Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats. I appreciate your patience this morning. We've been having some technical difficulties. So the devotional today is very special. It will be led by former representative Carolyn Partridge of Wyndham and bagpiper Ben Partridge of Wyndham.

[Former Representative Carolyn Partridge]: Well thank you Madam Speaker. It's a delight to be here and join you today. And we've got the page day. It's very special. And, I want to say before we get started that I really want you to know that we really appreciate the work you're doing here. I'll also note that as a positive sign, I see the big old trash can behind where I used to sit. So that's always a good sign that you're coming down the home stretch, right? So I'm going to say to you a poem today, by Billy Collins which is my favorite and I've said it here before but hopefully you haven't all heard it. And then Ben's going to play a few tunes for you. So this is the lanyard. The other day as I was ricocheting slowly off the blue walls of this room, bouncing from typewriter to piano, from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor, I found myself in the l section of the dictionary where my eyes fell on the word lanyard. No cookie nibbled by a French novelist could send one more suddenly into the past. A past where I sat at a workbench at a camp by a deep Adirondack Lake. Learning how to braid thin plastic strips into a lanyard, a gift for my mother. I had never seen anyone use a lanyard or wear one if that's what you did with them, but that did not keep me from crossing strand over strand again and again until I had made a boxy red and white lanyard for my mother. She gave me life and milk from her breasts, and I gave her a lanyard. She nursed me in many a sick room, lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips, set cold face cloths on my forehead. That then led me out into the airy light and taught me to walk and swim. And I in turn presented her with a lanyard. Here are thousands of meals, she said, and here's clothing and a good education. And here is your lanyard, I replied, which I made with a little help from a counselor. Here is a breathing body and a beating heart, strong legs, bones and teeth and two clear eyes to read the world, She whispered, and here I said is the lanyard I made at camp. And here I wish to say to her now is a smaller gift. Not the archaic truth that you can never repay your mother, but the rueful admonition that when she took the two toned lanyard from my hands, I was sure as a boy could be that this useless, worthless thing I wove out of boredom would be enough to make us even. Thank you.

[Representative 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. Will you please rise as we remember two former house members who we lost earlier this month. Representative Jason A. Barney of Highgate was born in 1976 and served in the house from 1997 through 2002. Representative Noel Anne Nealy of Pomfret was born in 1943 and served in the house from 1977 through 1982. Will you please join me in a moment of silence in memory of these house members? It's hard to believe that it's the last day for our pages. It's my privilege to recognize and express gratitude to this final group of legislative pages for their invaluable contributions this session. You joined us during one of the busiest times supporting us as we wrap up our final bills and reach the end of the legislative biennium. It is bittersweet to say goodbye today but on behalf of everyone that works in this building, I want to thank you for the energy and dedication that you have brought to the state house. It has been truly inspiring. Your work as legislative pages serves as a unique and important role in our legislative process. Carrying the conversations and documents that spurred the creations of bills to later become law. And like the pages that have come before you, your service in the state house is forever sealed in the halls and chambers under this golden dome. And now you are part of history and members not just of the twenty twenty six legislative session, but this legislative family. I hope that you were able to learn new things, explore all the nooks and crannies of this building, listen in on the legislative process, and all the while forming meaningful relationships and friendships. I hope that you will stay connected to this institution for years to come and one day in the future reunite to share the stories of your time here. The doors of the state house are open for anyone who wants to come and visit and that holds especially true to all of you. Again, on behalf of everyone here, we wish you the very best in all of your future endeavors and hope to see you again soon. Thank you for your service. I will now present the pages with their pin and we'll take a photo. Will you please hold your applause to the end and we will give them a big thank you again. First, we have Shepherd Finch of Chester. Next, Graham Gilman of Moortown. Next is Kiera Hallmartin of Fairleigh. Next is Leila Tarrant of Montpelier. Next is Mae Blostorm of Whitingham. Next is Lula Walker of Montpelier. And last, we have Tamsen Wilson of Manchester Center. Will you please join me in thanking them one more time? Members, we have received a request to read two house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. The first is HCR two seventy three which is a house concurrent resolution recognizing May 2026 as National Tennis Month in Vermont. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk]: Whereas on 05/21/1881, the United States Tennis Association, USTA, originally known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, was founded in New York New York to create rules and standards for the emerging game of lawn tennis. And whereas the USDA is a nonprofit, national governing body for tennis in The United States and leads the promotion and growth of the sport at every level of play from beginners to professionals at the US Open. And whereas as the largest tennis organization in the world, the the USTA has over 550,000 members from every corner of the country. And whereas the USTA proudly partners with the local tennis programs to showcase the important health, social, and educational benefits of tennis, and it makes the sport available to everyone regardless of age, environment, condition, or ability through its USDA adaptive tennis grants. And whereas according to an annual study from the Physical Activity Council, a partnership of eight of the major governing bodies and trade associations in The US sports and leisure industry, more than 27,300,000 Americans played tennis in 2025, an unprecedented 6.2% increase in participation over 2024, and the highest number of players since the study began in 2007. And where whereas increasing the accessibility of tennis for Vermonters of all ages and abilities has enabled the USTA to contribute to making Vermont communities happier and healthier. And whereas the USTA has designated the month of May as 10 national tennis month in order to encourage players, organizations, facilities, retailers, tennis manufacturers, and others to promote local programs and activities at parks and facilities to showcase tennis and spread the word about the sport and its benefits and to help players and nonplayers alike find courts and playing opportunities in their communities. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly recognizes May 2026 as national tennis month in Vermont and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to USTA New England.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Next is HCR two eighty nine which is a house concurrent resolution congratulating the 2026 Brattleboro Union High School championship mock trial team. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk]: Whereas for the past decade, the Vermont mock trial competition for high school students has offered students a combined educational and experiential opportunity to engage in the full scope of the courtroom process. And whereas in 2026, the students were challenged with a criminal case listing charges of murder as well as an accessory and conspiracy to commit murder. And whereas the participating student attorneys were presented a case packet continue consisting of a maximum of six witness affidavits and associated exhibits. Based on these materials, they drafted opening statements, directing cross examination questions, and closing arguments. And whereas the competition's curriculum also includes instruction on courtroom procedure and the rules of evidence. And whereas aside from the litigation specific elements, this academic exercise enables the students to improve their critical thinking and public speaking skills. And whereas this year's competition was held at Vermont Law and Graduate School in South Royalton on 03/14/2026, and the panel of 15 judges included members of the federal and state judiciary as well as practicing lawyers. And whereas after all, the trial proceedings had concluded and the judges assessed the student advocates, the Brattleboro Union High School, BUHS team was awarded first place honors. And whereas the BUHS lawyers were Abraham, Ballant, Danny Mahoney Schmidt, Sal North, and Isabelle Young. And the students the school's student witnesses were Leland Stromberg, Eli Welch, and Gilbert Comovich. And the facility the faculty coaches were Tessa Anders and Ashley Nadeau, and Alicia Sanders served as the practicing attorney adviser. And whereas the selection of BUHS as the competition's top team reflects the diligent preparation of these outstanding students. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly congratulates the twenty twenty six Brattleboro Union High School championship mock trial team and be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to BUHS.

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

[Unidentified Member from Jericho]: Thank you, madam speaker. We just heard a resolution announcing that May is Tennis Month in Vermont. It is part of a national movement. Tennis is, I think many studies have shown, the most healthy sport. More I know. Not golf, tennis. Not pickleball, tennis. Just saying. And people live longer. You use your brain. You use your body. It's a great way to get out there and enjoy the lovely weather that we have in Vermont. With us today in the in the gallery, we have a number of USTA Vermont board of directors and advisers celebrating this sport, again, promoting healthy lung health and longevity, offering opportunities to learn. Anybody wants to learn this summer, there are so many ways to learn and compete any age, any ability, and it is a way for communities to unite and allow people to have personal growth on the tennis courts. So with us today, we have the president of USDA Vermont, Joanna Beale, the secretary, Deb Norotsky, treasurer, Frank Constantino, social impact chair, Joyce Dowd, state league committee co chair, Heidi Willoughby, one of our members, Ken Scott, USTA recreation and league league coordinator, Jen Weiss, and Vermont senior games president, Kevin Plant. And again, they are with us in the balcony.

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

[Representative Michelle Bos-Lun]: Thank you, madam speaker. On behalf of myself and the representative from Rockingham who used to be a district mate and the representative from Chester who would be the representative for our devotional presenters today. I it's my great pleasure to introduce, Ben Partridge who is a senior management at Akemo Mountain, and his mother, former representative Carolyn Partridge, who served here in this chamber for twenty four years and then retired to become a side judge. And she's currently a side judge serving in my county of Windham County. She also served her community for many years as a school board member, including looking over the small little school that my own grandchild went to for all the years of elementary school. So I'm very grateful to both Carolyn and her son Ben for providing this annual devotional that we all look forward to.

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

[Unidentified Member from Brattleboro]: Madam speaker, on behalf of the members from Guilford, Brattleboro, and Putney, which happens to include two trial attorneys, I want to welcome the members of the Brattleboro Union High School mock trial competition, which happens to include some tennis stars, to the people's house today. The skills they've learned in productive, thoughtful debate would serve us all well here in our chamber and are a credit to our community and our future. They'll be spending the rest of the morning in our various committees, and I encourage you to give them a warm welcome.

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

[Unidentified Member from Winooski]: Thank you, madam speaker. I'm rising this morning to, introduce three very special guests here today. My fiance and parents are seated in the balcony, and their love and support truly makes it possible for me to serve here. So I'd ask that the body please help me welcome them to the people's house.

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

[Representative Lori Houghton]: Madam speaker, the house democrats will caucus in Room 11 at 11:15. Thank you.

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

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, house republicans will caucus at 11:15 in Room 10.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members at this time after conferring with chairs and leadership, we have several amendments, coming forth in committees who need to continue to take votes. So we will be addressing all of the bills on the calendar at 1PM. So with that, the house will stand in recess until the fall of the gavel at 1PM.