Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Today will be led by Daisy Berbeco, president of the Vermont Library Association from Colchester and Amy Williams, vice president of the Vermont Library Association from Rutland.

[Daisy Benson (President, Vermont Library Association)]: The library is dangerous. Don't go in. If you do, you know what will happen. It's like a pet store or a bakery. Every single time, you'll come out of there holding something in your arms. Those novels with their big eyes and those nose nonsense, all muscle greyhounds and Dobermans, all non fiction and business. Cuddly when they're young, but then the first page is turned. The doughnut scent of it all, knowledge, the aroma of coffee being made, and all those books, something for everyone, the deli offerings of civilization itself. The library is the book of books. It's concrete and wood and glass covers, keeping within them the very big, very long story of everything. The library is dangerous, full of answers. Of answers, if you go inside, you may not come out, the same person who went in by don't that was Don't Go Into the Library by Alberto Rios.

[Amy Williams (Vice President, Vermont Library Association)]: This is a library by Nikki Giovanni. A library is a place to be free, to be in space, to be in cave times, to be a cook, to be a crook, to be in love, to be unhappy, to be quick and smart, to be contained, and cautious, to surf the rainbow, to sail the dreams, to be blue, to be jazz, to be wonderful, to be you, a place to be. Yeah. To

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: be.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members, will you please rise as page Lula Walker of Montpelier leads us in the pledge of allegiance?

[Daisy Benson (President, Vermont Library Association)]: I pledge allegiance to the flag of of the The United States Of America and to the

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: republic for which states one nation under god, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: I Members we have two bills on the notice calendar requiring referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. The first is senate bill 142 which is an act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates. Affecting the revenue of the state, the bill is referred to the committee on ways and means. The second is house bill nine zero two which is an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Barrie. Materially affecting the revenue of the municipality, the bill is also referred to the committee on ways and means. Members, we've received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar h c r two eighteen is a house concurrent resolution recognizing April 2026 as the month of the military child in Vermont. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Clerk/Reader (unidentified)]: Whereas the children of members of the US military who number approximately 1,600,000 exemplifies strength, adaptability, and a global outlook reflective of their unique experiences in military families and they faced long deployments and frequent separations from loved ones with courage and grace. And whereas in 1986, the US Department of Defense first designated it designated April as the month of the military child, and this annual event is part of a year round initiative aimed at enhancing the lives of these youths. And whereas Purple Up for Military Kids Day is an important aspect of the month of the military child. And on this special day, Americans are encouraged to wear purple, a color that symbolizes all branches of the military and the fortitude, resilience, and sacrifices of militarily connected youth. And whereas although April 10 and April 15 are both widely observed as the dates for this colorful celebration, since the general assembly is commemorating the month of the military child today, 04/21/2026 is an ideal day for wearing purple in support of military children. And whereas the month of April is designated for the recognition of military children who in reality serve alongside their families and these youngsters personal adaptability to changing circumstances which enables their parents to protect and defend our nation is worthy of applause and recognition. Now therefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly recognizes April 2026 as the month of the military child in Vermont. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Vermont National Guard Office of Child and Youth Services.

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

[Representative Leland Morgan (Milton)]: Madam speaker, we just turned a resolution honoring the military month of the child. The military child's flower has been affectionately and officially designated as the dandelion. Madam speaker, may I read that brief poem?

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

[Representative Leland Morgan (Milton)]: Dandelions put down roots almost anywhere and it is almost impossible to destroy. Is it an unpretentious plant yet good looking? It is a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They are ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends. Military children are well rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. They have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world. They learned that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences. And although a majority, but certainly not all of our military children in Vermont have parents that serve in our air and army national guard, they may not necessarily move as much, but they may have served in active duty and they may have moved. But if not, regardless, they're required to be resilient with things going on in their lives. In fact, we do have though a coast guard active duty family with us in the back and I think we have a a rather little vocal one in there somewhere with them. But like I said, they may not all of them serve on active duty and be uprooted every three, four, five years, but nevertheless, their service causes certainly disruptions in their lives too. And as some someone at the Capitol one time said to me, what makes your special, your service so special? And my reply to them was my service isn't special but it's the uniqueness of the service of my sisters and brothers that count. And I think you've all heard me say that before. And it certainly applies to these young children that the uniqueness of their parents service and the service that they carry on through their parents is special or excuse me, unique. So just like that example, the service, like I said, our military children is also unique and it sure does count. It is not necessarily that more is expected of them, but it is different. It is unique. And Madam Speaker, as I said, we have a continued military children, some of their parents and members of the Vermont National Guard family programs with us. They are here for this recognition and are seated here behind me in the gallery. I would ask that you give them a hearty welcome.

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

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Charlotte)]: Everyone belongs in the library. Everyone is welcome in the library. You can get books there, obviously, but, I know in Charlotte, our library, you can get many more things. You can get, garden tools and Internet access and find a place that welcomes you and is a real heart of the community. And I know that this is true for libraries all across the state and all across this country. And it is just a pleasure to introduce this morning Daisy Benson, who's the president of the Vermont Library Association from Colchester, and Amy Williams, who's the vice president of the Vermont Library Association, who is from Rutland. And members of the VLA are in the card room today and you should stop by and thank them and welcome them to the people's house today, please.

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

[Representative Conor Casey (Montpelier)]: Madam speaker, I'd like to introduce my legislative intern Haley this morning. Haley Hemian is a senior at the University of Vermont where she's pursuing a bachelor of arts in both political science and health and society. While at UVM, Haley has honed an interest in health policy. Her coursework and research has focused on maternal and infant health and American politics. Haley is from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where she will spend this upcoming summer studying for the LSAT. Please help me welcome Haley. She's sitting in the gallery this morning.

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

[Representative Leland Morgan (Milton)]: Madam speaker, coincidentally, while I was sitting here getting the military families and the and the kiddos situated, I saw a group of people walk in behind me that had lapel pins that displayed the flag of North Macedonia. And I was like, I know who you folks are. And since we do have the National Guard, it has a state partnership with North Macedonia, many of you know, through the guard. And they are a group of delegates that are here from North Macedonia under the Open World Program. It's a congressional program that they're here representing. They're staying with families host families here in Vermont instead of hotels, which just gives them a good experience, I believe. And, there are six legislative professionals from the country of North Macedonia, they're gonna be here they got here last Friday. They'll be here through Saturday. So they've got some of the experience of a lovely late Vermont spring, early summer, I guess you could say, or late winter, early spring. So they've seen the the whole spectrum of our weather. But, again, it's great to have them here. There's six of them here. They're seated over to my left right here in the gallery, and I'd ask we give them a hearty welcome.

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

[Representative Anne B. Donahue (Northfield)]: Good morning, ma'am Adam Speaker. I have four guests in the house today from Norwich University along with their professor, Blythe. They're here to learn about the judicial system and the the legislative process of what we do here. I it's a great honor to meet them and know that three of them are heading into military service and one into law enforcement. Please give them a warm welcome. They're in the in the balcony and or in the I guess it's a balcony up there. But anyway, give them a plea warm welcome to the people's house. Thank you.

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

[Representative Mollie S. Burke (Brattleboro)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I would like to invite members and staff and guests to a reception this afternoon in the cafeteria from 03:30 to 05:30. It's a reception closing reception for my art exhibition. The paintings have been in the cafeteria since the April and will come down at the end of the week. So come by and have some refreshments, some, cake, and a little conversation. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Cambridge. Thank you, madam speaker. The overall caucus will meet tomorrow morning from eight to 08:45 in Room 10 and on Zoom. All are welcome. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members, we will begin with senate bill 89 which is an act relating to expanding survivor benefits. The bill was referred to the committee on general and housing which recommends that the house propose to the senate to amend the bill as printed in today's calendar. The member from West Windsor, representative Burrows will speak for the committee And then carrying an appropriation, the bill was referred to the committee on appropriations, which recommends that the bill ought to pass in concurrence with the proposal of amendment recommended by the committee on general and housing. The member from St. Albans Town, representative Dickinson will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: S 89, an act relating to expanding survivor benefits.

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

[Representative Elizabeth Burrows (West Windsor)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Since 2002, firefighters and, EMS workers' families have had access to a one time death benefit of now $80,000 paid to them by the state of Vermont, recognizing the risks inherent in a profession often defined by running towards danger. Just one year after that benefit was established, Jessica Ebbinghausen was born. In 2023, at just 19 years old, the Rutland police officer trainee was the first Rutland police officer ever to be killed in the line of duty. Also in 2023, social worker Leah Rosen Pritchard was killed with an axe while tending to clients at a homeless shelter in Brattleboro. And just over a decade ago, in 2015, DCF social worker Laura Sobel was killed by a mother who had lost custody of her child. At that time, then lieutenant governor Phil Scott remarked, today, her life was stolen, not only from her, but from her children, her spouse, her family, her friends, her coworkers, as well as the countless children and families she helped to that she helped and had yet to help. And yet the death benefit established for these public servants wasn't set up to provide, and yet the death benefit established for other public servants wasn't yet set up to provide for surviving for for surviving family. These tragedies are, thankfully, thankfully rare occurrences. We, as a state, can honor those who knew the dangers of their work and still chose to put their lives on the line in service to their communities by holding up future families who endure the lasting repercussions of loss. S 89 expands the definition of emergency personnel to include four additional classes of employees and makes technical changes to assist the benefit review board in eligibility determinations and benefit awards. I will now take you through the bill section by section, madam speaker. Section one addresses definitions. In addition to firefighters and emergency personnel, s 89, adds the following categories of employees to the definition of emergency personnel. Law enforcement officers certified for by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, facility employees of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Corrections employees who provide direct security and treatment services to offenders under their supervision in the community. Classified family services employees in the, Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families, and classified medical employees of state operated therapeutic community residences or inpatient psychiatric hospital units. Section one also adds a definition of in the line of duty for each of the new categories of covered employees. Section two describes the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board. This section provides that the death benefit shall be available to survivors of the four new categories of emergency personnel for deaths occurring on or after 07/01/2026, meaning they are prospective only. It also allows the benefit review board to to pay reasonable fees out of the emergency personnel survivors special fund for a medical expert and other services as necessary when reviewing applications involving deaths from occupation related illness. Section three regards the emergency personnel survivors benefit special fund. It allows expenses incurred by the board in evaluating applications involving deaths from occupation related illnesses to be paid from the fund. It provides that in the event that the balance of the fund is insufficient to pay out benefits awarded by the board, the emergency board may transfer additional amounts into the fund to pay the benefits when the general assembly is not in session. Madam speaker, people die unexpectedly every day. The question here is whether the state ought to expand the benefit already in law for firefighters and EMS workers to include honoring others who choose professions that place them in both real and perceived danger. Witnesses appearing before the house general, committee on general and housing included the legislative coordinator for the Vermont State Employees Association, the deputy director of benefits and wellness from the Department of Human Resources, the commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, the president of the Vermont Police Association, the executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association, the associate fiscal officer of the joint fiscal office, the deputy treasurer of the office of the state treasurer, the the senate sponsor of s 89 from the senate committee on government operations. This den this death benefit has passed out of the house committee on general and housing three times, madam speaker, most recently on April 10 on a vote of ten zero one, and we ask the body for its support. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now speaking for the committee on appropriations, member from Saint Albans Town.

[Representative Eileen Dickinson (St. Albans Town)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The house appropriations committee reviewed s 89. There is no money in this bill. At this time, there is enough money in the fund for one survivor's claim. Payments from the general fund are not that frequent to replenish the emergency personal survivor's benefit special fund. There has not been that many payouts between '20 2002 and 2025. The one time we had to appropriate money from the general fund was in 2025. These deaths occur infrequently and are hard to predict fortunately. We heard from legislative council, the joint fiscal office, and the representative from the treasurer's office, which oversees the survivors benefit fund. The house appropriations committee voted favorably eleven zero zero. We ask for your support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the house propose to the senate to amend the bill as recommended by the committee on general and housing? Are you ready for the question? Member from West Windsor.

[Representative Elizabeth Burrows (West Windsor)]: I apologize, madam speaker. I forgot to include that the effective date is, 07/01/2026. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the house propose to the senate to amend the bill as recommended by the committee on general and housing member from Rutland City?

[Representative William Notte (Rutland City)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, I rise in support of s 89, a bill that provides a survivor's benefit to the surviving spouses and children of law enforcement officers, family service workers, mental health professionals, and corrections corrections officers who make the ultimate sacrifices and give their lives to protect for Bonners. This bill is fundamentally about children. While we hope this benefit will never be used, we know unfortunately we can't guarantee this will be the case, especially as threats and acts of violence increase. Today, I am thinking about the family of Jessica Ebenhuisen, a 19 year old police officer trainee from Rutland who tragically gave her life at 19 years old, having dreamed her entire life of a career of law enforcement. For my community of Rutland and the surrounding county, this is very important and a personal legacy for a life lost too soon. Madam speaker, the fight for this bill took far too long and became far too political, but what matters is what is happening today. I would like to thank the member from Lowell for introducing a very similar bill nearly three years ago. It took three unanimous votes of the committees of this body and a lot of wrangling, but when you work in a nonpartisan manner to do the right thing, patience, persistence, and a little rebellion makes all the difference. We had hoped to call this bill Jessica's Law. Well, that didn't make it to the finish line. Let's hope Jessica is smiling down on us today. I urge the body to support this important bill. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are you ready for the question? If so Yes. 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 proposed to the senate to amend the bill. Now the question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and third reading is ordered. Now we'll take up house bill six twenty six, which is an act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. The pending question is shall the house concur in the senate proposal of amendment member from Pittsburgh?

[Unidentified Representative (possibly from Pittsford)]: Madam speaker, h six two six strengthens Vermont criminal and civil responses to image based abuse, which is a creation, distribution or threat to share explicit images of a person without their consent. The senate amendment proposal creates an enhanced penalty for voyeurism perpetrated against victims under the age of 18 structured similarly to the enhanced penalty for seclusion against minors included in the house passed version of the bill. The amendment is intended to recognize unique harms that image based abuse imposes on youth victims. It creates for a first offense involving a victim who is 18 years of age, a person who violates subsection b c or d of this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $5,000 or both and for a subsequent second or subsequent offense involving a victim who is 18, a person who violates subsection b c or d of this section shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined and not more than $10,000 or both. The committee heard from the defender general, state's attorneys and sheriffs, and Vermont network against domestic and sexual violence. The house judiciary voted ten zero one to recommend that the house concur with the senate proposal of amendment and ask the body support. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the house concur in the senate proposal of amendment? 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 concurred in the senate proposal of amendment. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Member from Wilkhardt.

[House Reading Clerk (unidentified)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The older Vermonters caucus will meet tomorrow at noon in Room 10. We will hear from the adult days in Vermont, including a new program that's colocating childcare with an adult day that's working on being implemented. Again, tomorrow noon in Room 10. Thank you.

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

[Representative Michael Mrowicki (Putney)]: Thank you, madam speaker. We listen to the news. It's easy to get get discouraged. So when there's a good little bit of news about Vermont, it's easy to share. And there was just a report released that Vermont has the highest percentage of summer food programs for our kids. And I know from my working with kids who get their lunch at school, it used to be a big problem when school ended and that lunch wasn't there anymore. So I think we're we've got good news to share and good for Vermont. Thanks.

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

[Representative Lori Houghton (Essex Junction)]: Madam speaker, house Democrats will caucus in Room 11 at 10:45.

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

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, house Republicans will caucus ten minutes follow adjourn following an adjournment.

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

[Representative Brian Cina (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, in lieu of a of a caucus, the house progressives are going to be attending the press conference with Hunger Free Vermont and encourage other members to to join us in solidarity. Thank you.

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

[Representative Chea Waters Evans (Charlotte)]: Madam speaker, on Thursday, we have legislative cabaret. I just wanna make sure that everyone, if you're doing an act, make sure that the representative from Burlington or I know about it because we are going to make programs. This is a very official occasion. It gets programs. And we just wanna make sure everyone's included and has all the equipment they need. It's gonna be so fun. Everyone should come, you can buy your tickets in the speaker's office. Thank you.

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

[Representative Kate Nugent (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, I also wanted to give a little message about Cabaret. Only legislators and staff are able to come. So not your dog sitter, your babysitter, your cousin, your spouse. So sorry, but they're not invited. Just legislators and staff. Thanks.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, April 22 at 1PM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion this body stand and adjournment until Wednesday, 04/22/2026 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 ayes appear to have it, the ayes do have it and this body stands in adjournment until tomorrow at 1PM.