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. The devotional today will be led by April Osman who is a poet from White River

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: Junction. Thank

[April Osman (Devotional guest/poet)]: you, representative Hoyt for the invitation. I'm gonna read two poems from We, which is a book about bridging the political divide. First poem is

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: called

[April Osman (Devotional guest/poet)]: nonpartisan. If I told you I saw your soul, would you judge me inappropriate or disbelieve me? If you asked for a description, would I admit you glowed golden as these late northern afternoons whose slanted autumn light makes green fire of a backlit tree's shimmering leaves and balances me perfectly on the tightrope between yearning and content as if I finally understood what beauty meant to tell me. Before I read this second poem, I'll just say that Obad is a poem or a song in honor of the morning. And I wrote this poem after driving along a country road in Vermont just before dawn after the State of the Union in 2017. State of the Union Obad. Moving through dawn's ethereal twilight gray as darkness leeches from valley landscape, passing gold lit rooms like staged plays, wounds from which a day's labor is born, brief havens for waking, one man with his back to me, though he doesn't know it, bent like a lover to his task, with faith in walls that may not be all he needs to survive catastrophe. One man with his handcuffed so tenderly around a mug, I wanna hug him. Maybe contemplating ways to face the day with faith and compassion or adversity, each luminous, breakable neighbor, sipping hot coffee or eating a doughnut, wholly in the moment's duty soon will co opt, but none more or less divine than any other. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, it is hard to believe, but it is our page's last day today. I am so honored to thank and acknowledge the second class of legislative pages for their important contributions to the twenty twenty six legislative session. As legislative pages you have played a crucial role in carrying the conversations and information that spurred the creation of bills later to become law. As a group, you worked together and were stewards of the building, guiding visitors, supporting legislators and staff each and every day. Your time under the Golden Dome has made a lasting impact and each and every one of you have brought your unique backgrounds and skills to help make the twenty twenty six legislative session a success. Just like those who have come before you, you are now an invaluable part of our legislative family. I hope your experience here was enriching and that you've had the chance to learn, to explore the building, and immerse yourselves in the legislative process and how it works. I hope you have formed meaningful friendships with each other and legislators in the building and that you'll stay connected with this institution in the years ahead. On behalf of all the members of the house, we wish you the very best in your future endeavors, and we hope that you will come back soon to visit. Thank you so much for your service. I will now present each page with a pen. We will take a photograph. I'll ask members to hold your applause to the end. We'll give them another big round of thank yous. First, we have Scarlet Bedford from Sharon. Next is Mitch of Charlotte. Now Madeline Howard of Montpelier. Thanks for all your great learning. Next, James Laughlin of Berry City. Next is Ela Morrison from Berry Town.

[Representative Troy Headrick (Burlington)]: Next

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: is Abbey Scott of Northfield. And Edison Town of Morrisville. Let's give them another round of applause, shall we? Thank you. Members this morning we have three senate bills for referral. The first is senate bill 193 which is an act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice involved persons introduced by senator Lyons. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: S one ninety three, an act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice involved persons.

[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 one ninety eight, which is an act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. Introduced by senator Lyons and Clarkson. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: S one ninety eight, an act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on commerce and economic development. And finally, senate bill two fourteen is an act relating to the provision of the pre kindergarten education and geographically isolated school districts introduced by senator Ron Hinsdale. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: S two fourteen, an act relating to the provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on education. Members, we have a bill on the notice calendar requiring referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35 a. The first is senate bill two eighteen which is an act relating to reducing chloride chloride contamination in state waters carrying an appropriation. The bill is referred to the committee on appropriations. Members, we received requests to read two house concurrent resolutions that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. The first is h c r two thirty seven which is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont associated twenty twenty six winter olympics medal winners. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: Whereas the twenty twenty six Milan Cortina Winter Olympics included a spectacular display of the athletic prowess of the 24 Vermont resident or Vermont educated competitors, and six of them captured seven of the 33 US medals confirming the premier role Vermont continues to play in incubating US Olympic skiers. And whereas Brian Cockran Siegel of Starksboro, who attended the University of Vermont, repeated his twenty twenty two silver meddling in the Alpine Super G and completed the course merely point one three seconds behind the gold medalist, Franjo van Alleman of Switzerland. And he won his twenty twenty six silver medal fifty four years to the day that his mother, Barbara Ann Coffin, won the woman's slalom gold medal at the nineteen seventy two Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. And whereas the world's top ranked and most decorated women's cross country skier and founding member of the prestigious SMS t two cross country skiing team, Jesse Diggins, competing in her final Olympics added to her Olympic triumphs when she captured the bronze in the 10 k skate. And whereas second time Olympian Stratton Mountain School alumnus, the big air skier, Mac Forehand, in astounding display of skiing bravado and ingenuity completed the first ever twenty one sixty degree nose butter triple cork, secured the silver medal in the big air competition, and exercised exemplary sportsmanship when by an extremely narrow margin, Norwegian Thomas Frostad was awarded the gold medal. And whereas former Land Grove and now Richmond resident, Stratton Mountain School alum, UVM mechanical engineering graduate, two time individual NCAA cross country skiing champion, and member of the prestigious SMS t two cross country skiing team, Ben Ogden, skied in his second Olympics. And his performance in the cross country sprint classic was breathtaking as he narrowly finished in second place by one second at three minutes forty seconds to the gold medalist her region, Johan Hosflot Klabo, ending the fifty year American hiatus in men's cross country skiing Olympic meddling, which Vermonter Bilcock last achieved in 1976. And as an added thrill, Ben Ogden earned his second silver medal teaming with Gus Schumacher in on the US men's cross country sprint freestyle team to win the first American medal in this event. And whereas UVM alum and current Wakefield resident, Paula Mollie was the first junior world championships win women's slalom gold medalist, was the first u v m UVM catamount freshman to win the NCAA women's slalom title and was twice named an NCAA first team all American. More recently, she performed superbly in the World Cup slalom and giant slalom competitions. And at the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics, she earned her first Olympic medal, a bronze skiing slalom segment of the new women's team combined event in partnership with her downhill teammate, Jackie Wiles, delighting students at the Green Mountain Valley Valley School with whom she trains at Sugarbush. And whereas Burke Academy alum, Michaela Schiffrin, the most decorated alpine skier in the sports history and prior Olympian, dominated the slum to win the gold medal, marking a new milestone in her remarkable career on the slopes. And whereas each of these Vermont associated medalists magnificently represented our nation at the twenty twenty six Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly congratulates the Vermont associated twenty twenty six Winter Olympics medal winners and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to each of the Olympians honored in this resolution.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Next is h c r two thirty eight, which is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired on a century of advocating for and facilitating the realization of outstanding support services. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: Whereas in 1926, Helen Keller, the ardent advocate for individuals with visual impairment, toured Vermont and encouraged the state's governmental leadership to provide public financing for services assisting Vermonters who are blind or visually impaired. And whereas she provided an effective advocate as her speaking engagement in Burlington sparked considerable interest. And in May 1926, her efforts resulted in the establishment of the nonprofit organization, the Vermont Association for the Blind, now known as the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, FAB V. And whereas upon being formed, FAB V partnered with the state to develop a statewide program to facilitate vital support services for impacted individuals. And whereas for the past century, this partnership has improvised improved the lives of countless Vermonters of all ages who are either blind or visually impaired. And whereas in 2026, VAP V is an integral organization in the system of support for the visually impaired. And this work is now especially important as the number of persons in need of these vital services is anticipated to double by the year 2030. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives, the that the general assembly congratulates the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired on a century of advocating for and facilitating the realization of outstanding support services and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Bevy.

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

[Representative Jed Lipsky (Stowe)]: Madam speaker, we've just heard the reading of the resolution honoring Vermont athletes, accomplishments at the recent Cortina Milano games. So, madam speaker, today, we are honored to have with us many of Vermont's most accomplished skiing athletes, coaches, friends, family, and supporters. I would like to recognize our twenty twenty six Winter Olympic medalist, double silver medalist, Ben Ogden, originally from Land Grove, UVM graduate, and now residing in Richmond. Bronze medalist, sixth place overall this year in Women's World Cup and UVM grad, Paula Molson, now residing in Wakesfield. Silver medalist, who also won silver medal in twenty twenty two Olympics, Ryan Coffin Siegel, originally from Starksboro, UVM grad, and now residing in Burlington. Bronze medalist, Jesse Diggins, who retired two weeks ago as the most decorated cross country skier in US history. Jesse has been unable to be with us today but sent a a note. And madam speaker, may I ask your permission to read the note from Jesse Diggins?

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

[Representative Jed Lipsky (Stowe)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Dear representative Lipsky, over the past fourteen years, my SMS t two teammates and I have found inspiration in the hills and mountains of Vermont. As we prepared for international cross country skiing success. Vermont is a special place with a deep winter sports legacy, and it is a tremendous honor to be recognized along with Ben, Mac, Michaela, Pauline, Ryan, and many other Vermont based Winter Olympians. Thank you to both governor Scott and to all the legislators across the state. While we are often recognized for individual successes, I feel certain that my fellow Olympians and teammates agree these are successes are all the product of a great team environment. And to that end, along with competing, we work equally hard to build community and inspire the next generation. With appreciation, Jesse Diggins. And madam speaker, also in attendance today is twenty twenty six Olympian Julia Kern of Richmond and who finished six in the individual cross country sprint. Additionally, 1972 Olympic slalom gold medalist, Barbara Ann Coffin of Starksboro. In 1976, Olympic cross country skier, medalist, and America's first overall World Cup winner in 1982, Bill Coke, originally from Guilford, now residing in Peru. And, madam speaker, constituent of mine, Trina Hosmer, UVM grad in 1972 Olympian and member of the first ever US Women's Olympic Cross Country Ski Team. At the World Masters Cross Country Championships in Italy, Trina won four gold medals. To add to her more than 30 gold medals, she has previously won prior in World Masters Championships. Trina Trina lives in stone. And madam speaker, I know brevity matters, but there is such a legacy of Vermont mentors and leaders joining us in the house today. I wanna many of us acknowledge the passing of Johnny Caldwell. Johnny start was a ski coach down at the Putney School, and he passed away this winter. But one of his legacy was someone who worked at the Putney School and went there. His name was Bob Gray. Went on to be early USA and Olympic skier. And Bob Gray went on to mentor Bill Coke. Bill Coke, you know, was from Guilford originally, but he went on to become the first American Cross Country Olympic medalist. And not only that, he started to and became an overall world champion. And he founded the Bill Cope League, which many of your children or your grandchildren participate today, and that has spread a culture of cross country love and exceptional results. And I also want to point out that the same is true in the most humble ways in Vermont. Out of Cochran's, you have generations of Olympic champions and Olympic team members in the same way where Paula Mollie grew up in Buck Hill, Minnesota. Both have, I would say, a vertical drop about of between four and and five hundred feet maximum. Yet they have produced more Olympians than maybe any other ski hill in The United States. So I'm bringing this up because it talks about the humility of Vermont. And I I wanna remark when I was touring around our Olympic guests and their families, Trina Hosmer, as we walked into the Cedar Creek room, acknowledged this is the first time in fifty five years of being a Vermont Olympian that I've ever been recognized for that achievement. So I want you to know how important this recognition is to the athletes and how meaningful it is to us. So with that, I also, along with the Cochrans and the small because I wanna shout out to programs like what began in Putney and is now up in Craftsbury and all over at Trap Hill. The culture of winter sport greatness that it's come out of our state is absolutely staggering. And there are two other additional guests, US ski team members, Olympic team members, not medalists, but they represent the Vermont National Guard, and they're with us today. And they are also seated in the balcony. And this is sergeant Tara Garrity Moats. She's originally from Crafts, Albany, but trains out of Craftsbury. Overall World Cup winner in Nordic combined, two time ski jumping world champion, two time by Asselot. Specialist Sean Dougherty also from the Vermont Guard, you know, elite athlete program, four time Olympian, and nine time world championship team member. So this culture that we my final my final remarks, madam speaker, is I went up to Craftsbury last Saturday to try to get US Olympic team member Jack Young to come to be recognized. And we watched him compete. Many of us went over to Lake Placid the week before and watched Jesse Diggins final race. Just watched Ben. It was really remarkable. I was talking to Jack's father and mother at the end of the event and allowed that it must be must be very proud of Jack's achievement. And his father said to me, he said, Jana, I'm not so proud of his achievement. What I am proud of is how hard he has worked to achieve what he's achieved. And that work ethic is what he and his wife are most proud of. That's the Vermont ethic, and I wanted to share that with you. And I'm sorry that that Jack couldn't join us today. But, madam speaker, in honoring all of the other programs we've mentioned, US ski team members and former Vermont based ski team members. University of Vermont Catamounts are up here with their coaches, including Billy Reichheld and Patrick Weaver. University of Vermont Academy ski team at large Stratton Mountain School staff and coaches, the SMS t two program leaders, Mount Mansfield Ski Club, Academy Burke Mountain Academy, Green Mountain Valley School leaders. There's an extraordinary, humble, but high achieving guests in the gallery. And madam speaker, if you would please join me in welcoming them to the People's House. Thank you.

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

[Representative Thomas Burditt (West Rutland)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, a few minutes ago, we heard the resolution for the hundredth anniversary of Vermont Association for the Blind. In some circles, it's known as VABVI. And there are quite a group that came for the reading today in the gallery behind me. And, madam speaker, I've known about organizations like this for about fifty six years since I was, like, 13 years old, because somebody that I was close to, utilized it. And the incredible work that they do to help people live their lives, get into the workforce, and that type of thing. But some of the people that are here, I mean, you know, for with AbbVie, I mean, we have executive directors, staff, clients. The I'm not sure which it is. The director producer, I guess you could say, of Dancing with the Burlington Stars. And and and I believe we even have a a celebrity champion of Dancing with the Burlington Stars with the group. But anyway, madam speaker, if we can give the give the group a warm welcome and because they certainly deserve it not only for the hundred years, but for the work that they they do on a daily basis.

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

[Representative Thomas Burditt (West Rutland)]: Yeah, it's me again. I think this week I've stood up and spoke on the floor almost as much as I did when I was a freshman, but you know how freshman can be.

[Unidentified Member from Barre City]: Anyway,

[Representative Thomas Burditt (West Rutland)]: normally when we, you know, when we have a group, individuals aren't picked out, but this individual to me is is worth picking out of the group. And I have two children, Heather and Shane. And this person was, I guess you could say, kind of instrumental, you know, in their life. And and she's a friend of fifty six years, which coincidentally is the same amount of time that I've known about organizations like that. And and she is the I guess the director producer of Dancing with the Burlington Stars. And if you haven't been up to that show, you need to go because it is a great show that they put on. But anyway, I'd mentioned my my kids, Heather and Shane, and I'd like to introduce Heather and Shane's mother, Vicky.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest member from West Rutland please rise and be recognized? Member for Milton?

[Representative Michael Morgan (Milton)]: Yes. In that same vein, madam speaker, I know we don't ordinarily introduce individuals who've been introduced as groups, but he's here in a dual capacity. I'm pleased to have somebody here today that is not only a board member of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visual Impaired, visit our state's attorney for the Grand Isle County. Would we please give a hearty welcome to a staunch defender of law and order and a friend, Grand Isle State's Attorney Doug DeSabadone, he's seated behind me in the gallery.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest, the member from Milton, please rise and be recognized. Member from Hartford.

[Representative Kevin “Coach” Christie (Hartford)]: Madam speaker, the devotional today was given by April Osman, a poet and braver angels volunteer from White River Junction. April's work seeks to find those things that unite us as people and ask that we change our perceptions and work to increase civility and compassion. April performs call and response readings where audience audiences share short stories of positive interactions they've had with people of a different political belief. This helps to increase the understanding that we're all we're all in this together with the same people and to recognize our common humanity. So please join me in welcoming her to the house.

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, April 3 isn't just another day in on the calendar. It's a date stuck in the midst of mud season, carrying messages of hope with the first signs of spring and rebirth. 04/03/2010 was the day that the iPad was first released. Remember that birthday as you check your email. Pick up your snail mail from the lounge and celebrate that on this day in 1860, the very first Pony Express rider spurred his horse out of Missouri to deliver the mail. Five years later, on this exact morning in 1865, union troops marched into Richmond, Virginia, a victory secured in no small part by the thousands of Vermonters absent from their plows that spring to defend the union, sending some good news home on April 3, that fateful mud season. And in 1948, it was on April 3 that the Marshall Plan was signed into law, and a federal government united across party lines to help the world recover from the horrors of war by investing in Reconstruction, dispatching a powerful message of peace and rebirth through our actions. Madam speaker, may I quote a message from acclaimed film actor, Marilyn Brando, who was delivered into this world on 04/03/1924? Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent. Madam speaker, on April 3, the world didn't just get a newsworthy movie star or news of peace or new ways to deliver messages. It got my friend and retired rural mail carrier, the member of House Health Care from Enisburg Falls. Please join me in wishing him a happy birthday.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Member from Barrytown. Member from Berry City. Thank

[Unidentified Member from Barre City]: you, madam speaker. Two years ago, I was sitting in my Jeep in my driveway when I made a call to the distinguished gentleman and statesman from Barrytown. He was one of the very first people that I reached out to, if not the first, because I wanted his honest opinion on whether I should run for state rep. His answer was absolutely. I don't know if I would have taken the leap if it had not been that case, but because of his encouraging words, I'm here today, After I was elected, he became more than just a colleague and an acquaintance. He became a mentor and someone I consider as a friend. He is a steady hand, a lighthouse during what is often a very stormy session. He has guided me on how to conduct myself, how to approach difficult votes, and how to stay grounded when things got complicated. Time and time again, I turned to him for advice on tough roll calls. And he was always there with wisdom, perspective, and temperance. Topper, your wisdom and demeanor will be greatly missed in this building. It will be missed by us, and we will all miss you. And I will miss you, and I love you.

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

[Representative Gina Galfetti (Barre Town)]: Madam speaker, we here we are, and it has been a week of celebrating a legend, and now it's my turn to give it my best. Serving with Topper McFawn has been one of the greatest honors of my life. And getting to know his family and his wife, Mary Ann, I there's no putting a price tag on that. And there will never be anybody that can sit to my left that will will fill that seat like my round man. I have rewritten this speech so many times in the last week, but must confess, never edited it for length. In the weeks leading up to Francis's debut, Topper's mother, Evelyn, I am told, strolled the halls of the family home in Cambridge rubbing her stomach and repeating, this boy is going to be tops, everyone. Tops. And I am going to call him Topper. Keep in mind that Topper was grown in the days before ultrasound, so his mother did not know she was having a boy. But I am told she was very strong willed and stubborn. So Topper was willed into being from the start. In a tragic turn of events, young Evelyn passed not long after Topper's arrival, but the grit and determination she had willed him onto this earth with would fire his soul forever. In his mother's absence, it would be Topper's great grandfather, Francis, for whom our young top was named, that would step in with his cane to be our young hero's earliest protector. As Topper rode laps on his beat up, hand me down tricycle in the backyard, imagining himself on a chariot, it would be his great grandfather who shook his cane at the folks from child services, sending them away as he stepped in at the age of 86, the age Topp is now, to look after a child. Toppard grew up quick, knowing what it's like to be hungry and fighting through it all. He and his grandfather figured out pretty quick that sports were going to be this kid's way out, and sports it was. In between brawling with the neighborhood kids, Topper excelled in baseball and, yes, of course, hockey. He played for some of Boston's finest prep schools first and then moved on to Boston University. He could have gone to Harvard but had some choice words for a headmaster whose recommendation was needed, so B. U. It was. It was while attending B. U. That Topper would meet the love of his life, Mary Anne Howland. Now Mary Anne, you see, was not your average kind of girl. She had grown up in West Windsor, Vermont in a very political family. The Howland family has been serving Vermont in the legislature and many other offices pretty much since there's been a Vermont. Mary Anne, however, in the nineteen sixties, had seen enough of West Windsor and was ready to head to Boston and see the world. So Mary Anne and Topper met in Boston just as women's liberation, the civil rights movement, and the beat generation were kicking off. They ducked into cafes to listen to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, and they fell deeply in love against the backdrop of a nation changing and evolving at light speed. Toppers spent time in the army and crossed the color line in the South to help some fellow black soldiers out in a bar fight against Jim Crow. And I have no doubt that a bra or two of Mary Ann's went up in flames. They were making their way in the city, but their struggles were not small. Milk crates for furniture and a long pass that topper couldn't quite escape. So the decision was made to cut ties with the city and head north, and that is where, or nearly where, the McFawn story turns into a Berry story. They moved on to the old farm at the corner of Windywood and Sunset and began a process of renovating that farmhouse and making it a home that continues to this day. Now let's be frank. Your average flatlander with a Boston accent would be held at arm's length by the boys of Berry in the nineteen sixties, but as we know, Topper is not your average flatlander. Indeed, he was the equivalent of a hockey god to the boys of Berry, and it was not long before he was accepted. He went on to coach hockey at Spaulding High School and brought them to the championship more than once. It is at this point in time that top owes me a thank you as a certain center in the championship game would not have made grades if I hadn't given him a good look at my algebra test. But, hey, it's a team sport. And Mary Anne wasted no time getting to work, teaching in the local schools, and running the local four h chapter, of which I would eventually become a member along with their daughter, Mollie, who carries on that legacy today. Topper and Mary Anne together have done more work educating the greater Barrie area than anyone else I can think of. I could go on forever, madam speaker, because there are at least three doctor Zhivago length movies to be written from this man's life and love affair with Mary Anne. But I will close with this. The thing that is bringing Topper home right now is the thing that has always brought him home, and that is love and family. His grandchildren, Conor, Megan, Colin, Riley, Caitlin, and Josh are his hope for the future and bring him joy every day. And I know he is looking forward to connecting with them more as they embark on their journeys through life. And now without further ado, madam speaker, will you and the body please help me welcome the lovely Mary Anne and his children, Bennett, Kate, and Mollie to the People's House. Albeit today, it feels like Topper's House.

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

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, for the past few weeks, we have been roasting and toasting one of our own, representative Francis Topper McFawn. After twenty years of dedicated service to the state of Vermont, Topper is going home to mom, his college sweetheart and wife of over sixty years, Mary Anne. What are the chances that in my first term of office, I would be assigned to serve on the house human services committee by none none other than the former speaker, Shap Smith, who is here today, and current speaker of the house, Jill Kawinski, is sitting next to me. There were seven freshman legislators assigned to human services that year, three of whom were representatives rep Republicans. We leaned on representative McFawn to show us the ropes and explain what was going on, and he taught us well. Topper and I talk about how we met our spouses. Turns out we both married our college sweethearts. Topper went on to tell me how he was intrigued by Mary Anne and how he wanted to impress her because she seemed a bit of a renaissance woman. So instead of going to his gym class at the university, he audited an art history class. And the next time they went to the art museum Boston, he started talking about artists and impressionism and Monet and Picasso and what the paintings were trying to impart to the viewer and how the paintings made him feel. I'm sure Mary Anne was thinking, who are you and what have you done with Topper? I think Mary Anne was already impressed by the man he was. To Topper's sense of humor, and I'll preface this story by there's probably a four to five inch height difference between Topper and myself. Topper serves on a committee as do I that is up on the 3rd Floor. And a few weeks back, he was heading down the stairs and I was coming up. So Topper stopped on the bottom rung of the floor of the stairs, and I was on the floor and I started talking to him. After a minute, he stopped me and said, so this is what it's like to be tall. Topper, your stature is larger than life regardless of your height. I will end with a poem by Grady Poullard, a measure of a man. The measure of a man is not determined by his show of outward strength or the volume of his voice or the thunder of his actions or his intellect or academic abilities. It is seen rather in terms of the love that he has for his family and for everyone, the strength of his commitments, the genuineness of his friendships, the sincerity of his purpose, the quiet courage of his convictions, the fun, laughter, joy, and happiness he gives to his family and to others, his love of life, his patience, and his honesty, and his contentment with what he has. Representative MacCon McFawn, our sincere and heartfelt thanks to you for your steadfast commitment to your constituents, to this house, and to the citizens of our great state of Vermont. You have served us all well. We wish you much happiness and joy as you begin the next chapter of your life. Godspeed.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Barrytown, we thank you so much for your service. You've been a voice of compassion,

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: of compromise.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: You've been a voice for those who struggle to find a voice in this building, and you leave a legacy to be deeply proud of. And you will see that legacy in your communities through different kids and programs, and you have made a difference. You have made a difference. We thank you so much for your service and wish you all the best. Thank you, member. Are there any further announcements? Member from Barrytown?

[Representative Francis “Topper” McFaun (Barre Town)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Well, this is the last little talk that I'm gonna give on the floor, and it is going to be shot. It's been a real honor and a privilege to serve the people of Barrytown and Williamstown. It's been an honor and a privilege to serve on the different committees that I've served on. A whole bunch of them, there were two, health care and human services. And it's been an honor and a privilege to serve with the chairs of those committees, past and present. And I noticed past present past chairs are here as well. Thank you very much for letting me say those things that needed to be said. And we also have four people in the house that came in together that are still here. I'm one of them, and I'm gonna leave. There's a senator here, I think, still here. Yep. That was a member of the the 2004 class, and they've all done very well here. Mike McCart came in with us. Billy Canfield, me. I'm sure there are other people here too that might have come in because I'm I'm looking at some of the people I met outside, and they were wonderful people. They let a kid from 8 Donnell Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts become part of Vermont. They worked with me, and I worked with them. It didn't matter what was in back of their name. All that mattered is that we were helping people have a better life and making sure that the state of Vermont remained the best place in the world to live. There's a lot of people in this room that I respect so much for what you've done for the people. And I am glad that I was a part, and you let me be a part of this magic place where you can see the results of what you do every day. You can see that in your constituents when you help them and how it makes their life better. Please make sure that you continue the good work that you do here. I know you hear outside. Oh, they don't know what they're doing, etcetera. I'm inside, and I know how hard you all work. And it's been such a pleasure to work with you, and thank you. Thank you for allowing me to do that. That's it.

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

[Representative Lori Houghton (Essex Junction)]: Thank you, topper McVaughan. I'll miss you. Madam speaker, we have several former house members with us today to celebrate the member from Barrytown. I'd like to take a moment to introduce a few of them. Some of them are gonna feel left out, but don't worry, there's a second announcement. We have with us today former speaker, Shap Smith, Anne Pugh, Patsy French, Sandy Haas, and Kelly Paella. Please join me in welcoming them back to the people's house.

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

[Representative Michael Marcotte (Coventry)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, like my hair, our ranks of the class freshman class of 2,005 is thinning out. And I think I just lost another strand today. There are three members left in this house. After today, there will be two, myself, represent Canfield. We also have senator Clarkson that came in with us. Also, senator Mollie also has rejoined the general assembly. I'll bet on the other side. But also, madam speaker, you were part of our class as well, but not as a legislator, as the executive assistant to the speaker speaker, Simington. And we all we all had big dreams then. I think, some of those dreams came true. We all worked well together. And, you know, when I was listening to everyone speaking about Topper, one thing that really struck me was he's our true leader. And the mentoring that he did did not matter what what party you're from. As long as you're here to help people, he was gonna help you. So, Topper, it's been an honor and a privilege to serve with you for these last twenty two years. And as we always hear, we're a family. We have 11 sessions worth of family built up. We're we're in a pretty big family. Not quite as big as Alice's though, but but pretty big. But also, there are some classmates that came here to see you off today as well. So former representatives Patty Conlon, Sue Minter, Michelle Cooper Smith, and also our secretary of state, Sarah Copeland Hansis are here with us as well. So please welcome them to the house as well. Thank you, madam speaker.

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

[Representative Erin Brady (Williston)]: Thank you, madam speaker. It has been quite a morning here and a showcase of the best of Vermont from our young pages to Olympians to an extraordinary political and moral leader. It's a hopeful day here, and so I am thrilled to have five of my students from Colchester High School with me here today to see the best of Vermont, and what we do here in the People's House.

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

[Representative Karen Dolan (Waitsfield)]: Madam speaker, I move that we journalize the comments of the members from Barrytown, Pulton, Burlington, and Newport.

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

[Representative Karen Dolan (Waitsfield)]: Did I forget anybody? Coventry and Barrie City. It's a long list.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from member from Watesfield moves that we journalize the remarks of the member from Barrie City, the member from Barrytown, the member from Pulton East, the member from Burlington, and the member from Coventry. Are you ready for the question?

[Representative Karen Dolan (Waitsfield)]: And Newport. Did I say Newport?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: There was no member from Newport who spoke

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: of this.

[Representative Karen Dolan (Waitsfield)]: Marcotte is Stowe. Stowe.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Stowe. Oh, I see. Okay. Alright. Let's do this one more time. Members, member from Wakefield moves that we journalize the remarks of the member from Barrie City, Barrie Town, Hultney, Burlington, Coventry, and Stowe, 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 members. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members we have one bill on our action calendar today and that is house bill nine fifty two which is an act relating to capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment. The bill was introduced by the committee on corrections and institutions. The member from Springfield, representative Emmons will speak for the committee and affecting the revenue of the state, the bill was referred to the committee on ways and means which recommends that the bill ought to pass. The member from Barrie City, representative will speak for that committee And then carrying an appropriation, the bill was then referred to the committee on appropriations which also recommends that the bill ought to pass. The member from Franklin representative will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[Representative Troy Headrick (Burlington)]: H nine fifty two, an act relating to capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment.

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

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Madam speaker, this is a little difficult to report a bill like this after the past half hour or so, but it is a pleasure to be able to report this to some of my former colleagues

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: who are

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: sitting in the gallery. They get to enjoy a report of the capital bill. We lived it many years. Madam speaker, we do have spreadsheets down on the table in the well if folks are interested. It was also sent out to your email last evening. The best way to follow the capital bill is through the spreadsheet. We will be reporting this bill. I will give a brief summary, and then we will be yielding to certain members of the committee.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, will the house please come to order so we can hear the report? Thank you.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: I can give a few minutes. Madam speaker, the capital bill usually goes under the radar. No one really pays much attention to it. But it's very important to the structure of state government and it's very important as an economic development bill that goes back to our communities for investments in our municipalities, investments in our farm community, investments in taking care of our veterans, investments in terms of making sure the Vermonters have access to their judicial system, investments in public safety in terms of dealing with our Department of Public Safety as well as Department of Corrections. And then the real boring part that people always think of the capital bill of just state buildings and bricks and mortar. But the committee has learned over time that the capital bill touches every person in this state. Our budget is built on a two year budget and this year is in the second year of the two year budget and we call it the budget adjustment. On the spreadsheet, you will see two columns. You will see the gray column with highlights that are in beige. That is the governor's recommended changes to these dollars that we have put in in FY '26 and FY '27. In the red column, in those items that are highlighted in yellow, those are the changes that your committee corrections and institutions has proposed. Our two year budget is a total of about 159,550,000. It is broken down in terms of different sections, in terms of different parts of state government. So with that, madam speaker, I would like to yield to the member from Saint Albans City, representative Luna.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Springfield yields to the member from Saint Albans City.

[Representative Joseph “Joe” Luneau (St. Albans City)]: Thank you. And I will be reporting at sections two and three, and the remarks will be relegated to items that changed this year. So section two is agency of administration buildings and general services. Line one, major maintenance, dollars 1,281,000.000 was added in cash. Dollars 5 and 13,000 in bonded dollars were added. Line three, physical security enhancements for state buildings, 225,000 in cash was added. Line four, three acre stormwater compliance. Dollars 1,500,000.0 was reduced in bonding. We have three projects ready to go. This leaves $5,800,000 available and will be adequate to get those projects done. Line six, Asa Bloomer, dollars 3,600,000.0 of cash was added for roof and sewage upgrades and we'll complete the project. Line seven, Rutland multimodal garage renovation, dollars 900,000 has been added, which will complete the project. Line 11, one 120 State Street steam lines. There's been a million dollar reduction in bonded due to project timing. Line 12, dollars 1,300,000.0 in bonded dollars has been added for design documents for proposed state house entryway upgrades including a parking plan. Line 16, and this is the end of the changes in section two, dollars 3,000,000 in cash has been added to complete the 32 Cherry Street garage repairs. Moving on to Section three, Agency of Human Services. Line 21, dollars 8,426,000.000 of bondage has been added for HVAC upgrades at partially the Springfield and Newport correctional facilities. This will bring the total available to 20,426,000 to do work in all DOC facilities. Line 23, dollars 225,000 in cash has been added for correctional facility safety and security upgrades. Line 28, dollars 700,000 in cash has been added for DOC door controls. This is to augment door control replacements that are enumerated in lines twenty four and twenty five. Line 29, the Northern Correctional Facility boiler, dollars million in cash added. Line 30, DCFU stabilization facility, $772,000 cash added for design. There is an RFP out for design build, and these monies are being used in order to keep the design piece out of what would be the least payment. Line 31, dollars 3,000,000 in cash is being added for WiFi and correctional facilities. If you refer to section 17 of the bill, it references language for this. And specifically, language states, the commissioner corrections and the chief information officer of digital services shall monthly report while a general assembly is adjourned. Send I in calendar year 2026 to the joint legislative justice oversight committee in calls in consultation with the chairs of the house committee on corrections and institutions and the senate committee on institutions on the installation of WiFi and state correctional facilities. The last change in section three is $1,250,000 in cash added for replacement of the women's reentry and correction facilities. This is the end of section three and I yield to the member from Shelburne.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Saint Albans City yields to the member from Shelburne.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Shelburne)]: Madam speaker, thank you, member. Continuing with the spreadsheet, I will be speaking to sections four, five, and six, and then commenting on section 12 to the language of the capital bill. In anticipation of America's 200 birthday this summer, there's been increased demand for roadside historical markers. In section four, these markers found throughout the state tell wonderfully short historic stories in beautiful green and gold. Because of this demand, we are adding money to this line item, which is line item 40. This aging money that is being reallocated from historical various sites will allow historical preservation to add another 28 markers this year. In section five, building community grants, HCI level funded this program which provides financial grants to support necessary infrastructure upgrades to nonprofits and municipalities throughout the state. These are small grants that go to historic barns, parent child centers, and recreational facilities that pay for various needs, including boiler upgrades, ADA access, and roofing replacement. Section six concerns the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington. Our committee visited this past summer, thank you, member, which was incredibly helpful for us to understand the challenges they are facing in an aging building. Recently, there was a federal inspection that discovered the sprinkler system was faulty and needs extensive upgrading. We are also funding the replacement of old septic pipes throughout the facility. Trust me, they need it. We bonded additional funds and gave them language which allows them to move money between projects there at the vet's home. And finally, concerning language in the capital bill, if you're following along in section 12 found on

[Representative Jed Lipsky (Stowe)]: page

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Shelburne)]: 17, HCI amended statute 22 VSA subsection seven twenty five that now gives permission to the Division of Historic Preservation to fundraise for state owned historic projects. These funds would help them update displays and exhibits or restore historic sites they maintain. Madam speaker, I would like to yield to the member from Bennington.

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

[Representative Michael Nigro (Bennington)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Will be reporting sections nine and ten of this year's capital bill adjustment, which are referenced on the spreadsheet shared to members. For members who would like to follow along, you can use the provided spreadsheet and begin on line 76 of page five. I wanna note before I begin that there are no parts of sections nine or 10 that differ from the governor's recommended capital budget adjustment, but there are many moving components with the cash and bonded dollar parts, so I will review each part carefully. So beginning with section nine, which is Agency of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Conservation, which I'll just refer to as DEC throughout the remainder of the presentation, includes 590,000 bonded dollars for fiscal year twenty twenty seven for the drinking water state revolving fund. Based upon the recommendations from DEC, the governor's proposed budget included 2,498,000.000 from the cash fund to go into that, so a total of a little over $3,000,000. These funds are the 20% match to receive federal grants to support the drinking water fund that goes to our municipalities when they're in the process of building new drinking water infrastructure. I don't wanna do math in public as my chair says quite often, but you can see those dollars are gonna draw down quite a significant federal match. Next, we have in line 74, DEC dam safety and hydrology projects. We kept the governor's recommendation to appropriate 500,000 in fiscal year twenty twenty seven, and that was the same amount appropriated last year in bonded dollars. In line 75, we have a very specific line item here for the Waterbury Dam project in the amount of a $150,000, which is coming from the cash fund. This was an unanticipated cost overrun for monitoring the dam's conditional status, and cash fund dollars were appropriated to ensure that the funds were readily available for the project. Moving on to forest parts and recreation. I'll just refer to that as FPR. FPR has requested in line 72,500,000.0 for fiscal year twenty twenty seven and bonded dollars for park infrastructure and rehabilitation and improvement. That does encompass the three acre rule compliance. Additionally, $400,000 from the cash fund was appropriated for the same line item for a total of 2,900,000.0 in both cash and bonded dollars. FPR also requested $700,000 for fiscal year twenty twenty seven to cover public lands access infrastructure found in line 80. This includes FPR sites and properties aimed to increase the accessibility capacity and the safety of particular sites where they've been identified for improvements. And this request remains unchanged as well from last year when we heard from the commissioner and also received the governor's original recommendation. Now in line 81, the Department of Fish and Wildlife requested approximately 1,030,000.00 in fiscal year twenty twenty seven for major maintenance and infrastructure projects. This is slightly below what was appropriated last year in fiscal year 2026. Finally, in line 83, there contains an additional $200,000 in cash fund dollars to help department with dam dam maintenance and safety plans, and I'll note that's the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In total, the capital appropriation amount under section nine to the agency of natural resources is $5,319,360 for a total biennium appropriation of approximately 11,100,000.0 for the twenty twenty six to twenty twenty seven capital bill. Next, section 10, clean water. If the last section was not super thrilling, I can guarantee you it's gonna be equally as riveting this time around. Last year, the fiscal year twenty twenty seven capital bill only had a temporary placeholder figure of $10,000,000, which sought to project what the Clean Water Board would recommend in its annual clean water budget, which provides funding to help municipalities, farmers, and other Vermonters implement projects that will restore and protect Vermont's water quality, including addressing priority sources of nutrient and sediment pollution, Particularly because of federal mandates that we have with state level coordination to comply with clean water regulations, section 10 capital appropriations are used to address our total daily maximum load, TDML known as short, in the water basins of Lake Champlain. And I also just want to say I took a lot of time to pronounce this right this year, lake meant for Maygog, just so the member from Derby knows I learned. I learned. Anyway, so here's the breakdown of those allocations. So on line 89, we've allocated 1,500,000.0 for water quality grants under the agency of agriculture. To note, this is about half of what was recommended last year. These grants enable farmers to make improvements that come from agricultural discharge and by byproducts and provide financial assistance for farms to improve water quality as preventative measure within the Lake basins that I just mentioned. On line 91, we have $1,577,000 roughly allocated to the Clean Water state revolving fund in the clean water board's capital budget recommendations for fiscal year twenty seven. This will satisfy state matching requirements that help fund wastewater and storm water infrastructure projects mandated under federal and state clean water acts and regulations. On line 92, the municipal pollution control grants will receive 3,920,000.00 in bonded dollars for fiscal year twenty six, just slightly below what they received last year at a round number of $4,000,000. Line 94, we have the forestry access road water quality improvements. That's a mouthful. The $200,000 allocated to this line item will fund best management practices for roads located on public lands. This will make make sure that any sediments and runoff can bet be best protected to maintain our water quality, and this amount was similarly appropriated in fiscal year twenty six. Line let me make sure I'm following this right. Yep. Line 96 addresses the agricultural water quality projects. We appropriated $800,000 to support ongoing work with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to assist farmers that are addressing water quality issues centered around TDML thresholds and safety targets. This was consistent with the fiscal year twenty six and '27 recommendations. Line 97, the land conservation and water quality projects were allocated $2,000,000. This is part of the water quality that goes beyond working directly with farmers. These are the auxiliary water projects that support landowners and allow the state to leverage additional federal funds. Now, madam speaker, if you had your calculator out, you would know that all these little line items add up to a square sum of $10,000,000 for the clean water section. Now, I'm just going to jump really quickly over to the policy section and my apologies for not having the bill that should be with members today. But I'm just gonna use our final draft that our committee passed and it was on page 14 of of the 21 pages that we have been in the policy section. It's section 10 of the bill, if members wanna find that real quickly. It's just one minor change to discuss policy changes that we made for the Department of Environmental Conservation. The primary change was made in '24 VSA 47 '52 by adding terminology to the definition section of title 24. So now we will be defining what an eligible mobile home park water system is, which is to be a privately owned nonprofit community type system that serves a majority of the users who reside in a nonprofit or resident owned mobile home park. Now what this does is this is going to allow for low interest loans to be made available and more accessible for these types of communities throughout Vermont. The following section of the bill which is section 11 just shows the statutory changes to reflect this definition in title 24 regarding the conditions of loan agreements. With that, I will now yield to the member from Burlington, representative Hedrick, to present section 13 to 18 of the spreadsheet in the capital bill.

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

[Representative Troy Headrick (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, as mentioned, I will conclude our walk through of the spreadsheet itself, sections 13 through the section 18. As the representative just mentioned, we'll transition then to the policy portion of the bill. This is H952 in case anybody wants to find that and follow along once we get there. Section 13 reflects alignment between the governor and the committee on public safety infrastructure. In this section funding for the Rutland and Shaftsbury field stations will continue as planned. The committee also supports the governor's recommended investment in special teams, public safety facility that will serve urban search and rescue, hazardous materials response, marine operations, and fire safety. This is part of a multiyear investment already underway, and this allocation will keep that project moving forward. Section 14 focuses on maintaining and improving courthouse infrastructure across the state. It includes continued support for smaller resilience projects such as a backup power systems, as well as target investments like the Essex County Courthouse Connector. At White River Junction, the courthouse renovation itself is complete, but the additional funding in this section addresses necessary riverbank stabilization to protect that state investment. And with respect to Newport, the committee recognized that the site and planning challenges remain unresolved. While work continues at the local level in partnership with building buildings and general services. We did choose to hold off on additional funding of $750,000 until a more clear path forward has been established. Section 15 continues funding for the Vermont Rural Fire Protection Program including the dry hydrant program. There are no changes in this section from the from the base capital bill. Section 16 provides funding to the Vermont Historical Society to replace what are called Munters Climate Control Units at the Barrie Building. This is this unit has reached the end of its functional life and the replacement will ensure the continued protection of the building and the historical collections that we house within. And then sections six seventeen and eighteen reflect our regular process of reviewing prior capital appropriations and then reclaiming funds that have not been encumbered within statutory timeframes. This year, the governor identified the majority of these ramifications and the committee identified then three additional opportunities including 3¢ from Forest Parks and Recreations. In total, we are claiming approximately $3,300,000 in bonded funds from previous projects and returning then 5,400,000.0 in in general fund dollars to the infrastructure fund, which will be used to, for current and future capital needs. Madam Speaker, that concludes my report on the spreadsheet. We're gonna yield now to the member from Fairfield.

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

[Unidentified Member from Fairfield]: Thank you, madam speaker. I'm under strict orders from the chair that this must take at least ninety minutes. And those guys went fast, so I will be speaking slow. I will be reporting on sections nine, fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen of the actual bill, not the spreadsheet. If you haven't noticed by now, lied about the ninety minutes. Section nine is a section that lists the projects funded by the general fund dollars that are already appropriated in the big bill and are represented in our committee amendment that the bill that in that bill that this body passed last Friday. So I'm not gonna mention them. Section 14 is language authorizing the transfer of the land at Southern State Correctional Facility between the Department of Buildings and General Services in the town of Springfield for the purposes of economic development. For context, the concept of this transfer was part of the original purchase agreement to mitigate impacts on the Springfield community on this property back in the late teen late nineteen nineties. And we heard something about Hojo's Pits during this. Maybe the members from Springfield know about that. Section 15, this section repeals the original transfer agreement that the section 14 is replacing. Pretty simple. Section 16 is language that temporarily freezes funding for DCF for the purpose of development of a new high end system of care facility, the Green Mountain Youth Campus for justice involved youth until that entity reports back to the joint fiscal committee committee and the chairs of the committees of jurisdiction with information such as the written analysis of the estimated cost of an annual operating budget for of the full system of care. And this language also appears in the big bill that this body passed last week. The committee voted ten zero one and we ask for your support. Thank you.

[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. The h nine fifty two was referred to your committee on ways and means. Our report can be found on page seventeen fifteen of today's calendar, and there is no fiscal note. So throughout the sections of the bill, throughout the bill, there are sections that refer to fees, leases, and accepting of donations and gift to the state, but there is no immediate fiscal impact despite those things being mentioned throughout the bill. We heard from legislative council, office of legislative council, the legislative finance manager from JFO. The committee vote was ten zero one. We ask for your support and apologize for not assisting in hitting the ninety minute mark.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now speaking for the committee on appropriations, member from Franklin. Madam madam speaker, your appropriations committee received and reviewed capital bill. And on a vote of eleven zero zero, we, would ask the body to support. Thank you, madam speaker. So the question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Member from Waterbury.

[Representative Theresa Wood (Waterbury)]: Madam speaker, I just want to rise, one, because, if I didn't, the representative from Northfield would have my head. To, express our appreciation for the language in this bill that also appeared in the budget regarding the, high end facilities and budgets for, youth in DCF custody. We have considerable concerns about ongoing operating expenses given recent recent contracts that have been signed, and we appreciate the inclusion of this language in the capital bill.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Member from West Windsor.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I would be remiss if I did not stand on behalf of one of my, my the communities I represent, Windsor, which is facing a really huge year in 2027. So I have a couple of questions about Windsor, Vermont in 2027, if that would be alright, madam speaker. One is about section five of the spreadsheet.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Shelburne? Member from Shelburne is interrogated?

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: And, madam speaker, I'm not positive that this is the right section, but, is the money for any upgrades to Windsor's Old Constitution House, which is the centerpiece of twenty twenty seven's first signing of the state's constitution. Was that money increased from a $140,000?

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Shelburne)]: I'm not sure I understand the question, madam speaker.

[Representative Francis “Topper” McFaun (Barre Town)]: Okay.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: The Old Constitution House, which is where Vermont's first state constitution was signed, has not been open in more than five years. And there was budgeted a $140,000 to get that building open in time for 07/08/2027, which is the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of Vermont's first state constitution. I wondered whether that amount had been increased in this budget.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Shelburne)]: Madam speaker, I'm going to throw it over to the speak the member from Springfield. I didn't hear much about this this year. Sorry.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Shelburne yields to the member from Springfield. A member from West Windsor, we're having a little bit of hard time hearing you. If you could move the mic up. Thank you.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: My apologies, madam speaker. I'm having a hard time negotiating this chair while negotiating the microphone.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Madam speaker, in testimony that we received from the division of historic preservation, they always give us a list of projects for our historic sites. And, yes, the Constitution House in Windsor is on that list and continues to be on that list. There is money that within our major maintenance line for State House historic sites that goes directly to those particular projects, and the Constitution House in Windsor is included in that. And there's a lot of work that needs to happen in that building, and that is continuing in order to meet, those deadlines for the reopening.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Thank you, madam speaker. And so specifically, $140,000 continues to be allocated, and it continues to be adequate for the amount of work that needs to be done in order to get it open by 07/08/2027?

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Madam speaker, that is the plan.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Okay. Thank you, madam speaker. I have a second question on behalf of Windsor, Vermont, which has to do with the upcoming tenth anniversary of the closure of the, South East Correctional Facility, which is also 2027.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Members Speaker, I need some clarity. Are we talking about the Southeast Correctional Facility?

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Yes, madam speaker. The former Southeast Correctional Facility.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: At at this point, we still own that particular property. It has been discussed over a number of years as to what could be some potential uses. The state has decided that they would like to hold on to that property at this point. We have not had any discussions about it in our committee this particular session. And we are still trying to figure out what to do. It was where the correctional facility was and it has been closed for a number of years. There is a wildlife management area there as well as buildings and properties that were used for the correctional facility. And the state is still trying to figure out what to do with that property, But at this point, we have decided to keep it in state ownership.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Thank you, madam speaker. My question actually was whether the environmental study for which I think around somewhere between 3 and $400,000 was set aside last year to study the actual land, whether that money was utilized for the study last year and whether if it was not, whether there are plans to conduct an environmental study in this upcoming year before the tenth anniversary of the closure. Thank you.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Madam Speaker, we did have a study done and we heard the results of that last year in committee. And it was to look at possibly expanding the wildlife management area closer to the property that was the correctional facility. There was some positive reaction to that, but there was also some concern in terms of would that wildlife management area, the conservation piece be too close to the current property. There's been no action on that because we still need to make a decision how we're gonna move forward. Madam speaker, I I'm just trying to seek clarity. There there was money

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: that

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: was set aside in last year's budget, in the twenty sixth budget, to conduct an environmental study on the not the wildlife management area, but the now former correctional facility property that includes the collar so that it could be determined what capacity there was for whether there were brownfield cleanups required, whether there was or was not capacity for water and sewer and so forth on that property. And I wondered whether that study had been completed, and if not, whether it is still planned for this upcoming year.

[Representative Alice M. Emmons (Springfield)]: Madam speaker, I would recommend that the member from West Windsor would come into our committee and discuss this a little further. We have had a number of studies done, so I'm not particularly sure what study the member is referring to or the dollars. Because I know in our world of the capital budget, we have had studies for BGS to look at those facilities, that facility and what buildings might be able to be torn down and the cost. We've also had studies in terms of the conservation piece and possible use of that with the facility, the buildings that are currently there. I think there may be some confusion in terms of what studies where and where the dollars came from because some of these dollars may not have come from the capital bill. So I would really recommend that we continue this conversation in the committee.

[Representative John L. Bartholomew (West Windsor)]: Thank you very much, madam speaker.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: So the question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And third reading is ordered. Members that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Shelburne.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Shelburne)]: The caucus for Vermont's economy will be meeting today at noon in Room 10. We will be joined by let's build homes and someone from the Chitin County RPC, and the discussion will be about current updates to act one eighty one. Please join us if you can and bring your lunch.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Swan. Good morning, madam speaker. Could you, please join or the house please join me in wishing a twenty four hour delayed happy birthday to the member from Hindsburg? Happy birthday, member. Member from Moretown.

[Representative Dara Torre (Moretown)]: Madam Speaker, next Wednesday in Room 10 And 11, we are gathering for a braver politics workshop and I know a lot of people are planning to come but just a reminder that we would appreciate filling out the attendance form that's in the email from the member from Weitzfield and we hope you'll join us for this opportunity to sharpen up our discussion skills about difficult topics and channel topper. Thanks.

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

[Representative Kathleen James (Manchester)]: Madam speaker, just wanted to let, members of House Energy and Digital Infrastructure know that we have a witness, waiting for us and so we're going to scramble to our committee room and get started. Thanks.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Member from, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, April 7 at 10AM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand and adjournment until Tuesday, 04/07/2026 at 10AM.

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

[April Osman (Devotional guest/poet)]: do

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: have it. And