Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good morning. In lieu of a devotional today, will you please join me in a moment of silence? Will you please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance Members, due to our token session yesterday, we have moved the calendar along and therefore there are three bills on the action calendar that require referral to a money committee pursuant to house rule 35A. The first is senate bill 197 which is an act relating to payment reform for primary care affecting the revenue of the state. Bills referred to the committee on ways and means. The next, following two bills carry an appropriation and therefore are referred to the committee on appropriations. They are Senate Bill 193 which is an act relating to establishing a forensics facility for certain criminal justice involved persons and senate bill two seventy eight which is an act relating to cannabis. Members, we received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR three zero four is a House concurrent resolution celebrating the state house display of Julian Scott's Civil War masterpiece, the fourth Vermont Forming Under Fire and thanking those individuals who facilitated this historic artist event. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk]: Whereas the stunning civil war painting, the fourth Vermont forming under fire depicts the eighteen sixty three chancellor's villa campaign, Virginia, rearguard action under the overall leadership of union major general John Sedgwick of the fourth Vermont regiment, gallantly protecting the critical six core, a contingent destined to play a major role in future battles as both units crossed the Rappahannock River at Banks Ford, the fourth being last to cross, following a fierce confrontation with the confederate troops under general Robert e Lee. And whereas New York patent attorney and diplomat Edwin Stoutin commissioned Julian Scott, a Johnson native, teenage civil war pfeiffer, drummer, and medic, one of our nation's youngest middle of honor recipients, and the creator of four other magnificent civil war paintings, including the centerpiece, the first Vermont brigade at the battle of Cedar Creek, which for decades have adorned the Cedar Creek Room in the State House to artistically salute Stoughton's nephews, the brothers child Charles and Edwin Stoughton who served as fourth Vermont regiment commanders at different times. And whereas the 1872 painting remained with the family into the twentieth century, in 1983, a Texas oilman and cattleman, Patrick R. Rutherford, purchased it for his Houston, Texas home. And after his death in 2020, the the Rutherford estate donated the painting to the University of Houston for temporary display and then to sell for scholarship revenue. And whereas subsequently, Champaign Valley Union High School teacher and civil war historian, Tyler Alexander, while searching for an image to use in the cover of his new book, If I Can Get Home This Fall, a story of love, loss, and a cause in civil war, found an image of the painting. And after months of further research, he deserve discovered that Vermont art historian Robert Titterton had once appraised the painting resulting in Tyler Alexander's learning that the artwork was then at a Houston auction house set for imminent sale. And whereas Tyler Alexander immediately informed state curator David Sheets, who in turn contacted Vermont civil war historians, Howard Coffin and Kevin Grafagino. And through these historians' timely involvement, the Manchester art collector and Vermont country store owner, Lyman Orton, placed the successful $110,000 purchase bin. And whereas Lyman or Orton has graciously loaned the painting for display in the Cedar Creek Room where a form formal unveiling ceremony occurred on 10/29/2025. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly celebrates the state house display of Julian Scott's civil war masterpiece, the fourth Vermont forming under fire, and thanks those individuals who facilitated this historic art event. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Tyler Alexander, Lyman Orton, Howard Coffin, Kevin Griffin, Sheets, and Robert Turton.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: And now members, we have a very special resolution to read. HCR three zero three is a house concurrent resolution extending best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to the indomitable representative Anne Donahue of Northfield. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[House Reading Clerk]: Whereas Vermont native Anne Donahue is a graduate of Boston College and Georgetown University Law Center, and since 2003 has served as the extraordinarily conscientious and detail focused member from Northfield, whose special passion for improving mental health care in Vermont is rooted in her own life experiences. And whereas she has worked proactively for many years to develop a more effective and humane mental health treatment system from both the institutional and community based delivery perspectives, including serving for many years as editor of Counterpoint, the official publication of the Vermont Psychiatric Survivors Organization. And whereas after Tropical Storm Irene's 02/2011 destruction of the former Vermont State Hospital, BSH, in Waterbury, representative Anne Donahue was instrumental in the creation of its institutional successor, the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin, participating in the formation of a more modern and responsive organization. And whereas the dilemma of former VSH undocumented burial sites struck representative Anne Donahue as an injustice, injustice requiring correction, and she has devoted considerable effort to locating these sites, finally restoring dignity the individuals concerned, even if posthumously. And whereas similarly, she has also worked to identify individuals with mental health challenges who bought whose bodies were donated without prior consent to the University of Vermont Robert Larner, M. D. College of Medicine for research. And the school honored her for this work at its twenty April twenty twenty six convocation. And whereas for over a decade, representative Anne Donahue methodically worked on crafting an official apology for the discriminatory treatment of many Vermonters under the highly contentious rubric of the eugenics movement. And since the adoption of 2021 acts and resolves resolution r four one fourteen, the joint resolution sincerely apologizing and expressing sorrow and regret to all individual Vermonters and their families and descendants who were harmed as a result of state sanctioned eugenics policies and practices. She has been intensively involved in next step legislative initiatives. And whereas on the floor and during her service on the house rules committee, representative and Donahue as focused on the minutiae of legislation and the legislative process to promote clarity and transparency. And whereas on 03/30/2026, her legislative colleagues were greatly concerned to learn that representative Anne Donahue had experienced a brain aneurysm, but they are relieved that a recovery is progressing well. And now therefore be it resolved by the house of representatives in the senate that the general assembly extends its best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to the indomitable representative Anne to LeBlancet, Donahue of Northfield. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to represent Anne Donahue.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any announcements? Member from Waterbury.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Thank you, madam speaker.

[Representative Theresa Wood]: I've never seen, one person elicit so many smiles in the final, we hope, day of the legislative session, but representative Donahue has done just that, today with her mere presence. We, we just heard a resolution that just outlines, so many of Anne's contributions over the course of her time here in the legislature. But honestly, I I really don't think any of us recognize how important all of those things were until that day in March when things went upside down for her and really for all of us as we try to continue on without her presence here. And today, I'm just delighted that we are all able to have her here with us, that her doctors have said she can slowly ease back into work. Not sure the last week of the session is slowly easing back into work. But if we could just please welcome back representative Donahue and give her all of the love that she deserves. And also there is a cake in the Cedar Creek Room that Terry Corsons has prepared, and it's beautiful. Check it out. And after announcements and the little break when we have a little break, please take your time to visit with Anne in the Cedar Creek Room. So please let's give Anne a welcome warm.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Welcome back members. Are there any further announcements? Member from Colchester?

[House Reading Clerk]: Yes madam speaker as I'm sure the member from Northfield would not like to do herself. If I could interrogate the reader of the, resolution, I believe in the third whereas clause there might have been no, just kidding. Welcome back member.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Lincoln.

[Representative Karen Lueders]: Good morning, madam speaker. I have three special guests with me today in the gallery, each of whom attended my swearing in ceremony last October. My very first, very, very, very special guest has a birthday today. He calls me Gigi, and he calls the building we're in Gigi's barn. He's two years old today or in legislative years, one biennium old. He's very active and verbal, and I think we'll be hearing a lot from him in the future. He is my grandson, Doyon Leaders Dumont. He brought his parents with him. His mom, my daughter-in-law, Ashley, who once upon a time was a legislative page, and during our amazing tour of the timber frame dome the other day, I searched high and low to find her signature, and I have yet to find it, but I will. And I Sullivan also brought his dad with him, my son, Tim Leaders Dumont. Could the chamber please welcome these guests?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the family of the member from Lincoln please rise and be recognized? Member from West Rutland.

[Representative Thomas Burditt]: Thank you madam speaker. Special guest here today. Former mayor of the City Of Rutland, former state representative, the current president of the board of Aldermen of the city of Rutland, and most importantly, friend for well over fifty years. Please welcome Dave Elaire.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the former member please rise and be recognized? Member from Newport City.

[Representative Woodman Page]: Thank you madam speaker. Madam speaker, we have just heard the concurrent resolution celebrating the state house display of Julian Scott's painting of the fourth Vermont forming under fire and the individuals who assisted in acquiring this painting and returning it to Vermont. In many ways, the work searching for this painting, discovering where it was located, and eventually acquiring it could actually be the makings of a wonderful mystery thriller where a state house curator, our history detectives, and a philanthropist team up to help solve a murder mystery related to a civil war painting. You should know that there was no murder or mayhem involved in acquiring this painting. But there was a great deal of research and work with all involved in acquiring the painting. As was mentioned, the painting depicts the chancellorville Virginia campaign and the actions of the fourth Vermont regiment. This body may be asking itself why this battle was important enough to be depicted in a painting. In summary, the battle is considered one of General Lee's greatest where General Joseph Hooker who had recently been appointed to lead the army of the Potomac was soundly defeated. The fourth Vermont regiment's actions protected the Union army from total destruction and allowed it to escape across the Rappahannock River to fight another day. The confederate army also suffered large casualties to include general Stonewall Jackson losing his left arm and later dying. General Lee was reported to have said at that time that Jackson had lost his left arm, but Lee had lost his own right arm. We're very fortunate. Unfortunately, not everyone could be here, but we are fortunate to have a noted author and a noted individual that helped play a role in acquiring this painting. That individual is author Howard Coffin. And with him is Adam Burkhardt. He's representing the our curator, David Sheets, as well. So madam speaker, I would ask that the body please join me in recognizing and thanking not just Howard, but all the individuals that played a role in imparting their knowledge, their time, their talent, and resources in acquiring the Julian Scott painting. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest of the member from Newport City please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Dover?

[House Reading Clerk]: Madam speaker, I spy a former page sitting in the gallery. Can the body welcome back Oliver Zonn?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Will the guest member from Dover please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Cambridge?

[Representative Lucy Boyden]: Madam speaker, the royal caucus will not be meeting tomorrow morning. We really appreciate everyone's contribution this session and biennium. Thank you so much.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Essex Junction. Madam speaker, house Democrats will caucus in Room 11 at 12:15. Member from Polkhardt.

[Representative Patricia McCoy]: Madam speaker, house Republicans will not be caucusing this morning.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Burlington.

[Representative Brian Cina]: Madam speaker, house progressives will not be caucusing this morning.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, orders of the day. Members, I have an update on the, calendar order this morning. We are going to start with the T Bill which is House bill nine forty four and then we will move to senate bill two fourteen and work our way down from there. So first up, house bill nine forty four which is an act relating to the fiscal year twenty twenty seven transportation program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with the proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Swanton.

[Representative Matt Walker]: Good morning, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. Your house transportation committee reviewed the senate version of H nine forty four and with major conflicts between the two bodies existing took a straw poll of ten zero one to request a committee of conference.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Swanton moves that the house refused to concur in the senate proposal of amendment and that a committee of conference be 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 Swanton, representative Walker, the member from Bennington, representative Corcoran, and the member from Hinesburg, represent A Pouch. Member from Pultely, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to message our action on house bill nine forty four to the senate forthwith?

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

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Pulte moves that we suspend our rules to message our action on house bill nine forty four 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 rules to message our action on House Bill nine forty four to the Senate forthwith. Up next is senate bill two fourteen, which is an act relating to the provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts. The bill was referred to the committee on education, which recommends that the bill ought to pass in concurrence. The member from Linden, representative Quimby, will speak for the committee affecting the revenue of the state. The bill was then referred to the committee on ways and means, which also recommends that the bill ought to pass in concurrence. Member from South Burlington, Burkhardt will speak for that committee. And then carrying an appropriation, the bill was referred to the committee on appropriations, which also recommends that the bill ought to pass in concurrence. A member from Burke, representative Kaczynski will speak for that committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill.

[House Reading Clerk]: S two fourteen, an act relating to the provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Lincoln. Member no. Member yeah. Member from Linden.

[Representative Beth Quimby]: Linden. Yeah. Thank you, madam speaker. Vermont is a national leader in access to pre k education, but there is widespread disparity across counties. Over 55% of eligible students access pre k education in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. In Windsor, Windham, Windham, and Chittenden County, over 90%. But in Essex County, only 11% of eligible students access pre k. The AnyK Choice School District located in Essex County does not operate any schools. It provides for the education of all k through 12 students through public tuition. For some of these families, the most convenient school is across the river in New Hampshire. The children in Essex County deserve access to pre k education too. S two fourteen extends the ability for families to tuition their pre k children to New Hampshire schools just as they do their older children. S two fourteen consists of only two sections. It's a short but potentially impactful piece of legislation. The

[House Reading Clerk]: bill may

[Representative Beth Quimby]: be found on the legislative website. Section one has three provisions. First, the NEK Choice School District may provide pre kindergarten education by paying tuition to pre k programs operated by public schools in New Hampshire located within 25 miles of Vermont border. Second, the Essex North Supervisory Union will administer enrollment and tuition payments. And third, the superintendent may apply for a waiver from the agency of education and agency of human services of any rule provision that is impractical for either the any k choice school district or the New Hampshire program. Two examples of this could be the requirement for the pre k program to have a Vermont licensed teacher or to adhere to the Vermont early learning standards. Section two is the effective date, 07/01/2026. We heard from the following witnesses, the sponsor of the bill, deputy commissioner, child development division, department of children and families, Vermont director, First Children's Finance, fiscal analyst, joint fiscal office, general counsel for the agency of education, and legislative counsel, office of legislative counsel. Your house education committee found s two fourteen favorable on a vote of ten zero one, and we respectfully ask for the body's support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: And now speaking for the committee on ways and means, member from South Burlington.

[Representative Bridget Burkhardt]: Madam speaker, s two fourteen was referred to your committee on ways and means because it will have an impact on the education fund. The bill would allow the any K choice school district to pay tuition to public schools in New Hampshire for pre k students at the allowable universal pre k rate. For fiscal twenty fiscal year twenty seven, the UPK rate is $4,106. Since the bill would affect between zero and fourteen students per year, the maximum impact on the ed fund would be approximately $60,000 in any given year. There would be no impact on the FY '27 ed fund expenditures because the NEK choice district has already passed its budget, but there could be an impact in future years resulting in a de minimis increase in property tax bills. We heard from the following witnesses, a fiscal analyst from the joint fiscal office, the reporter of the bill from the house committee on education, legislative council, office of legislative council. The vote in our committee was nine one one in favor of the bill, and we respectfully ask for the body's support. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: And now speaking for the committee on appropriations, member from Burke.

[Representative John Kascenska]: Thank you, madam speaker. Members of the appropriations committee received testimony from the education committee and legislative council regarding h two fourteen, provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts. The appropriations committee also received testimony from the joint fiscal office estimating that this bill would increase education fund expenditures by approximately $60,000 beginning in the fiscal year 2028 as previously reported and would be considered to be de minimis. With a vote of ten zero one, your appropriate your committee on appropriations recommends that the bill ought to pass in concurrence as noted in today's calendar. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for the question, member from Waterbury?

[Representative Theresa Wood]: Thank you, madam speaker. I just wanted to rise for a moment to remind members that, pre k is, delivered in a mixed delivery system, meaning there are private and public providers that provide pre k. Although we don't our committee, House Human Services did not have possession of this bill. We did take testimony on the bill during the course of our work on pre k and this this bill, even though it affects only a small part of the state, will help us towards delivering more equitable access for pre k, which although it has title called universal pre k is anything but universal in this state. So, our committee, though we didn't take a straw poll, was generally favorable towards, this bill. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: Member from Norwich.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe]: Thank you, madam speaker. Sometimes legislation accidentally seems to forecast where we're headed. This bill addresses a district that operates no schools and no prekindergarten program for all of it its children. None. And the risk the state takes here is that instead of providing access, the state is essentially creating an educational Airbnb model. No local capacity? No problem. We'll just see what's available nearby. This district does not offer universal access for pre k because there are no prekindergartens. This is a small number of students, but they are all Vermont's children. And this is rural Vermont, so nearby is doing a tremendous amount of work in that sentence. I asked the deputy commissioner of the child development division at DCF who advocated for this bill if she had heard from those New Hampshire districts that we're counting on about capacity to serve Vermont children. She wrote to me, and madam speaker, may I have permission to read from her email?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: You may.

[Representative Rebecca Holcombe]: As you noted, no. I did not speak with other districts and the committee did not hear from them. My fear is that this will be hopes and prayers policy, not universal access to prekindergarten. I also reached out to the district mentioned as a solution. One of them provides a virtual prekindergarten program. Another is the nearby White Mountain Regional School District, which openly states on its website that it lacks enough preschool capacity for even its own resident students. And the superintendent did confirm that capacity is a challenge. I hope something can be developed. I hope these boards can work together to create capacity, but we do need to understand that New Hampshire has no obligation to Vermont children. I hope we don't just pass this bill and think we are done. These children deserve fair access, and, again, I commend the local board for working to find it. But we see growing closures of small public schools, and underneath all of this, there is a real question about what happens as we move as a state from providing education to purchasing education for our children, to handing them a voucher and telling them to go out and see what they can find. The risk is that in regions like this, school choice without local capacity is just scarcity with extra paperwork, extra cost, extra miles, and extra work, and these are our children. In rural areas, systems matter because scale is fragile. Once local capacity disappears, rebuilding it is extraordinarily hard. Schools close faster than alternatives emerge, as we've seen even in this district in this region, and we're also seeing in the southern tier. And eventually, nobody is really fully accountable for whether children actually have access to strong programs close to home. So I hope we can use this bill to hopefully provide children with education, but not simply pass it and just assume that we have solved the problem. And we have to ask that question. Are we building a durable public education opportunities in rural Vermont, or are we leaving families to fend for themselves?

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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. Next is house bill one seventy one which is an act relating to criminal justice agency protocols for an officer involved shooting. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with the proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from West Rutland.

[Representative Thomas Burditt]: Thank you, madam speaker. The, the amendment is on page thirty two eighty three of today's calendar, but, a little reminder of what the bill was about. It it puts together the, a group of people that'll put together the protocols for the investigation of an officer involved shooting. And hopefully, when these cases come up, that they will be done in a timely manner. But the amendment at the end of section one small c five is is simply insert the words and the role of victim advocates. That's the the senate amendment and by a vote of nine zero two, your house judiciary committee, concurs with the senate amendment and hope to have your support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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. 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. Next is House Bill five seventy seven which is an act relating to establishing the Vermont prescription drug discount card program. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Colchester.

[Unknown — Member from Colchester]: Thank you madam speaker. The senate health and welfare committee proposed two technical housekeeping amendments to h five seven seven establishing Vermont's prescription drug discount card program ArrayRx. These amendments appear on page three one four zero of today's journal. First, beginning 01/15/2028 and annually thereafter, the state treasurer must report the the house committee on health care, the senate committee on health and welfare, and the governor and to the governor on the program's activities during the previous calendar year. The report will include participation by residents and pharmacies, prescription drug savings achieved, and the program's impact on the viability of Vermont's pharmacies. Second, in section 30 in sections three a and 32 VSA subsection b, the word card is inserted before program in the second sentence following drug discount. The House Healthcare Committee approved these amendments by a straw poll of eleven zero zero and we ask for your support. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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. Up next is house bill five eighty eight which is an act relating to professions and occupations relay regulated by the office of professional regulation. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from South Burlington.

[Representative Emilie Krasnow]: Madam speaker, the senate took up the annual office of professional regulation or OPR bill that we passed earlier this session and has recommended some additions, clarifications, and modifications. The house government operations and military affairs committee reviewed the senate's suggested helpful changes and approved them on a straw poll vote of eleven zero zero and asked for the body support. These changes included in section three regarding rescission authority, clarification of the process, in section five specification that the option for a licensee to enroll in a substance use treatment program as an alternative to the disciplinary process will be at the director's discretion. In sections eight through 10, an update to language governing certified public accounts removing the term of good character. In section 14, authorizing pharmacy technicians to treat HIV prophylactically in order to ensure timely access that is critical to intervention. They will not be testing as testing will remain under the authority of other physicians. Also in section 14, aligning statutes by updating the definition of pharmacy technician and statutes governing the Vermont Department of Health. In section 18, moving fees to appropriate sections, not creating new fees. Finally, in section 19, authorizing the board of medical practice to conduct criminal background checks for certain professions and aligning this with other o p r statutes. Effective dates remain unchanged from the original bill as voted out by the house. Section nineteen's change previously referenced will also be effective upon passage. Witnesses included legislative council, the director of OPR and the commissioner of health. And again, the committee on government operations and military affairs heard the senate's updates to this bill and voted favorably on a straw poll of eleven zero zero and asked for the body's support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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. Up next is House Bill six eleven which is an act relating to miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Waterford.

[Representative John Kascenska]: Thank you madam speaker. If you recall, h six eleven is a diva housekeeping bill. The senate returned h six eleven with three instances of amendment which are printed on page three three zero six of today's house calendar. The first instant amends section two of the bill to prohibit drug manufacturers from requiring a three forty b covered entity to provide claims or utilization data as a condition for receiving a 340B drug. This is already prohibited as it relates to pharmacies with which a 340B covered entity contracts. The second instance amends section nine of the bill to delay the timing of the office of professional regulations certification program for community based doulas from 07/01/2026 until 07/01/2027 to match the delay in the Medicaid coverage requirements in the bill as passed by the house. The third instance codifies current practice regarding health insurance and Medicaid coverages for HIV prevention drugs. Your committee on health care received these amendment amendments on a straw poll of eleven zero zero. We recommend that we concur and ask for your support. Thank you.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: 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, I have an update for you on bill order. Next will be house bill nine twenty one followed by senate bill two twenty seven and then house bill two ninety three. Next is house bill nine twenty one, an act relating to alcoholic beverages, member from Cambridge.

[Representative Lucy Boyden]: Madam speaker, the committee has not yet reviewed the senate proposal of amendment yet with legislative council. So I moved to delay action on h nine two one by two legislative days.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Cambridge moves that we postpone action on house bill nine twenty one 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 would postpone action on House Bill nine twenty one for two legislative days. Now we will turn to Senate Bill two twenty seven which is an act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools. The senate concurred in the house proposal of amendment with a further proposal of amendment there too that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Williston.

[Representative Erin Brady]: Thank you, madam speaker. Reminder, s two two seven is a school safety bill that largely reflects the guidance the agency of education has been providing to schools since January 2025 and came over originally from the senate with overwhelming support. Every child and family deserve access to education free from fear and intimidation regardless of immigration status. And this bill ensures that schools do not collect or share immigration status information, that schools provide families with trusted resources, and that schools require a judicial warrant before law enforcement enters nonpublic areas of the school related to immigration matters. In the senate proposal of amendment to the house proposal of amendment, there are two very small changes. First, in section two subsection c, independent is struck out because that is already defined earlier in the bill under schools. And in the second instance of amendment in section two, subsection d two, specific area is changed to specific areas plural with an s. Your house committee on education voted in favor of the senate proposal of amendment to the house proposal of amendment on a straw poll of eleven zero and ask for the body's support.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the house concur in the senate proposal of amendment to the house 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. And now we'll turn to House Bill two ninety three which is an relating to health equity data reporting and registry disclosure requirements. The bill passed the senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Guilford.

[Representative Sara Coffey]: Madam Speaker, your Human Services Committee has reviewed a proposal from of amendment from the Senate to H293, a small bill introduced last year right at the front of the opening of the biennium. So I'm sure we'll all remember. The intent of H two ninety three is to make targeted updates to Vermont's health statute by streamlining report requirements, by modernizing registry disclosure requirements, and by establishing a one time reporting requirement to support the legislature's oversight function. I will now characterize the bill noting key elements of the proposal of amendment. Details are on page thirty four seventeen in today's calendar. First, the original house bill proposed a few adjustments to reporting requirements for the department. The senate proposal expands upon these these adjustments, and these adjustments will reduce administrative burden on the department while preserving all ongoing data collection, analysis, and public transparency functions. The senate the senate amendment proposes three further adjustments to the house's original adjustments. One moves an annual reporting deadline forward by three months, one alters the reporting requirement of another annually to every two years, and a final alters the reporting requirement to every three years. Second, there were no significant revisions to the House proposed data sharing requirements for the Vermont Center the Vermont Cancer Registry, excuse me, the Vermont Cancer Registry and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry, that's the ALS Registry. As a reminder, the provisions of this section of the bill clarify the conditions of registry data disclosure and ensure that Vermont can fully participate in population level cancer and ALS research while upholding rigorous privacy and ethical standards. Third, the Senate Proposal Amendment includes a requirement the Department of Health submit a one time report by February 2027 on the financial status and health of the recovery service organizations. This report will provide information the legislature needs to conduct oversight of current investments in Vermont's critical recovery resources and consider actions that could enhance the financial stability of these organizations. The effective date of this bill is 07/01/2026. Madam speaker, based on a vote of eight zero three, the human services recommends that the house concur with the senate's proposal of amendment.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The question is, shall the house 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, we are going to take up next senate bill two zero two and senate bill two ninety eight. Next is senate bill two zero two which is an act relating to portable solar energy generation devices, member from Manchester. The house please stand in recess for a brief moment? Thank you. Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Alright. After doing a little air traffic control here, we are going to take up senate bill two ninety eight and then we will be recessing for committees to meet. So with that, senate bill two ninety eight is an act relating to creating the Vermont Voting Rights Act member from Charlotte.

[Representative Chea Waters Evans]: Madam speaker, your house government operations and military affairs committee has not had the opportunity to review the senate's proposal of amendment. Therefore, I'd like to make a motion postponing action for one legislative day.

[Speaker Jill Krowinski]: The member from Charlotte moves that we postpone action on senate bill two ninety eight for one legislative day. 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 ninety eight for one legislative day. With that, the house will stand in recess until the fall of the gavel at 1PM.