Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Representative Daniel Noyes]: Will

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good afternoon.

[Representative Michael Marcotte (Coventry)]: Good afternoon.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Members at this time, we are going to take up three bills and then recess and come back. In this time block, we will be taking up Senate Bill two fourteen, Senate Bill three twenty six and House Bill six seventy four. So with that, we will now take up Senate Bill two fourteen which is an act relating to the provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Clerk (likely BetsyAnn Wrask)]: S two fourteen, an act relating to provision of pre kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall the bill pass in concurrence? 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 the bill is passed in concurrence. Members, we are gonna take a very brief recess. We are missing some key members for the next vote. The house will stand in recess for approximately five minutes. Will the house please come to order? The next bill up is Senate Bill three twenty six which is an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor vehicles. Prior to third reading, we have several amendments to consider. The first, the member from Brattleboro, Representative Burke offers an amendment to the house proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Brattleboro.

[Representative Mollie S. Burke (Brattleboro)]: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This amendment to h three twenty six adds a section d in section 22, and it says that nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Department of Motor Vehicles to amend the rules relating to emissions inspections for motor vehicles. This comes about because it's to clarify at at the end of the section section about how we're looking at changing some of the rules around inspections, and this is to clarify that we are not touching any of the emissions related requirements because federal government has authority over over that aspect because of the the environmental protection agency has authority over air quality. So that's why we did this amendment just to make sure that that was clear and that's all the amendment does. Thank you.

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

[Unidentified Representative (from Swanton)]: Thank you Madam Speaker. The committee heard the amendment from Representative Burke and I would wanna point out for the body, perhaps as hot as it was yesterday, that this bill, when it should it pass and become law, we are Vermonters will benefit from changes in a the focus of inspections to become more safety related and they will be less focused on technical issues but the safety will be and they there will be savings to Vermonters under tires, power steering, suspensions, brake rotors, lighting issues, electrical systems. Windshield will no longer fail if you have a little crack a little piece in your windshield up in the corner, that will no longer fail an inspection. You'll have if your windshield wipers are no good, you'll get a warning and not a failure. The vehicle body rust will not fail it, only rust in the actual framework and a whole number of other items that are going to happen and go effective on July 1 should the bill pass. So we did hear the amendment and we agree that and the DMV will not make any changes related to air quality issues and we pass the amendment nine eleven and asks the body support for the amendment. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: So the question is shall the house amend its proposal of amendment as offered by the member from Brattleboro? 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 house proposal of amendment. Next the member from Winooski, representative Thomas offers an amendment to the house proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Winooski.

[Representative Dara Torre (Winooski)]: Thank you, madam speaker. You can find the text of this amendment on page 3,476 of today's calendar. This amendment strengthens the process for identifying and disposing of abandoned vehicles by adding one more way to notify the owner. Under current law, when a vehicle is believed to be abandoned, the entity storing the vehicle can apply for an abandoned vehicle certificate. DMV then attempts to identify the vehicle's owner and send notice by certified mail to the address on file. If the owner does not respond, DMV may issue a certificate of abandoned motor vehicle allowing the entity storing the vehicle to sell or dispose of it. For context, the DMV testified that they receive about 30 of these applications per week, which is about 1,500 a year. This amendment does not replace that process. It simply adds a public notice safeguard. It requires the DMV to post on its website a list of vehicles for which an abandoned vehicle certificate application has been filed along with the information about how the owner can prove ownership if need be. That matters because certified mail may not always reach the right person. Someone may have recently moved, may be out of state for an extended period or might be dealing with a medical emergency or other circumstance that prevents them from receiving or responding to that mail. We heard some specific examples of this in committee. We also heard testimony from the DMV on this amendment and they approved of the language. This is a practical transparent improvement that gives vehicle owners a better chance to protect their property while preserving the abandoned vehicle process. Respectfully ask for the body support.

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

[Unidentified Representative (from Swanton)]: Thank you, madam speaker. The committee heard the amendment and also took testimony from the Department of Motor Vehicles and I did hear some ooze and ahhs. Yes. There's over 500 abandoned vehicles on Vermont roads that towers are called and asked to remove. The vast majority, nearly 90 plus percent or more end up in a junkyard and these are mostly abandoned for that reason. They didn't want to deal with the disposal of it. We asked that towing industry to handle it for us, etcetera. So the DMV feels that this is a reasonable step that technology will help them make it work and so the committee voted ten zero one to support the amendment and we ask the body support.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is shall the house amend its proposal of amendment as offered by the member from Winooski? 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 house proposal of amendment. Now the member from Mollie S. Representative Noyes offers an amendment to the house proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar. Member from Mollie S.

[Representative Daniel Noyes]: Thank you, madam speaker. My amendment can be found on page three thirty four seventy seven of today's calendar. My amendment tries to strike a balance approach between safety, environmental responsibility, affordability, and the fiscal realities facing the transportation fund. While I believe Vermont should continue examining whether annual inspection mandates are necessary, I also recognize the important competing interest involved. Inspection revenues support our transportation fund. Many small businesses rely on this work and that there are long standing belief that inspectants contribute to road sift to roadway safety. At the same time, many Vermonters are facing growing financial pressures. For many people, vehicles are not an option, and the cost of ownership keeps rising. Without fixed route transportation, cars are necessary for getting to work, to school, to medical appointments, and everyday life. Families are already managing rising costs related to fuel, insurance, registration, repairs, and housing. Even relatively small reoccurring costs add up when added together year after year. My amendment proposed moving non commercial vehicle inspections to every other year, maintaining annual emission compliance requirements unless and until the EPA approves an amendment to Vermont's state implementation plan. It reduces costs for Vermonters while preserving emission oversight and ensuring that Vermont remains compliant with federal regulations. The amendment also directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to pursue amendments to the inspection and maintenance state implementation plan so Vermont can seek federal approval for biannual emissions inspection. I believe Vermont should keep an eye on how other states within the Northeast Ozone Transport Region are maintaining compliance without relying on annual inspection mandates for every vehicle. In addition, the amendment directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to review inspection certificates fees to ensure that these changes do not negatively impact the transportation fund revenue. It is important that any reforms be implemented responsibly and with the understanding that funding needs to support our roads and bridges. I was pleased to see the work the committee did directing the Department of Motor Vehicles to modernize the inspection manual by focusing inspections on genuine safety risks, eliminating outdated procedures and providing clear guidance for mechanics in the public. I strongly support the intent that vehicles should only fail inspection for conditions that present an immediate safety concern while less serious issues are treated as advisory items. I also appreciate the review of the current standards and outdated testing procedures to ensure that inspection process is more practical, transparent and focused on meaningful safety concerns. My amendment is intended to move Vermont towards a more practical and affordable inspection system without abandoning safety, environmental responsibility or sustainable transportation funding. I appreciate the committee's consideration and understand their concerns. Lacking the committee's support, I ask leave of the house to withdraw my amendment.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Absent objection, leave is granted. Please listen to the third reading of the bill.

[House Clerk (likely BetsyAnn Wrask)]: S three twenty six, an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor vehicles.

[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. Member from Pulte, can you please offer us a motion to suspend rules to message our action on senate bill three twenty six to the senate forthwith?

[Unidentified Representative (from Poultney)]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to message our actions on h excuse me, s three twenty six to the senate forthwith.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from moves that we suspend our rules to message our action on senate bill three twenty six 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. Message or action on senate bill three twenty six to the senate forthwith. Next is house bill six forty seven which is an act relating to the creation of the Vermont sister state program member from Coventry.

[Representative Michael Marcotte (Coventry)]: Thank you, madam speaker. I move that we commit house bill six seventy four to the committee on commerce and economic development.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The member from Coventry moves that house bill six forty six seventy four be committed to the committee on commerce and economic development. Are you ready for the question? Member Madam speaker Clinton.

[Unidentified Representative (point of inquiry)]: Of inquiry. Can we ask questions about this motion or is it just a yes or no vote?

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The house of Stan and Eileen. Yeah. Remember, it's a procedural motion, so it's very much limited to the committing the bill to the committee, not the underlying language.

[Unidentified Representative (point of inquiry)]: But but we can ask about that motion? Okay. I'm not gonna inquire of the presenter, madam speaker. I'm gonna make a rhetorical question, and then if the chair wants to speak to it, they can. But, I'm wondering if it's going back to committee so that we can correct it so that we could pass it in the way the governor wanted or if it's going there to die. Thank you.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: Are you ready for the question? Member member from Coventry.

[Representative Michael Marcotte (Coventry)]: Madam speaker, six seventy four will come back to the committee on commerce and economic development be pinned on the wall. However, we are working on a another way of moving that language and fixing the issue that the governor found and we will see that tomorrow.

[Representative Jill Krowinski (Speaker of the House)]: The question is, shall House Bill six seventy four be committed to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development? 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 committed House Bill six seventy four to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. Members, at this time we will be recessing. I want to give you a heads up that there will be potentially several bills for our next block of action that are bills coming off of the notice calendar or prior to the notice calendar. So please keep a close eye on your email for those details. So with that, the household would stand in recess until the fall of the gavel at 03:30PM.