Meetings
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[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good afternoon. Members in lieu of a devotional today, will you please join me in a moment of silence? We have one house bill for introduction today. That is house bill nine fifty six which is an act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Burlington related to relating to the office of racial equity inclusion and belonging introduced by representative Stone of Burlington. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.
[House Clerk]: H nine five six, an act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Burlington relating to the office of racial equity, inclusion and belonging.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the committee on government operations and military affairs. We have a bill on the notice calendar requiring referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35 a and that is senate bill one nine seventy nine one seventy nine which is an act relating to the uniform disclaimer of property interest act affecting the revenue of the state. The bills referred to the committee on ways and means. Members, we now have a joint senate resolution to take up at this time. JRS 48 is a joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on 04/10/2026. It was offered by Senator Bartholomew and was read and adopted on the part of the senate. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.
[House Clerk]: JRS 48, joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on 04/10/2026, Resolved by the senate and house of representatives that when the two houses adjourn on Friday, 04/10/2026, it'd be to meet again no later than Tuesday, 04/14/2026.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution and the question is shall the house adopt the resolution in concurrence? 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 in concurrence. Members, we don't have an action calendar today so this is our only set of announcements. Are there any announcements? Member from Bridgeport.
[Unidentified member (from Bridport)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, I am very excited to welcome, well, three people, to the state house. This is kind of a a situation when worlds collide outside the legislature. So really, this is introducing them on behalf of myself, representative Logan, and representative, Rachelson. This part of the year, I've been very lucky to have two interns from University of Vermont who happened to be in rep Rachel's class who got placed and connected with my organization that I work at, Vermont Coalition of Runaway and Homeless Youth, which is a statewide program at Elevate Youth Services. So today, we have Julia, who's originally from Westburn, Massachusetts, and she is a senior at UVM majoring in Spanish and global studies. She chose to major, in these because she loves to connect with and learn about different cultures throughout the world. She's especially interested in learning about and connecting with Spanish speaking communities, both here in Vermont and The US in general, as well as around the rest of the world. Julia is a member of UBM's chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society, which celebrates students' Spanish knowledge acquisition. In the future, she hopes to work for, in the nonprofit sector at an organization where she can utilize her understanding of Spanish and make a positive impact for Spanish speaking communities. At VCrip, she has has been our program quality and training intern, helping with various projects at the organization. She's been working with us on some training projects, focused on developing new training events and finding ways to provide service providers with adequate training in the topics they need. She's also been able to work on various projects related to media and outreach as we prepare for youth homelessness awareness day here at the state house later this month. We also have Kiera, and she is a senior at the University of Vermont from Needham, Massachusetts. She is majoring in educational policy with a minor in human development and family science. Kiera designed her major as a way to focus on the systemic issues that affect children both within and outside the classroom. And for the last two years, she has served as the student director for strategic initiatives and student advisory board facilitator for the College of Education and Student Services. She's also a member of a Center for Health and Well-being Student Advisory Board, which is, managed a 125 year year old student living facility and wrote a senior thesis for the Patrick Leahy Honors College on ADHD and children. And at VCrip, Kara is the youth leadership and advocacy intern. She's created a resource binder for our youth action board, created a history of homelessness policy in Vermont, and has been developing marketing materials to strengthen our outreach to youth and the people who support them. After graduation, she hopes to work in the nonprofit sector or public policy. Kiera's thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the state house and learn about the important work, we representatives do in creating the conditions for Vermonters to thrive. And they are also joined by our VCRIP projects administrator, Elizabeth Keck, who really helps to hold down the program for us and ensure things can keep running smoothly for youth while we're here at the state house. So I hope the body can join me in welcoming them today.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest member from Bridgeport please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Berkshire.
[Representative Lisa Hango]: Thank you. Rural caucus members, please check your inboxes later today for a time sensitive email to respond to by noon tomorrow. Thank you.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Weitzfield.
[Representative Karen Dolan]: Madam speaker, I just wanna remind the body that this evening at 05:00 in Room 11, we will be hosting a, a workshop entitled managing difficult conversations with constituents and colleagues. This is put on by the Braver Angels, which is a nonprofit organization working to bridge the partisan divide between people of different political persuasions. So a number of members in the body have signed up. There are still spaces available. We will serve some snacks and some drinks to get us through the dinner hour. It'll be a two hour workshop, and please come if you are interested. Thank you.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington.
[Representative Tiffany Bluemle]: Sorry. I'm over here. Tonight is the last Farmers Night. Tonight at 07:30 in the chamber, the Mountain House Dance Company, which is a clogging group based in Tonbridge, will be featured here in the chamber. I think this is the first time that we've had a dance group at Farmers Night. So it'll be super cool and you may see some familiar faces including well,
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: it'll
[Representative Tiffany Bluemle]: be a surprise. There are two familiar faces who are part of the group, so that should be a teaser for you all to come. See you here at 07:30.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Brattleboro.
[Representative Mollie S. Burke]: Thank you, madam speaker. Tomorrow, the climate solutions caucus will be hosting special Thursday programming from, noon till one with the Vermont energy education program. And they will be here to talk to us, but they will also be presenting a workshop on the how does our electrical grid this is from ten to two. Actually, the the meeting is from noon to one special specific meeting, but they will be doing workshops from ten to two on how does our electrical grid work, how will it need to change to meet Vermont's energy needs, how can we make electricity using water, etcetera. There's a bunch of hands on models. You can get your questions answered, and they will be, I believe, in Room 10. Yes. In Room 10. Tomorrow from ten to two and come to the climate solutions caucus meeting from twelve to one. Thank you very much.
[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Thursday, April 9 at 1PM?
[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand and adjournment until Thursday, 04/09/2026 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 have it and this body stands in