Meetings
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[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 pastor Abraham Gross of the Cavendish Baptist Church. A
[Pastor Abraham Gross]: translation of Psalm 95 from the Hebrew. Come along. Let us sing to the Lord. Let us joyfully make noise to our salvation rock. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, with songs of praise. Let us make a joyful noise unto him. For a mighty God is the Lord, a mighty king over all gods. In his hand, the depths of the earth. Mountain tops are his as well. As well the sea for he made it, and the dry land for his hand shaped it. Come, let us worship, let us bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep of his hand. Oh, that today we would hear his voice. Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, place of quarreling, as on that day at Massa, the testing place in the wilderness. When your ancestors tested me, they tried me, though they had seen my evidence. Forty years, I loathed that generation. I said a people who are self destructive. They have no regard for my ways. Therefore, I oathed in my anger, never shall they enter my rest. Almighty God, we gather here in worship of you according to the dictates of our consciences and understandings. We are in a season where we see snow fall on freshly sprouted grass and think about how long and cold winter can be and how desperately we need new life. It is a season in which we remember how terrible it is to be a slave and what a blessing it is to be free. It is a season when we consider the frailty of humanity and embrace the hope of something greater than death, the hope of resurrection. And so we pause to consider and acknowledge the power and privilege we possess in this life. Blessings from your hand, economic, intellectual, and political advantages that we possess and others lack. We recognize that along with those gifts comes a moral responsibility, a holy opportunity to use them for the benefit of those who are less fortunate, lest we trap ourselves by overvaluing vanishing vanities. We pause because our work here is too important to rush into. People are relying on us. So we pause now to examine our own souls seeking to be free of pride and selfishness. Let us proceed in our legislative labors this day in a way that would be beneficial to all those in our state, our country, and our world. Amen. Amen.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will you please rise as page Shepherd Bench of Chester leads us in the pledge of allegiance? I
[Shepherd Bench (House Page, Chester)]: pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic with which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice all.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, we have received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR two thirty nine is a house concurrent resolution congratulating winning the winning teams of the eighteenth annual junior iron chef Vermont culinary extravaganza. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.
[House Clerk (Reading Clerk)]: Whereas junior iron chef Vermont convened most recently on 03/14/2026, the Champlain Valley Exposition provides an ideal opportunity to promote the agricultural, economic, educational, and nutritional benefits of Vermont's farm to school initiative, while aspiring chefs learn the importance of collaborate collaboration and explore a potential career option. And whereas since 2008, over 5,000 secondary school students cooking on more than 1,000 teams have competed. And in 2026, 55 teams consisting of 253 students and representing 37 schools or organizations participated. And whereas each team competing in either middle school or a high school cohort applied for three honors. Lively local, recognizing the team that best highlighted Vermont Foods, mise en place, showcasing the team that exhibited exemplary teamwork, order, and professionalism, and crowd pleaser bestowing credit on the team that best incorporated color, texture, and taste. And the award recipients, including their school name, team name, and culinary creations in 2026 were as follows. Lively local, Mary Hogan School, Gourmet Hawks, Vermont Country Risotto with maple cream and black currant compote, First Branch Middle School, Deviled Chefs, Curry Flavored Fettuccine, and Mount Mansfield Union High School, MMU Wild Pestonians. Pesto fettuccine with portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, and lemon ricotta. Mezen Plus, Mount Abraham Unified School District expanded learning program, bald eagles, three cheese ravioli with oven roasted tomato sauce, Derby Elementary School, Sweet Heats, BLT tamales with pickled pesto and sweet heat sauce, and Lake Region Union High School, Rogers Raccoons, Raccoons Gone Curry, Currius, And cloud crowd pleaser, Albert d Lawton Intermediate School, ADLPMO casserole with hot honey. Middle School, Wild Chives, Cafeteria Gone Wild with corndogs, and Champlain Valley Union High School. The Linnies, sweet potato tortellini with miso butter sauce. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house representatives that the general assembly congratulates the winning teams at the eighteenth annual junior iron chef of Vermont culinary extravaganza. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to each winning team and to Vermont after school.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any announcements? Member from Dover.
[Representative Laura Sibilia]: Madam speaker, we have just heard a resolution honoring the winners of the eighteenth annual Junior Iron Chef program, my favorite day here for resolutions. We have joining us today a number of the winning teams from Lake Region, from Albert d Lawton, and others, as well as the Vermont After School Program, Nicole Miller and Carrie Mathis. They are seated in the balcony, and I hope the body can join us in welcoming them.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest, the member from Dover, please rise and be recognized? Member from Cavendish.
[Representative from Cavendish (unidentified)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, we heard a devotional from pastor Abraham Gross from Cavendish, but he's more than a pastor. He's a first responder. He's there for the neighbors. He was a huge helping hand and a huge supporter of people during our floods. He's there for the community, not just spiritually, but in presence. He's there to help, whether it be getting on a roof to fix a leak or muck mud after a natural disaster. He's there for all of us as a leader and a friend. This is not his first time here, but I'd like you all to help me welcome him back to the people's house. Thank you.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guests of the member from Cavendish please rise and be recognized? Member from Colchester.
[Representative Sarah "Sarita" Austin]: Madam speaker, there are certainly issues that transcend all districts, all towns across Vermont, and one of those is our aging population. And fortunately, we have some resources here in this house to learn more about those resources led by no no better friend of the older Vermonters than our representative from Walcott. So with the representative, I'd also like to invite everyone to join the Vermont's older Vermonters caucus tomorrow at ten a at noon in Room 10. Again, tomorrow at noon in Room 10. We'll hear from the Alzheimer's Association be highlighting their efforts to support the twelve thousand eight hundred Vermonters living with Alzheimer's disease and the 20,000 plus care partners who support them. Members of the Vermont chapter will also provide information about the association's programs and services, as well as details on upcoming events and legislative priorities. All are welcome.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Berkshire.
[Representative Lisa Hango]: The rural caucus will be meeting tomorrow at 8AM in Room 10 to hear from the land use review board and ski Vermont and to have a caucus discussion on next steps. Members, please see your inboxes for an email later today on further information.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Charlotte.
[Representative Chea Waters Evans]: Madam Speaker, first I want to start, with the women's tournament. I don't wanna say there was any, nefarious things happening, but the former member from Chittenden did come in first place. Sure. Wherever he is right now relaxing in New Hampshire, he's very pleased with himself. So I just wanna put that out there. We also had the member from Bethel was number third, a member from Burlington was fourth, and then the member from Bayport was eighth in the women's tournament. And for the men's March Madness tournament, which I heard is basketball. Did you know this? It's a sport where you throw a ball in a basket. A controversial opinion here. I think the last twenty to thirty seconds were the only seconds that matter in this game, but I don't know anything about it. So the member from Essex Junction was first place in the men's tournament. What a lucky woman. Is it luck? Maybe she just knew everything there is to know about basketball. I did wanna add there's a member from South Burlington was third, a member from Newport City was fifth, and a member from Dover was tenth. So the House of Representatives had a great representation in the March madness tournament this year. I don't think we've decided yet where the winnings are going to go, but I believe it was either I think it was for support for people in the state who had been affected by flooding. So it's a good cause. And thanks everyone for participating. And, next year, I will not come in eighty seventh.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Virgins.
[Representative Matthew Birong]: Madam speaker, I move that the committee on government operations and military affairs be relieved of senate bill two three two, which is an act relating to public libraries and the department of libraries, and that the same be committed to the Committee on Education.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Virginia's moves that the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs be relieved of Senate Bill two thirty two, which is an act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries, And that the same be committed to the Committee on Education. 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 relieved the committee on government operations and military affairs of senate bill two thirty two and committed the same to the committee on education. Are there any further announcements? Member from Essex Junction?
[Representative Lori Houghton]: Madam speaker, in my time here, I have made some really dear friends, and one of them, is having a birthday today. So I hope that we can all say happy birthday to the member from Cornwall.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we have one bill on our action calendar today. That is house bill nine fifty two, which is an act relating to capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.
[House Clerk (Reading Clerk)]: Page nine fifty two, a act relating to capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill. Members that completes the orders of the day. Members, the speaker has several announcements for you. The first, to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of representative of Barrytown. The chair makes the following appointments for the committee on healthcare. The member from Wenuski, representative Berbeco is appointed as vice chair and the member from Mendon, representative Taylor is designated ranking member. Also the house rules committee appointed representative Esme Cole of Dorset to serve on the house discrimination prevention panel. Are there any announcements? Member from Cornwall.
[Representative Peter Conlon]: Thank you madam speaker. He is not in the house today, but hopefully listening online. And I would just like to wish a happy birthday to the senior member from Hartford.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday member. There any further announcements? Member from Essex Junction.
[Representative Lori Houghton]: Madam speaker, house democrats will caucus in Room 11 at 10:30.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Polding?
[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, house Republicans will not caucus this morning.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Burlington. Madam speaker, house progressives will caucus at noon in Room 44, and today, we'll be joined by, staff from the Fair Share Coalition. All are welcome. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, April 8 at 1PM?
[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, make a motion this body stand and adjournment until Wednesday, 04/08/2026 at 1PM.
[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed please say nay. The eyes appear to have it, the eyes do have it and this body stands in a German