Meetings
Transcript: Select text below to play or share a clip
[Rep. 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 Peter Gould of Brattleboro who is a writer and theater director.
[Peter Gould (Devotional Speaker)]: Good. I'll try that too. Okay. Good morning. Good morning. It works. Speaking to a multitude of people in this August situation does does not come naturally to me. That's why I always have Shakespeare at my side. I wanted to share some Shakespeare with you. Everywhere I go, I have Shakespeare right beside me, filling my head with words. What would he think? What would he do? He would be so happy to see that Ceres is up on the dome. And you guys in here, you don't see Ceres all the time because you're in here and Ceres above, but Shakespeare wrote the most beautiful blessing that Ceres that series extends upon you upon you all. It's in the play, The Tempest. Series says, and this is about people who are starting early in the year and thinking about the harvest further on. Earths increase, voice and plenty, barns and garners never empty, vines and clustering bunches growing, plants with goodly burden bowing. Spring come to you at the farthest in the very end of harvest. Scarcity and want shall shun you. Siri's blessing so is on you. Some other lines from the tempest are so appropriate. I hope that now that your session is moving toward the end that everybody here has had some moment to think, this is my moment. If I let this moment pass, I'll feel bad about it later. Raise your hand if you've ever had a moment like that. Gotta do it right now. Wait. Not right now. Shakespeare says, and now I see my zenith doth depend upon a most auspicious star whose influence, if now I court not but omit, my fortunes will ever after droop. I hope you've all experienced a moment like that and recognized it when it was there. The artist's statement around the corner where the paintings are in in the cafeteria, the artist says, this place sometimes seems to me like a magical realist theater. Every day, a different cast meets here. Every day, a different drama plays out. So I at at the end of the drama that you're all playing out here this year, I hope you'll take a moment to, in Shakespeare's words, turn around, look up at Sirius, and also say, be cheerful. Our revels now are ended. These are actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits and are melted into air, into thin air. And like the baseless fabric of this vision, the cloud capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, this old New England meeting house we're in. Does Shakespeare say it? Yeah. All which it inherit shall dissolve, and like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We, all of us, are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. Thank you. Have a peaceful and productive day. That's not Shakespeare, that's me.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, it is our custom on Fridays to honor members of the house who have passed away since our last memorial. Please rise as we remember a former member of the house who we recently lost.
[Rep. Tiffany Bluemle (Burlington)]: Representative Stephen A. Carr of Brandon was born in 1949, served in the house from 2013 through 2018, and passed away on 04/12/2026. Please join me in a moment of silence and memory of representative Carr.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members we have received requests to read two house concurrent resolutions that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. The first is HCR two forty eight which is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the 2026 Hazen Union High School Wildcats Division III boys basketball team. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.
[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: Whereas the Hazen boys basketball team has established an enviable record on the court, appearing in each of the most recent five championship games at the Barrie Auditorium. But despite great efforts, it has not brought home the title in '22 '23, 2024, or 2525. So in 2026, the Wildcats were determined to end the season triumphantly. And whereas in the decisive contest, the second seeded Wildcats were paired against the top ranked Randolph Galloping Ghosts, challenging the Hazen Hoopsters to prove themselves worthy of this athletic honor. Whereas, although the Galloping Ghosts dominated early on, building a 28, 26 halftime lead, the Wildcats signaled their readiness to surge ahead, closing the half with an eight two scoring advantage. And once the teams resume play in the third quarter, he's an ignited a powerful offensive charge finishing the contest with a convincing sixty six forty nine victory, deleting their exuberant fans. And whereas the pleased wildcats were Jeter Tom Demar's, Kobe Smith, Noah Foster, Jameson Lamar, Talon Michaud, Ethan Gan, Sullivan Laflam, Morgan Michaud, Dawson Michaud, Lincoln Hill, Lucy Boyden, and Chase Newell. And whereas head coach Erin Hill and assistant coaches Adam Gan, Travis Hill, Kevin Dolan, Letty Hill, and Evans Burshard motivated the Wildcats to perform their best, and team managers Blair, Demar's, and Zander Demar were always supportive of their classmates. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly congratulates the 2026 He's in Union High School Wildcats division three championship boys basketball team. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Hayes in Union High School.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Next is HCR two forty nine, which is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the twenty twenty six Hazen Union Union Lady Cats division three championship girls basketball team. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.
[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: Whereas the excitement of playoff competition was maximized in the twenty twenty six division three girls basketball championship game at the Barrie Auditorium, in which top seeded Hazen Union faced second ranked Windsor for the third consecutive year. The lady cats having won in 2024 and the yellow jackets in 2025. And whereas the lady cats switch this season to the more challenging capital division, improve the team's performance. And whereas two more evenly matched contenders were unimaginable as Hazen exited the court at halftime with a narrow 23, 21 lead. But over the balance of the game, including the overtime period required to determine a winner, the lead changed an incredible 13 times, and the lady cats evened the score at 48 all with under five seconds remaining in regulation play. And whereas the final outcome was determined in an equally dramatic fashion, when a Hazen player succeeded on two foul shots with only two point four seconds remaining in overtime, resulting in a hard one, undeniably satisfying fifty five fifty three win. And whereas the thrilled and relieved lady cats were Isabelle Gowan, Ari Nichols, Taylor Thompson, Marina Smith, Eloise Foster, Autumn Daley, Maya Lumpson, Ela Reno, Sadie Gann, Julie Julie Julia De Groesler, Kelly Kelsey Rivard, Cassidy Gann, and Kennedy Cowan. And whereas head coach Randy Lumpson and assistant coaches Allison Blaney and Sue Rivard expertly guided the lady cats and team managers Ellie Foster, Ivy Demar's, and Estella Foster contributed to the team's great twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six season. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives to the general assembly congratulates the 2026 Hazen Union Lady Cats division three championship girls basketball team and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Hazen Union High School.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any announcements, Member from Walden.
[Unidentified Member from Walden]: Madam speaker, we have just heard the reading of two resolutions recognizing the twenty twenty six division three girls and boys basketball championships from Hazen Union. Not only did they win their championships, it is also the first time in the school's history both girls and boys have won their championships in the same year. Please help me in welcoming the friends, families, coaches, managers, and most importantly, the lady cats and wild cats of Hazen Union High School to the people's house.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guests of the member from Walden please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Brattleboro?
[Rep. Mollie S. Burke (Brattleboro)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I would like to introduce our devotional speaker, Peter Gould of Brattleboro. Peter is a writer and theater director. He's been directing a youth Shakespeare camp in the Northeast Kingdom for thirty years. You may have noticed him hanging out in the cafeteria with his computer over the past couple of months. This is because he's been working at nearby u thirty two high school in the afternoons directing their spring play Romeo and Juliet. Peter also happens to be my husband of forty five years. He supported and cheered me on while I have served here these past eighteen years. I could not have done this without him, and I'm so grateful. Please welcome him.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the family of the member from Brattleboro please rise and be recognized? Member from Westminster.
[Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun (Westminster)]: Thank you, madam speaker. When I was 12 years old, I lived in Taiwan and I have two friends that were in Taiwan who were also 12 years old with me. I don't know if any of you have ever seen the movie Stand By Me or read the book, but at the end, there's this amazing line that says, does anybody ever have friends like the ones when you were 12? Well, I don't know about you, but these are very special people that are sitting in the balcony. I have two friends. One is came from Canada yesterday from Waterloo, Ontario. Her name is Maria Milne and she is a childhood administrator. She works as a program coordinator there. And my other friend is a who is a physician doing ear nose and throat work in San Francisco.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest and the member from Westminster please rise and be recognized. Member from Manchester.
[Rep. Kathleen James (Manchester)]: Thank you, madam speaker. When you teach high school and you have all these kids that you, you know, you're looking at every day and that you're loving every day and maybe they're bugging you every day, it's hard to hard to look into the crystal ball and think about what they're gonna become. But I am so happy today to introduce a friend of mine who actually was one of my high school students. He came back to burn Burton to teach and he is a true professional. And one of the coolest things was that he and I, in the 2019 into 2020 into the pandemic, we were we we co taught a humanities class with about 35 amazing kids. And it's so much fun to to, you know, see a kid like that and watch them grow up and bring their kids into school. And now he's still there. He's a history teacher. He deals with internships. He's also on the to Connick and Green School Board. He is an absolute true professional. But what's really neat is that he's got a kid right there, Tamsen Wilson, who was one of our green jackets on the floor. Anyway, can we please welcome him to the people's house? He's up behind me.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the guest, the member from Manchester, please rise and be recognized. Are there any further announcements? Member from Barrie City.
[Unidentified Member from Barre City]: Madam speaker, I would like the body to know about a special day tomorrow. I have served with a certain member in this chamber for almost two years now in the commerce and economic development, and I have to say I appreciate that member very much. And certainly, it's it's been great. And I would just like the body to know that the member from the best part of Burlington is it's her birthday tomorrow.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, member. Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington.
[Rep. Tiffany Bluemle (Burlington)]: In celebration of my birthday, we will be holding the caucus for Vermont's economy today at 12:10 in Room 10, and we're gonna be talking about construction pace and also research and development tax credits with the director of the chamber of commerce. Thank you.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members, we have one bill on our action calendar today. House Bill nine fifty five is an act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont's education system. Prior to third reading, the member from Burlington, representative Logan, and the member from West Windsor, representative Burrows offer an amendment to the bill that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Burlington.
[Rep. Kate Logan (Burlington)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, we've all learned a lot about Vermont's statewide public education system, this year and last. We all seem to share similar goals of making high quality educational opportunity accessible and equitable. As a Burlington resident who grew up in a much larger urban area, I'm well aware of the disparities that can occur between schools and neighboring communities or even between neighborhoods, nearly always when there are disparities in student family income. What has been my most eye opening for me in this process are the disparities experienced by our rural students, especially those with with respect to the independent schools that preceded our public school system or that fill gaps in our current system. In particular, I've been surprised to learn about the practice of charging tuition to public school families over and fees on top of the funding received by the school for that student contributed by the sending district. This seems deeply inequitable. H nine fifty five addresses this in section 24, but the implementation date is 2030. This amendment submitted by representative Burrows and myself would move that implementation date up to July and just seems to address that inequity as soon as we possibly can rather than holding off, for a few years after we've implemented the foundation formula. With that said, and with leave of the body, I would, ask to withdraw the amendment.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Absent objection, leave is granted. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.
[BetsyAnn Wrask (Clerk of the House)]: Page nine fifty five, an act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont's education system.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? Member from Cavendish.
[Unidentified Member from Cavendish]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, like so many other days, we have honored students for their excellence. In the short time I've been here, we have honored hundreds of students for their excellence and achievement. We have honored teachers. We have honored coaches. We have honored so many for their achievements in excellence. Our Olympians in excellence. This bill today and not to disparage the committees that worked on it and the individuals that worked on it. But this bill today is a testament to mediocrity. It is not what we were asked to do to transform our education system. I have seen just and as you all, amendments that would have made this better, shut down. Amendments that could have made this better withdrawn. And that's not a slam on anyone. That's just a statement of fact. We owe it more to the people of this state than just to give it our sum when we expect excellence and reward excellence for performance. We are failing the people of Vermont, and I urge the body to vote no. Thank you.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so No. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill. Member from Pulte, due to the time sensitive nature of this bill, can you please offer us a motion to suspend rules to message our action on house bill nine fifty five to the senate forthwith?
[Rep. Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules to message our actions on h nine five five to the senate forthwith.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Pulte moves that we suspend our rules to message our action on house bill nine fifty five to the senate forthwith. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. All those opposed please say nay.
[Rep. Kate Logan (Burlington)]: Aye. The
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. And you have suspended our rules to message our action on house bill nine fifty five to the senate forthwith. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Pollitt.
[Unidentified Member from Pawlet]: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just a reminder to the body and it'll be shorter than my first reminder. Tomorrow in West Pollitt at the West Pollitt Fire Department at two p. M, we will celebrate the restoration of the turkey back into the state of Vermont. We will be joined by the governor, the lieutenant governor, secretary Moore, commissioner Batchholder, the Rutland delegation, and hopefully several other folks. Please join us for this really momentous, celebration about the restoration back into our state. Thank you.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Morristown.
[Rep. David Yacovone (Morristown)]: Madam speaker, for the past decade, the week, April has been acknowledged as Black Maternal Health Awareness Week. I just wanted to name that in the chamber this week. The theme this year is justice and joy. I would encourage folks to look up Black Mamas Matter Alliance and some of the other affiliated organizations that do work on maternal care and there will be more to come next week. Thank you.
[Rep. Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, the chair has an announcement, from legislative councils legislative council, members. If any members need to submit, any last, draft request for a house concurrent resolution to Michael Chernick in the office of legislative council, Please do that no later than next Friday, April 24 in order to have it introduced this year. So last call for house concurrent resolutions. Any further announcements? Seeing none, member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, April 21 at 10AM?
[Rep. Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Tuesday, 04/21/2026 at 10AM.
[Rep. 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. Aye. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes