Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats. Good afternoon. The devotional today will be led by music therapist Lynn Noble of Wagefield, Jana Meyer of Newberry, Maggie Conor of St. Albans Town and Ren Compare of Wagefield.

[Devotional presenter (music therapist)]: Good afternoon, everybody, and we just want you to know how honored we feel to offer you this devotional. It's a simple song, and it is offered in acknowledgment of and great gratitude for the hard work that each and every one of you do on behalf of all of us Vermonters. It's springtime. Tomorrow is May, if I'm not mistaken. It's a time for getting outdoors and walking, and we wonder if this melody might find its way into your walk tomorrow as you walk and breathe and feel your own strength. Thank you. Okay?

[Devotional singer (music therapist)]: Oh, won't you let it in? Breathing this air, walking on this land, feeling the strength in my head and heart and hands. The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? Breathing this air, walking on this land, feeling the strength in my head and heart and hands.

[Unidentified devotional singer]: The

[Devotional singer (music therapist)]: earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? Breathing this air, walking on this land, feeling the strength in my head and heart and hands. The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in? The earth is a medicine. Oh, won't you let it in?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members we have two bills on the notice calendar that require referral to a money committee pursuant to House Rule 35A. Both of these bills affect the revenue of the state and materially affect the revenue of one or more municipalities and therefore are referred to the committee on ways and means. They are Senate Bill two twelve which is an act relating to portable water supply and waste water system connections and senate bill three twenty eight which is an act relating to housing and common interest communities. Also earlier today, the committee on environment reported favorable with amendment on senate bill three twenty five which is an act relating to regional planning and act two fifty tier jurisdiction. Affecting the revenue of the state, the bill is referred to the committee on ways and means pursuant to house rule 35 a pending its entry on the notice calendar. Members, we received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR two sixty three is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the 2026 Mount Mansfield Union High School Division one championship girls basketball team. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk (HCR reader)]: Whereas prior to 2026, the top seeded Mount Mansfield Union High School, MMU, Cougars girls basketball team had never won an end of season championship. And whereas securing a berth against second seeded Rutland High School is simpler than the unusual championship game maze, which the cougars successfully navigated on the hardware floor hardwood floor at the University Of Vermont Pat Patrick Gymnasium. And whereas despite MMU's strong first quarter offensive display, the Rutland team rebounded vigorously during the second and third quarters, leaving the cougars to contend with a 22 scoring deficit late in the third quarter with only eight forty six remaining in the contest. And whereas beginning with a six zero run during the third quarter's closing moments, the cougars dominated fourth quarter play, outscoring Rutland 30 to six to achieve a remarkable come from behind 62 to 60 victory and MMU's first division one championship. And whereas the amazing cougar roster featured Emma Brownell, Morgan Campbell, Alice Dorman, Victoria Farrell, Maya Gimet, Ali Hamilton, Katie Hamilton, Delilah Locker, Maisa Long, Keely Long, Margaret Morley, Nora Page, Madeline Scar, Mona Taylor, and Genevieve Wasser. And whereas head coach Mark Faff and assistant coaches, Carris Hallett, Jen Jen Hempe, Nan Campbell, Megan O'Sullivan, Gina Page, and Luke Stone inspired the team to surge ahead despite overwhelming odds. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly congratulates the twenty twenty six Mount Mansfield Union High School Cougars division one championship girls basketball team. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to MMU.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any announcements? Member from Richmond. Thank you, madam speaker. We just heard a resolution honoring the Mount Mansfield girls basketball team on their state championship. The team and their coaches are with us in the house today. Please join me in congratulating them on their impressive victory. Will the guest member from Richmond please rise and be recognized. Member from Winooski.

[Representative Kate Nugent (Winooski)]: Madam speaker, whether you drove, walked, rode your bike to work this morning, chances are you listen to music on your way here. Today's devotional and the music that we listen to every day can serve as a reminder that self expression is tied to our well-being. Music therapy is actually a profession. That's something I had learned recently from my friend Lynn Noble. It's a clinical evidence based practice used by credentialed professionals that can be used to treat anxiety and pain. It supports communication and can help people navigate some of life's most difficult moments. Here in Vermont, music therapists are working in schools, in home health agencies, in pediatric medical settings, in our correctional facilities, and they're helping hundreds of people every year. I want to welcome Lynn Noble, Sean Meyer, Maggie Conor, and Rin Compare, just four of the 25 music therapists that are working in Vermont today who delivered our devotional so beautifully, and please help me welcome them to the People's House.

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

[Representative Matthew Birong (Vergennes)]: Madam speaker, I move that the committee on government operations and military affairs be relieved of senate bill two zero six, which is an act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the office of professional regulation and that the same be committed to the committee on human services.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Virginia moves that the committee on government operations and military affairs be relieved of senate bill two zero six which is an act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the office of professional regulation and that the same be committed to the committee on human services. 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 zero six and committed the same to the committee on human services. Are there any further announcements? Member from South Burlington.

[Representative Bridget Burkhardt (South Burlington)]: Madam speaker, today is a special day, and it is a very important birthday, not of a member, but someone who is like a member, that is your chief of staff. We have known each other since we were young whippersnappers in the senate working there, and, I hope everyone will wish him a very happy birthday.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Happy birthday, Conor. Member from Brattleboro.

[Unidentified member from Brattleboro]: Thank you, madam speaker. This is just a reminder. Today in the cafeteria, our second annual art social, not an intimidating kind of thing, just come and enjoy working with beautiful papers, scissors, glue, watercolor, whatever you would like or just come and socialize while other people make art. Hope to see you there. Thank you.

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

[Unidentified member from Newport City]: Madam speaker, I wish to remind the body that today is the last day to enter the house adjournment pool. The pool will close at 4PM, and if you guess a date and time when you think the house will adjourn, the closest guests will be the winning guests. Your contributions go to a very good cause. It's called the the Good Samaritan Haven, And your support to this organization provides shelter, meals, clothing, housing, and employment employment assistance in getting individuals a fresh start to a better future. If you're interested, and I hope you are, please see the good folks in the clerk's office, and they will kindly take your generous donations. Thank you. Are

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: there any further announcements? Members before we gavel in into orders of the day, member from Pulte, we have on our notice calendar senate proposal of amendment to house bill nine fifty one which is an act relating to making appropriations for the support of government. Member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to suspend rules to take up house bill nine fifty one off of the notice calendar for immediate consideration for the purpose of requesting a committee of conference.

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to take up h nine five one off the notice calendar in order to pending oh, in order to appoint a committee of conference.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Pulte moves that we suspend our rules to take up House Bill nine fifty one for immediate consideration for the purpose of requesting a committee of conference. 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 suspended rules to take up House Bill nine fifty one for immediate consideration. House Bill nine fifty one is an act relating to making appropriations for the support of government. The senate passed the bill in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's notice calendar member from Middlebury.

[Representative Robin Scheu (Middlebury)]: Madam Speaker, the House Appropriations Committee has reviewed the changes the Senate made to H nine fifty one, the FY twenty seven budget. While the senate agreed with many of the items we we approved in our version of the budget, there were many areas that are either new to us or quite different from our version of the bill. As we would like to have further discussions about these differences, your house appropriations committee on a straw poll vote of ten-zero-one voted to not concur with the senate and to request that a committee of conference be formed to address these issues. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Middlebury moves that the refuse to concur in the senate proposal of amendment and that a committee of conference be adopted appointed. 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 refused to concur in the senate proposal of amendment and requested a committee of conference. Pursuant to your action, the chair appoints the following members to serve on the part of the house. The member from Middlebury, representative Shy. The member from Linden, representative Feltus. And the member from Burlington, representative Bloomley. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to message our action on house bill nine fifty one to the senate forthwith?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to message our actions on h nine fifty one to the senate forthwith.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Member from Pulte moves that we suspend our rules to message our action on house bill nine fifty one 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. The 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 one to the senate forthwith. Are there any other announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members will begin with House Bill nine zero two which is an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Barrie. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: H nine zero two, an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Barrie.

[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. Next is Senate Bill 142 which is an act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S142, an act relating to a pathway to licensure internationally trained physicians and medical graduates.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass in concurrence with 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 passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment. Up next is senate bill one seventy nine which is an act relating to the uniform disclaimer of property interest act. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S one seventy nine, an act relating to the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill pass in concurrence with 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 passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment. Now we'll take up senate bill two twenty seven, which is an act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S two twenty seven, an act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass in concurrence with 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 passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment. Next we'll turn to senate bill two thirty which is an act relating to fair employment practices. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S230, an act relating to fair employment practices.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass in concurrence with 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 passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment. Next is senate bill two ninety eight which is an act relating to creating the Vermont Voting Rights Act. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S two ninety eight, an act relating to creating the Vermont Voting Rights Act.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the bill pass in concurrence with proposal of amendment 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 passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment. Next up is senate bill two twenty three which is an act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont. Member from Middlebury.

[Representative Amy Sheldon (Middlebury)]: Madam speaker, I move we postpone action on s two two three two legislative days.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Middlebury moves that we postpone action on Senate Bill two twenty three for two legislative days. 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 postponed action on Senate Bill two twenty three until next Tuesday. Now we'll turn to Senate Bill three twenty seven which is an act relating to economic development. The bill was referred to the committee on commerce and economic development which recommends that the house propose to the senate to amend the bill as printed in today's calendar. The member from Burlington, representative Duke will speak for the committee Then affecting the revenue of the state, the bill was referred to the committee on ways and means which recommends that the report of the committee on commerce and economic development be amended as printed in today's calendar. Member from Woodstock, representative Kimball will speak for that 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 commerce and economic development when amended as recommended by the committee on ways and means. The member from Waterbury, Representative Stevens will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk (bill titles)]: S two thirty seven or s three twenty seven, an act relating to economic development.

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

[Representative Abbey Duke (Burlington)]: Madam speaker, it is cliche yet still very true that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. In Vermont, we have over 29,000 businesses. Of these, 93% employ under 20 employees. These businesses face ongoing economic and demographic challenges, including, but certainly not limited to, an aging population and a declining number of workers, which has led to persistent workforce shortages across industries. Also, a landscape in which baby boomers own 58% of Vermont businesses and without succession plans and support, many of which will close as owners retire. They also face rising operating costs that are particularly affecting small and rural businesses. Your committee on house, commerce, and economic development is acutely aware of the challenges facing Vermont businesses and also of the creativity, grit, and resilience of these Vermonters. This bill includes a number of incremental steps to provide incentives, resources, and tools to help businesses succeed and also to help guide us to keep improving our support next year and beyond. I will now walk through the bill. Sections one through six were casualties of senate appropriations, so we'll move on. Section seven directs the commissioner of economic development to work with stakeholders to inventory and assess the private and public resources available to small businesses at all stages of development all across the state. This report is due 12/15/2026. Section eight amends the convention center and performance venue task force that we created last year. The bill adds a member to the task force, increases the number of meetings, and pushes back the report modestly, by a month. Section nine repeals the sunset on VEGI, the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive. Section 10 a charges the Department of Labor with stakeholders to work together to recommend how to best develop postsecondary educational programs in the fields of culinary arts and hospitality in Vermont. This includes investigating suitable host locations, considering organizations to operate programs, gauging interest for private funding, and much more. The report is due back on or before 12/01/2026. Section 10 b creates the hospitality and culinary apprenticeship pilot program to be administered by the Department of Labor. This program will will be developed through the Vermont registered apprenticeship program and will be structured as a regional multi employer model. The department will implement the pilot in a hospitality based regional economy, align with education and training providers, and be structured to rely on existing resources resources. An interim report is due back on or before 12/15/2026 with the full report due two years later, 12/15/2028. Sections 12 a and 12 b make changes to the rural industrial development grant program. This program was originally created in the budget of 2023 and is in session law and is being moved to title 10 to make it easier for applicants to find. The bill expands the program to consider applicants looking to develop properties that are considered federally impacted. This includes properties owned by The United States or that are under the custody of federal of a federally appointed receiver. The bill also increases the amount the award amount to 50% of the total project cost with a limit of a million dollars per award. ACCD can increase the award to $2,000,000 if the property is federally impacted and is in a designated downtown development district and is either in a rural economic area partnership program or a federally declared national disaster area within the last five years. Sections 13 a and 13 b of the bill create official guidance for the key math question for commerce, what to do about pennies or the lack thereof. It authorizes businesses to round cash transactions to the nearest 5¢, where 1¢ coins are either unavailable or impractical. Madam speaker, this shows that your house committee on commerce was able to apply common sense to an important poll policy change. Sections 14 a through 14 g create C PACE, which stands for commercial property assessed clean energy. This creates a new tool for property owners to use in order to finance energy, water, and resilience projects by attaching the loan to the property and an assessment on the property tax bill. First, a town must vote to allow this program to take place in the town. After that after that, commercial property owners could enter into an agreement with a lender to fund a project, then the property owner would enter into an agreement with the town to repay that funding through their property tax bill, and they'd be subject that they would then be subject to a lien on the property until the loan is repaid. The lien is a first and prior lien on the property and subordinate only to the lien for property taxes. If the property property is sold, the loan and the lien go with the property to the new owner. Importantly, before a C PACE loan is made, the property owner must obtain consent from any holder of a of a debt secured by the property. This program can be administered by municipality, public agency, or private entity, and they can charge an administration fee. Neither the program administrator nor the municipality has any liability for the loan. C PACE is an important tool because it will allow businesses to get longer term loans for projects such as solar panels and storm water mitigation than they could without this type of a tool. The entire act, if passed, would take effect on passage. Madam speaker, your house committee on commerce and economic development voted eleven zero zero in favor of this bill, and we asked for the body's support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: And now speaking for the committee on ways and means, member from Woodstock.

[Representative Charles Kimbell (Woodstock)]: Madam speaker, s three twenty seven was referred to your committee on ways and means because of the proposed repeal of the sunset of a tax credit program, a modification to a grant program, the introduction of rules around rounding financial transactions, and a new program involving potential obligations of municipalities. Members can find the amendment being offered by ways and means on page two one four eight of today's calendar. In addition, a fiscal note was issued by the joint fiscal office. It could be found attached to the bill on our committee page. Madam speaker, we are offering nine instances of amendment to s three twenty seven as it came to us from the house committee on commerce and economic development. In the first instance of amendment, we agree with the committee that the sunset of the veggie program be removed. Commonly, we have required that all tax credit programs have a sunset that require that we review the program and its fiscal impact on the state every two to five years. Veggie was first established in 2007 and put into place a rigorous process for applicants to earn this incentive based on their actual performance. While some may disagree over the worthiness of some of the incentives that were approved, the program has performed as intended where businesses earn the incentive based on additional payroll and capital investments. We agree that we don't need to have a two year sunset on Veggie. However, we do want to remain mindful of the overall tax expenditures of the state. And based on the recent history of applications to the program, we are recommending that the amount of tax incentives be reduced to reflect the recent volume while allowing for an increase if the situation dictates. That is why we are proposing that the dollar value of annual initial approvals be reduced from 15,000,000 to $10,000,000, and the dollar value of annual final approvals be reduced from 10,000,000 to $5,000,000. The Vermont Economic Progress Council who administers this program can apply to the joint fiscal committee for a $5,000,000 increase in the dollar value if they find conditions warrant it. The second instance of amendment strikes section 12 h of the bill regarding the eligibility of retroactive project grants of a grant under the rural industry grant program. This is dealt in favor of replacement language that is contained in the third instance of amendment. In this new section 12 c, added is the language in the underlying bill to codify the program and statute instead of session law to provide greater guidance. In so doing, and in language provided, we are providing clarity that the movement to title 10 does not alter any of the grants or eligibility made previously. The fourth instance of amendment is on page two one four nine, is to provide greater clarity again, limiting the purpose of the nickel rounding section just to the specific section of 13 b of the bill and not the entire act. The fifth instance of amendment deals with a clarification in the nickel rounding section. More specifically, the bill as it came to us provides clarity for rounding by any person or business engaged in a cash transaction. Because person in quotes, in Vermont statute includes all businesses, all business entities, individuals, government agencies, etcetera. We modified person or business to be just person. The sixth instance of amendment deals with notices to those persons engaged in cash transactions. It was the intent of the committee on commerce and economic development to make sure that there was adequate notice to consumers and for businesses that provide a clear notification of the rounding policy. In consultation with the committee and others, we determined that it would be better to work with industry associations to provide a model notice to businesses made available by the commissioner of liquor and lottery through their associations, that it would be result in better distribution and notice for the store environments. The seventh instance of amendment addresses an agreement date for the C PACE program as previously described. The date specifies that agreements may occur only after 01/01/2027, which conflicts with the effective date of passage or the effective date for the entire act, which is effective upon passage. So this makes it possible for C PACE programs to start immediately upon passage. The eighth instance of amendment is a clarification in the CPAs program against inserting sub paragraph j that says this section shall not be construed to affect a taxpayer's liability or a municipality's responsibility for payment under 32 VSA five four zero two, which is specifically the education property tax. So it does not conflict or try to supplant the obligations to the education property tax. Ninth, in the last amendment or in that last instance of amendment, we're adding four new sections to be sections ten, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen, and subsequently deleting them all. This is because of drafting conventions of this body. We are using sections 10 a, 12 b, 13 a, and 13 b, and 14 a instead. We heard from legislative counsel and the office of legislative counsel, the reporter of the bill from House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, the director of intergovernmental affairs of Vermont League of Cities and Towns, legislative counsel, the office of legislative counsel, senior fiscal analyst of the joint fiscal office, and the senior vice president and senior counsel for Petro's PACE Financial. Your committee vote was ten zero one, and we ask for the body support in this amendment.

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

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Thank

[Representative Abbey Duke (Burlington)]: you, madam speaker. I realized, as he was listing off his witnesses that I forgot to list off the witnesses that we heard from. I have it on my desk if anybody wants to come see it, but we heard from a lot of witnesses. And we we considered and we thank the committee on ways and means for their amendment, and we found the amendment favorable on a straw poll of ten zero one.

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

[Representative Thomas Stevens (Waterbury)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The the your committee on appropriations would like to thank the representative from Burlington when she when they came into our committee yesterday or two days ago. We heard from legislative council and the joint fiscal office on all of the proposals in here, and there is nothing in here that affects this year's budget. The possibility of something happening with the rural industry development grant program will be determined when the budget is set sometime before the end of this year. We are we recommend that the bill ought to pass in concurrence with proposal of amendment when amended as recommended by the committee on commerce and economic development when further amended as recommended by the committee on ways and means. And our vote in committee was eleven-zero-zero.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The first question is shall the report of the committee on commerce and economic development be amended as recommended by the committee on ways and means. 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 amended the report of the committee on commerce and economic development. Now the question is shall the house propose to the senate to amend the bill as recommended by the committee on commerce and economic development as amended. 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 proposed to the senate to amend the bill. Now 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. And now we'll take up House Bill five nineteen which is an act relating to Vermont State Employees Retirement System Group G membership. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Randolph.

[Representative Larry Satcowitz (Randolph)]: Good afternoon, madam speaker. The proposed amendment is a strike all of section one to make five technical changes that fix errors with within the definitions under group g membership of the state retirement system. First, on pages twenty one fifty one and twenty one fifty two of today's calendar, the amendment replaces the year 2022 with the year 2023. This is to fix an error in the current statute resulting in a year of employees missing the statutory definition for these respective physicians. Second, on page two thousand one hundred fifty four and two thousand one hundred and fifty five of today's calendar, the amendment adds the words quote on or end quote in two instances, one in Subdivision 6 and the other in Subdivision 9 to ensure that the definition is properly capturing the date of January 1. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the house concur in the senate proposal of amendment? Member from Randolph.

[Representative Larry Satcowitz (Randolph)]: Madam speaker, the straw poll was eleven zero zero.

[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. Now we'll turn to House Bill seven sixty two which is an act relating to the county and regional governance study committee. Bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar, member from Bergen's.

[Representative Matthew Birong (Vergennes)]: Madam speaker, h seven six two, an act relating to the county and regional governance study committee, has been returned from the senate with proposal of amendment as follows. The first is in section one, and it strikes out subsection e in its entirety, inserting in lieu of their new subsection e. And this will push out the year of the report's due date to November 2027, and it remains that the report shall be remitted to the house committee on government operations and military affairs as well as the senate committee on government operations with its finding and and recommendations. The next instance of amendment is striking a section that spoke to the old configuration of how the chairs would be appointed. Members may recall that we did strike this language in a previous section of the bill, but this was missed. So this is just keeping continuity within the new configuration, which is a more traditional setup of the chair being appointed by members of the committee. So this is just a little bit of housekeeping. And then finally, the sunset on the committee itself is pushed to 11/02/2027 to coincide with the delivery of the report date. So the committee itself will dissolve unless action is taken the day after the report is delivered. Your committee on government operations and military affairs found these proposals favorable by straw poll ten zero one and we ask for the body's support.

[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 Essex.

[Unidentified member from Essex]: Thank you, madam speaker. As we all know, end of the session can be a really stressful time And I'm thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Therapy Dogs of Vermont to bring Therapy Dog Day to the State House. So please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 5 from twelve to 01:30. Therapy dogs of Vermont will have three to four dogs outside in the portico and the sergeant at arms has been very helpful in helping us coordinate. The dogs will be there to help us de stress. So please join us.

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

[Unidentified member from Weston]: Madam speaker, the caucus for Vermont's economy will be meeting tomorrow at noon in Room 10. We'll be hearing from representatives from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. Thank you. Are

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: there any further announcements? Seeing none. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Friday, May 1 at 09:30AM?

[Representative Patricia McCoy (Poultney)]: Madam Speaker, I make amend motion this body stand in adjournment until Friday, 05/01/2026 at 09:30AM.

[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