three, an act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry. The next is senate bill three twenty five, which is an act relating to planning and act two fifty tier jurisdiction. Introduced by the senate committee on natural resources and energy. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (short titles)]: S three twenty five, an act relating to regional planning and act two fifty tier jurisdiction.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on environment. And finally, senate bill three twenty eight is an act relating to housing housing and common interest communities introduced by the senate committee on economic development, housing, and general affairs. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (short titles)]: S three twenty eight, an act relating to housing and common interest communities.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time. It's referred to the committee on general and housing. Members, we have a house resolution to take up at this time. House resolution is a house resolution reaffirming the abiding friendship between the state of Vermont and The Republic Of China, Taiwan on the twenty seventh anniversary of the Vermont Taiwan sister state relationship in supporting the enhanced Vermont Taiwan bilateral relations and Taiwan's participation in the in international organizations offered by representative of granting of Jericho and others. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk (full readings)]: House resolution reaffirming the abiding friendship between the state of Vermont and The Republic Of China Taiwan on the twenty seventh anniversary of the Vermont Taiwan sister state relationship and supporting enhanced Vermont Taiwan bilateral relations and Taiwan's participation in international organizations. Whereas, The United States and Taiwan share a vibrant and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship based on their shared values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and a free market economy. And whereas the US government has encouraged economic, including trade and culture engagements, and exchanges between the American Taiwanese people, particularly at the state level. And whereas in 2022, The United States and Taiwan launched The US Taiwan Initiative on twenty first Century Trade to strengthen the two nations' economic and trade relationship. And in 2023, Congress enacted The United States Taiwan Initiative on twenty first Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act, Public Law 100, approving the first agreement under this initiative, and whereas in 2025, Taiwan was America's fourth largest trading partner. With US exports valued at $54,700,000,000 and imports from Taiwan worth roughly $201,400,000,000 and for the first time in over a quarter century, The United States was Taiwan's largest export market. And in the agriculture sector, US exports to Taiwan totaled approximately $2,300,000,000 and whereas 2026 marks the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the United States establishment as a republic based on democratic principles, and the thirtieth anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election, symbolizing this Asian nation's enduring commitment to democracy, and whereas in 1999, the state of Vermont and Taiwan entered a sister state relationship that has proven mutually beneficial in many ways, and whereas the 2020 driver's license reciprocity agreement between the state of Vermont and Taiwan exemplifies the sister state relationship in action, and whereas in 2025, Vermont exports to Taiwan were worth approximately $268,000,000 meaning Taiwan was Vermont's most valuable Asian export destination and second worldwide, And Vermont imported an estimated $76,000,000 worth of goods from Taiwan, and whereas establishing a Vermont trade office in Taiwan would further enhance this already successful and long standing trade relationship. And whereas the government of Taiwan has expressed interest in establishing memorandums of understanding with the state of Vermont, one pertaining to economic affairs to establish a clearer structural framework for the two jurisdictions burgeoning business ties, and a second related to education to expand educational exchanges and cooperation, particularly with respect to Mandarin language teaching. And whereas in 1979, Congress enacted the Taiwan Relations Act, public law number 90 six-eight, which broadly addresses The U. S.-Taiwan relationship and one of its provisions provides for the continued membership of the people in Taiwan in any international financial institution or any other international organization, and whereas Taiwan's participation and contributions in international organizations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, would greatly benefit The United States and the international community. Now therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives that this legislative body reaffirms the abiding friendship between the State of Vermont and The Republic Of China Taiwan on the twenty seventh anniversary of the Vermont Taiwan sister state relationship and supports enhanced Vermont Taiwan bilateral relations and Taiwan's participation in international organizations, and be it further resolved that the Clerk of the House be directed to send a copy of this resolution to President Donald J. Trump, president of The Republic Of China Taiwan, director general Charles Dao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, governor Philip B. Scott, and the Vermont congressional delegation.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution and the question is, shall the house adopt the resolution? 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 the resolution is adopted. Are there any announcements? Member from Glover.

[Unknown Representative from Glover]: Madam speaker, I would like to welcome to the house chamber this morning members of my public speaking class and my, teacher advisory who are joining us from Hazen Union School, a small but amazing high school in the Northeast Kingdom, and they are in the gallery. We have Jameson, Braden, Chloe, Sadie, Lucas, and their teacher, miss Joe, who is keeping things down in my classroom while I am here with you guys.

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

[Unknown Representative from Jericho]: Madam speaker, we just adopted a resolution reaffirming the friendship between the state of Vermont and Taiwan that supports enhanced Vermont Taiwan bilateral relations and Taiwan's participation in international organizations. We are delighted to have director general Charles Lau of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston with us today. On his behalf, I thank the members of the house for supporting this resolution and strengthening Vermont Taiwan ties. Director general Lau looks forward to continuing collaboration in trade, education, and cultural exchange based on our shared values of democracy, feed freedom, and human rights, and he's here with us in the balcony today.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest member from Jericho please rise and be recognized? Member from Fulton East.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I have some good news to share. The member from Swanton becomes a grandpa for the first time, and the member from Fairfield becomes a grandpa for the second time. Interestingly enough, they were both born on Friday, March 27. The member from Swanton's granddaughter's name is Brooks Meredith Walker, and the member from Fairfield's grandson's name is Brooks Everett Gregoire. So two Brooks in the house from Fairfield County. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Congratulations. Member from Montpelier.

[Representative Kate McCann]: Madam Speaker, I have a very relaxing announcement. The American Massage Therapy Association will be in the building today. After a day of scrapping and committee and horse trading, they would invite you to join them in the cafeteria from four to 05:30 where they'll be offering five minutes chair massages and cookies. And it doesn't get sweeter than that.

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

[Representative Lucy Boyden]: Madam speaker, the royal caucus will meet tomorrow morning from eight to 08:45 in Room 10 and on Zoom. We will be discussing s three twenty five relating to rural, regional planning in act two fifty tier jurisdiction and hear about the Rural Health Care Transformation Fund. And additionally, the rural caucus will be hosting a listening session to hear from rural Vermonters tomorrow from 05:30 to 7PM in Room 10 and, excuse me, Room Room 11 and on Zoom. All are welcome.

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

[Representative John O'Brien]: Thank you, madam speaker. The older Vermonters caucus will meet tomorrow at noon in Room 10. We will be hearing from community nurses. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Charlotte.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans]: Madam speaker, I'm not as enthusiastic or knowledgeable with these announcements as the former member from Chittenden who, by the way, is in second place in the women's tournament for the the basketball thing. But I would like everyone to know that I am in thirty fifth place for the women's tournament and 70 place for the men's tournament, which is the most important thing here. But also the member from Essex Junction is in first.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Barrie City?

[Representative Edward "Teddy" Waszazak]: Thank you, madam speaker. I have been asked to kick off this Tuesday with a week of celebration. As I drove into Montpelier this morning, the streets of Barrie were flooded not with floodwaters or because of the rain, but the tears of the populace, madam speaker, because this is our final week with the representative from Barrytown. And throughout the week, we'll be celebrating him on the floor and sharing stories. A quick story. The first time I ever spoke to the representative from Barrytown, I was on the city council at the time, and we were having a debate as to whether to fund the ice rink and the, you know, Zamboni and such up at the Barrie Outdoor Rink, which is now the Barrie Indoor Rink, but we still call it the BOR because we're just particular like that. And I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize, and I picked it up. And I without a without any introduction or any, you know, niceties, Teddy, what the heck are you people doing down in the city? We need that ice. It's been there as long as I've been alive. And, you know, of course, madam speaker, I voted to keep the ice on the rink. So for this, our last, Tuesday morning with the member from Barrytown, we wanna thank him for his service. The people of Barry thank him for his service, and we're going to miss him very, very much.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: We will. Member from Barrie Town.

[Representative Lucy Boyden]: Madam speaker, I move that the remarks from the member from Barry City be journalized.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Barrytown moves that we journalize the remarks of the member from Barrytown. 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 journalized the remarks of the member from Barrie City. Are there any further announcements? Member from Pollock.

[Unknown Representative (district unclear)]: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have a member that is celebrating birthday here today. This member serves on the health care committee and is also a member in good standing at the Tuesday night Caucus. Please help me wish the member a happy birthday from Waterford.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, order of the day. Members, we are going to bump House Bill nine forty one to the end of the action calendar today. Please be advised there is a new amendment that has been emailed, so we'll do that last. With that, we will start with House Bill six fifty seven which is an act relating to enabling unaccompanied homeless youth to obtain certain services without parental consent. Member from Waterbury.

[Representative Thomas Stevens]: Madam speaker, I move that we postpone action on age six fifty seven for one legislative day.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Waterbury moves that we postpone action on house bill six fifty seven for one legislative day. Are you ready for the question?

[Representative Thomas Stevens]: If

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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 six fifty seven for one legislative day. Up next is house bill seven twenty seven which is an act relating to sustainable data center deployment. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (full readings)]: Page seven twenty seven, an act relating to sustainable data center deployment.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill. Now we'll take up House Bill nine thirty five which is an act relating to emergency management. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (full readings)]: Page nine thirty five, an act relating to emergency management.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it, the ayes do have it And you have passed the bill. Now we'll turn to house bill nine thirty eight which is an act relating to establishing the Vermont homelessness response continuum. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (full readings)]: H nine thirty eight, an act relating to establishing the Vermont homelessness response continue. The

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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 on our action calendar today is house resolution 15 which is a house resolution reaffirming the abiding friendship between the state of Vermont and The Republic Of China, Taiwan on the twenty seventh anniversary of the Vermont Taiwan sister state relationship and supporting enhanced Vermont Taiwan bilateral relations and Taiwan's participation in international organizations member from Jericho.

[Unknown Representative from Jericho]: Madam speaker, I move that we commit HR 15 to the commerce to the committee of commerce and economic development.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Jericho moves that house resolution 15 be committed to 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 committed HR 15 to the committee on commerce and economic development. And now we will take up house bill nine forty one which is an act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture. The bill was introduced by the committee on agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry. The member from Shaftesbury, representative Durfee will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

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

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Shaftesbury.

[Representative David Durfee]: Madam speaker, h nine forty one is a committee bill that offers a compromise solution to a problem brought on by an unexpected judicial ruling last spring. On the same day that the house gaveled out for the final time in May, the Vermont Supreme Court issued a surprise decision that overturned years of precedent and conventional understanding. For practically as long as there have been farms in Vermont, municipalities have had no legal mechanism for regulating them. Statute was clear or so the legislature intended and everyone believed that towns and cities could not use bylaws or ordinances to put restrictions on the way farms did business. However, the court read our statues differently and precedent notwithstanding held that cities and towns do in fact have the authority to regulate some aspects of farming, specifically those not related to water quality. Farmers and other interested parties reacted right away. And over the summer and fall, representatives from a broad coalition of farmer groups, the Agency of Agriculture, and the League of Cities and Towns connected with one another with the aim of proposing a legislative solution that would be agreeable to all three groups of stakeholders. Those conversations continued into the new year and right up to the present, but ultimately have not resulted in a proposal that even any two of the three groups were prepared to endorse. The bill before us is the committee's attempt to thread that needle in a way that restores the exemption with certain limited exceptions that don't affect existing farms. It seeks to clarify legislative intent by updating the language while carving out exceptions for local future regulation where it may be reasonable to do so in residential neighborhoods. The bill also adds a new food sovereignty clause that, for the first time, establishes not farmer alike the right to grow vegetables and raise poultry on their property. I will now walk through the sections of the bill, noting that a strike all amendment will be coming that changes where exceptions can be made. But members who would like to follow along the original bill as introduced by the committee can find it H nine forty one on the House website. Section one, findings and intent, notes that it has long been both the intent of the general assembly and controlling law that municipalities could not regulate farming and declares that going forward they don't have the authority to do so with limited exceptions outlined in the bill. Section two repeals the language that the court referred to in its ruling and replaces it with new unambiguous wording. A farm that is required to comply with the required agricultural practices rule can't be regulated locally with the exception spelled out below. Section three then gets to the exceptions listing the limited ways in which a municipality could regulate agriculture, giving cities and towns the possibility of controlling traffic ingress and egress, parking, signage, fencing and setbacks if it fell within a tier 1A area. Notably, existing farms and conserved land would be grandfathered in and exempt from regulation. The amendment that's coming will make a change to this section, removing the reference to tier 1A. Section three also prevents towns from using bylaws to prohibit everyday citizens whose operations don't rise to the level of professional farming from growing food or raising poultry, with the exception of roosters, for their own use or for donation or sale. Section four creates a formal stakeholder group charged with studying how to further address municipal regulation of agriculture and reporting back to the legislature in December. Section five is the effective date. Madam speaker, the committee heard from a long list of witnesses. The director of the Farm to Plate Network, general counsel, the agency of agriculture, food, and markets, legislative counsel in our office of legislative counsel, associate professor with UVM Extension, the legislative director of rural Vermont, the director of program development, the Land Access and Opportunity Board, director of intergovernmental affairs with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the policy director of NOFA Vermont, the director of advocacy and community engagement with the Land Access and Opportunity Board, the executive director of the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, deputy chief counsel of the Office of Legislative Council, policy director with the Vermont Farm Bureau, senior New England program manager with American Farmland Trust, the municipal policy advocacy specialist with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the legislative director from Rural Vermont, a lobbyist with the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance, the policy director of Rural Vermont, I may have already said that, and 10 Vermont farmers ranging across the spectrum of the type of farming we do in Vermont. The vote in the committee was seven zero one, and we appreciate your support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the member from Shaffs Bury, representative Durfee offers an amendment to the bill that the first assistant clerk emailed to members at 10:06 this morning. This amendment is also posted on the house overview webpage and paper copies are available at the main table. And it is my understanding that the member from Shaftesbury is offering this amendment in lieu of the one printed in today's calendar. Member from Shaftesbury.

[Representative David Durfee]: Madam speaker, your committee on agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry took it upon itself to address this issue of municipal regulation of agriculture through the committee bill that was just reported after receiving a request from the administration to introduce a bill and taking testimony from the various stakeholders. As often happens, we found ourselves dealing with a subject that is also of jurisdictional interest to another of your committees, in this case the House Environment Committee. As we were finishing our work on the bill, the Environment Committee reviewed it, took some testimony of their own, and provided constructive feedback. They noted specifically that the mechanism we had used to create exceptions, tier one a areas had been created for a specific purpose and did not in fact formally exist yet. As a remedy, the strike all amendment before you replaces that construct with one based on parcel size. At House Environment's recommendation, the amendment also provides a much more specific charge for the stakeholder group to consider ways to address conflicts between landowners in densely populated areas where livestock is involved. The structure of the amendment is consistent with the underlying bill. Section one clarifies the legislature's intent that municipalities generally may not regulate farming. Section two again repeals the language that the court ruled on and replaces it with clarifying language. Here we also include language that reserves to the state, not municipalities, the right to regulate growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Section three, again, lists the ways in which a municipality can regulate agriculture here on residential size lots under three quarters of an acre so that if they choose, they can apply limited rules to activity that meets the definition of farming. Again, existing farms would be exempt from regulation. This section also prevents towns from using bylaws to prohibit everyday citizens from raising poultry for their own use or for donation or sale. Section four describes the stakeholder group's makeup and responsibilities. Section five is the effective date, July 1. The House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee reviewed this amendment and on a seven zero one straw poll supports the amendment. Madam speaker, it would be hard to overstate the importance that agriculture plays in Vermont's economy, culture, and history symbolized on the state seal placed over the chamber and the statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, looking out across the land from her position atop the State house. We regularly hear in our committee that farms are currently facing strong headwinds of all sorts, rising costs of fertilizer and feed, hard to find labor, low prices over which they have little control. This amendment will help by removing another level of potential regulation. We ask for your support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as offered by the member from Shaftsbury? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have amended the bill. Now the question is shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And third reading is ordered. Members that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? The chair has a couple of announcements for you. Members earlier today, the house committee on rules met and appointed representative Ashley Bartley of Fairfax to the house ethics panel to fill the vacancy cause by the resignation of representative Chris Taylor of Milton. Also the second announcement, the vacancy caused by the resignation of representative Chris Taylor of Milton, I am appointing representative Beth Quimby of Linden to serve as the vice chair of the house education committee. Lastly, I'd like to remind members to clear desks due to the public hearing on community safety concerns held jointly by the house and senate committees on judiciary that is occurring in the house chamber from five to seven this evening. Are there any announcements? Member from Essex Junction?

[Unknown Representative from Glover]: Madam speaker, democrats will not be caucusing today.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Pulte.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, house republicans will caucus ten minutes after floor.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: And member from Burlington.

[Unknown Representative from Burlington (Progressive Caucus)]: Madam speaker, house progressives will not be caucusing today.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Polany, will the house please come to order? Member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, April 1 at first at 1PM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand and adjournment until Wednesday, 04/01/2026 at 1PM.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do