Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Unidentified Permanent Deacon (Diocese of Burlington)]: Well, good morning. It is an honor to be here to join with you this morning. I drive past this building so many times to look at it. Haven't been inside for quite some time. As was introduced, I am a permanent deacon in the diocese of Burlington. I live in Procter, but I'm assigned to Christ the King in front. And on Sundays, you will often see me in my deaconate duties standing up front, wearing robes, speaking into a microphone such as this, reading holy scriptures, and often, people mistake me for a leader in the church. And it's important to know that I am not a leader in the church. The bishop is a leader. The priest is a leader. The deacon is a servant in the church. And reflecting on that, it seems that I have some similarities with what it is you do here. I have a job outside of my diaconate, and I'm a woodworker so that I can attempt to make a living. Like many of you, I am driven by a commitment to the well-being of the people that we face. In our parish, the priest is the leader. I stand next to him, but I am the servant. And when I do that, I serve my bishop. I serve my church. I serve the pastor. I serve those who sit in the church pews in front of me. And today, I come here in service to you, very much like your service to me as a citizen of the state of Vermont. And, again, I thank you for that and the hard work that you do. Given our similarities, I thought I would offer a short prayer that I often use in my day to day life. So let us pray. Lord, keep us mindful always of the good of your beloved people. Give us the wisdom, the knowledge, the strength, and the courage to do always what your people need to see and to say always what your people need to hear. Amen. Thank you again for all the hard work that you do, and may the Lord bless you and keep you always.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Okay. It's fine with me. Okay. We'll be announcing the committee appointments first. Committee on committee has met and makes the following appointments. Government operations, senators Collamore, Vyhovsky, White, Clarkson, and Morley. Health and welfare, senators Lyons, Gulick, Cummings, Morley, Benson. Institutions, senator Harrison, Plunkett, Ingalls, major Benson. Now we go to announcements. Are there any announcements? Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore)]: Thank you, mister president, and welcome back. Welcome to all of us. I wanted to just offer a couple of relatively quick remarks today, a couple very quickly. We have with us today Elsie and Brogan as two of our new pages. You will notice that they are sitting in chairs. And that is in part through the good work of David Sheetz, our curator, who found these in our collection. And you will notice that the old stools are not thrown away they are in the corners when we are not in session we will swap them out so that people have a view of history but when we are in session we will give a little more comfort to our pages. Second thing I wanted to note is when you came in today you came in through a single point of entry. I am delighted with that change we mean to go there full time at some point but this particular session you will see that on and off as we get accustomed to it but you also saw an x-ray machine and you saw uniformed officers handling that arrangement. I think that is all to the good I made a promise to several of you Senator Dahulski being one that I would work on security in the State House we have not lagged in that effort so our, sergeant at arms and our capital police have been working to beef up security. You will see other indications of it as we go forward but my thanks to the chief and to the sergeant at arms for those changes. And I want to start with the big topic this year and that is education it was the big topic last year and since I have been here this is my sixteenth year it has been the big topic many of those years and the reason is that our funding system depends on the property tax and there is an uncertain relationship between the property tax and people's expectations about credit related. So I just want to impart to our new members Senator Morley, Senator Benson, I want to just catch you up briefly on where we've been and where we'll be going this session just in terms of general direction. So last session we worked on what's now called Act 73 and the reason for that, the impetus for that was that we had had a 14% property tax increase in one year in part that led to a rearrangement of this change. It led to voters saying we want the property tax brought down among other affordability issues. It was a tough night, for the Democratic Party of which I am a member, but we heard that message. And those of us in the chamber, who gathered following that election, we bowed to each other that we wouldn't forget that message and so what I'm going to be offering this session is in line with that vow that was taken by me personally to bring my neighbor's property taxes in the line with their ability to pay but also to not impoverish the rest of government to get there and I'll explain what I mean. So the way it works at this point is 119 school districts set budgets, their voters approve them or don't, but once they're all approved that is totaled up and we get the bill here in Montgilians. We cannot make that bill smaller except by doing what's called buying down the rate. Buying down the rate means we take money from elsewhere and we put it artificially into the education fund to artificially lower the rate. So people may have voted for 14% spending or 10% or 5% but generally we buy it down to a lower amount. That's now standard practice but it is an ungodly expensive standard practice and just to give you a sense of the scope of that scale of that our doing that for the last couple of years along with spikes in health care costs driving school budgets has got us to the point where over the last five years the increases are around 40% total. 40% increase if you are a person on a fixed income is not acceptable, it's not doable, it's not workable. So we tried our level best last year to buy down the rate yes, but to have a credible explanation for how we were going to make up that rhythm and the credible explanation was what we now call the foundation form. Montpelier in four years was going to begin setting a formula that would slowly lower the growth in education costs and it would depend on how much your district had been spending, it would depend on weighted pupils, other factors, but it was a revelation in that it's the first time Mount Superior was going to say this is a limit on how much your budgets can grow. Now in order to get to that point we also included at the Governor's urging we included a mapping of districts that would consolidate from 119 to maybe 15 or in any event under 20 districts that would be larger and more uniform in size so that when you apply the foundation formula to them you wouldn't get weird effects with small districts you would get a uniform effect across the state. The bill that finally came out pushed the mapping off somewhat and then had about a four year timeline before the foundation formula would be fully in place. Key to that was we were going to develop maps in the off session and those maps would be operated on now. The committee that looked at the problem of the maps decided that they would themselves not go in that direction and they urged the state not to go in that direction. I make no judgment about that approach I've been on study committees myself before and I know that what happens is you look at data and you and your committee make the best decision So that committee will be presenting their findings in the committees of jurisdiction they will be listening in tandem the education committees together and the finance committee and the Ways and Means committee together looking at what, the Redistricting Committee did and to what extent is it usable. So the only thing that I would note is that regardless of what comes of that report it's on a different timeline than we had expected. So the timeline now to get to the cost savings of the foundation formula is a longer timeline and yet we're still going to be buying the rate down on our way there. A note about the phrase buying the rate down, when we say we're buying the rate down it has kind of a good sound right, you buy down debt but this is the reverse we are not buying down debt we are essentially cannibalizing the general fund to pay for the growth in the education fund and there was a reason why they were separated originally they were separated so that this exact thing would not happen we wouldn't wind up spending too much on education at the expense of other things. But we are now spending over $2,000,000,000 a year to educate about 79,000 students and I don't have to tell any of you the rate at which education spending is going like the rate of other things unfortunately has been very brisk. We are headed in an upward direction that is completely unsustainable. So the question that I'm putting for the senate at the beginning of the session is how do we continue the long term transformation that acts '73 started? That process might include mandatory mapping, it might include voluntary mapping, it might include the foundation formula that is reworked so that it might work with 119 districts. It might include different parameters that would allow it to work on fewer districts. The Education Committee will decide primarily and initially what direction we take with Act 73 but I believe in the interim in order to get to the cost savings in Act 73 we need some kind of temporary containment of the rise in the growth of spending and so I will be putting in a bill this week it will go to the finance committee and it will place a two year limit two year curve on the growth in education spending. In advance of that and again for the benefit of our two new centers let me just tell you what will happen when I do that. Your inboxes will become very lively places and you will find out what that means in a whole new way and I will appear in your inbox in a whole different way than you're looking at me. So I ask you just to be on the lookout for that but in advance of it let me say this I sent my kids to public schools. I love public schools. I am a teacher and I have been a teacher in my entire adult life for thirty five years. I also was on my school board for four years. I also chaired the Education Committee for ten years, chaired it for four, was on it for ten. So what I would say is I take a back seat to no one in this chamber when it comes to my love of education, my belief in the extreme need at this moment in our country's history for education of our citizens and how they're going to live and operate in a democracy. I believe that's a sacred thing. At the same time, what I would say is that we cannot any longer allow the growth in education spending to eat its way into the general fund. We are now this year looking at a $200,000,000 bill that ultimately if we buy that rate down it will come out of the general fund and that comes out of what we might otherwise spend for mental health, for the homeless, for housing, very very pressing needs and crises around the state. The last thing I will say is that when this bill goes into the finance committee I want them and you to understand that it is not in my opinion the be all in it is a starter for the conversation. If they have a different direction that will help us in the short term contain spending, I am more than open to it, I would welcome. If they have ideas about different numbers, different rates, different duration, if two years isn't the magic time maybe it's three, maybe it's one. I will defer to the Committee of Jurisdiction on that and then they will bring their work if they so choose to the floor. But I could not in good conscience as someone who loves my schools but who also loves government and what it does elsewhere for people on affordability issues and in terms of providing I'm looking at our chair of transportation providing good roads, providing housing, providing medical care, etc. So with that said Mr. President I will just ask senators to think of this as a two track process that we're undergoing. So the Education Committee will be operating on Act 73 deciding, is it completely viable as it stands? Does it need to be amended? What is the direction that they prefer this year? And that is not a new thing when we pass major bills we usually follow that up with some kind of secondary bill the following year. That's what I expect from education and the Finance Committee will be studying the question of how we address rising education costs. So if you have questions that's the way to divide them financing to finance and policy to the education. So thank you this won't be the first time we talk about this I hope all of our discussions will be civil and friendly even as we tackle what is inarguably the hardest issue that I've hit since I entered this building. Thank you very much, mister Perch.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: By way excuse me. By way of announcement, as I've done my constituent work throughout this summer, I have heard far too often from people reaching out to my office that their legislators or the state departments that they contacted did not get back to them. And I raised this as an issue not to scold anyone, but to ask that you make sure you're getting back to your constituents. And my office is always open. If you need our assistance, we're happy to be there. But I believe to rebuild trust in government, we need to be making constituent contact, and when they take the time to email us or call us, I think it's imperative to get back to them, and I spend a huge amount of my time in my office doing exactly that. One of the main reasons I get calls in my office is from people saying they can't afford to live here anymore. I had a retired state employee who's married to a retired federal employee tell me that they can't afford to retire here. Now we know that those two probably get far better pensions than the average Vermonter. And if they're struggling, what's happening to regular Vermonters? I had a 30 year old employee of a tech company in Chittenden County. I talked to her in person and she said I make good money, but there's nothing left at the end of the year. I had a Superintendent of a school district tell me his property taxes have doubled since he moved here eight years ago. And he said he loves his community. He loves his school. His kids love the school, But he said he will likely move out of Vermont when his kids are out of school. We have many pressing issues, and we know that health care is a major driver in education cost. And we want our teachers and state employees in all Vermonters to have great health care. But currently, too many Vermonters do not have great health care. I have some friends that contacted me. Married couple in their thirties, paying $38,000 this year for their health care coverage, plus the large deductible. How can people afford to take 40 or $50,000 out of their income when the average Vermont salary is in that ballpark. As we reshape education, I believe that we need to elevate tech education and support it more than we have in the past. We must build capacity and build networking opportunities with businesses who are willing to have apprenticeship programs. We need to build the next generation of the workforce that Vermont needs to build and maintain the housing and infrastructure that we need to thrive. We need to train for the trades, manufacturing, healthcare, childcare, engineering, and all STEM related jobs. In my office, we have gotten involved with First Robotics and I think you've probably all gotten the emails and you have the opportunity to volunteer. And if you're interested, can stop by the office and learn more about it. But this is a great program. Mostly in Chittenden County and the surrounding counties hasn't reached all counties, but one of the impressive things that they told me is when they brought this program into the schools, 7% of the participants were females. Since it's been in the schools, 50% of the participants are now females. This is telling me that there are a whole lot of young women that are interested in STEM careers if they are given the opportunity. My office is also working on an event in October, bring back the trades that'll be held at the airport, And if anybody wants to get involved in either of these programs, my office is always ready to help, and it's the same when you're doing your constituent work. We're always ready to help, and it is nonpartisan. So don't feel because you have a d beside your name, and I have a r beside my name that I won't help you because when people call my office, I don't ask them who they voted for or what party they're part of. I ask them how I can help. Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. We have governor's appointments now. Yeah. Yeah. That print is very small. Read the script. Okay. Alright. We have appointments which we have received from the governor and which are now being referred to the committees having jurisdiction. These appointments will appear in today's journal, which you will receive tomorrow. Oh, good god. We now have s r 18 senate resolution relating to concurrently conducting electronic committee meetings. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolved by the senate. Notwithstanding the language in permanent senate rule 32 a, limiting the applicability of senate rule 32 a to declarations of emergency, the provisions of permanent senate rule 32 a regarding committee meetings shall be in effect through Tuesday, 03/10/2026.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution. The question is, shall the senate adopt the resolution? Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it, and you've adopted the resolution. We now have s r 19 senate resolution relating to electronic participation in senate sessions. Listen to the reading of the resolution.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolved by the senate. The temporary rule nine b subsection b be amended as follows. Rule nine b temporary rule regarding electronic participation in senate sessions subsection b this temporary rule shall remain in effect through old language Wednesday, 01/07/2026. New language, Tuesday, 03/10/2026.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution, and the question is, shall the senate adopt the resolution? Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it, and we have adopted the resolution. We now have JRS 29 joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on 01/09/2026. Listen to the reading of the resolution.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives that when the two houses adjourn on Friday, 01/09/2026, it'd to meet again no later than Tuesday, 01/13/2026.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution. The question is, shall the senate adopt the resolution on its part? Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it, and you have adopted the resolution. We now have JRS 30 joint resolution to provide for a joint resolute joint assembly to receive the state of the state message from the governor. Listen to the reading of the resolution.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives that the two houses meet in joint assembly on Wednesday, 01/07/2026 at 02:00 in the afternoon to receive the state of the state message from the governor.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution, and the question is, shall the senate adopt the resolution on its part? Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it, and we have adopted the resolution. We now have JRS 31 joint resolution relating to town meeting adjournment. Please listen to the reading of the resolution.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolved by the senate and house of representatives that when the two houses adjourn on Friday, 02/27/2026 or Saturday, 02/28/2026, It'd be to meet again no later than Tuesday, 03/10/2026.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution, and the question is, shall the senate adopt the resolution on its part? Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it, and you have adopted the resolution. Following bills having failed to meet crossover and been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules in the 2025 session are referred to their committees per temporary rule 44 a as follows. We need Right there. Starting here. Gotcha. H 46, an act relating to the rare disease advisory council to the committee on health and welfare. H two thirty, an act related to management of fish and wildlife to the committee on natural resources and energy. H two forty eight eight, act relating to supplemental childcare grants and the childcare financial assistance program to the committee on health and welfare. H two nine three, an act related to health equity, data reporting, and registry disclosure requirements to the committee on health and welfare. Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore)]: Thank you, mister president. At this time, I move that the rules be suspended and that all senate bills be introduced and read for the first time by number only.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: The senator from Chittenden has moved that the rules be suspended and that all senate bills be introduced in red for the first time by number only. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. Motion carries. Gotcha.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one fifty nine.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Finance.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty. Judiciary. S one sixty one.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Education.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty two.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty three.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty four.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Government operations.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty five.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Finance.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty six.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty seven. Judiciary. S one sixty eight.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one sixty nine

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: natural resources and energy

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: s one seventy

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: natural resources and energy

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: s one seventy one

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: natural resources and energy

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: s one seventy two

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: transportation

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 173

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: economic development

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 174

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: natural resources and energy

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 175

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: education

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 176

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: agriculture

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: s one seventy seven.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Natural resources and energy.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one seventy eight. Judiciary. S one seventy nine.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty. Judiciary. S one eighty one.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty two.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty three.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty four.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty five.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Natural Resources and Energy.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty six.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty seven.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty eight.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one eighty nine.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety one.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Natural resources and energy.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety two.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Government operations.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety three.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety four.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety five. Judiciary. S one ninety six.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Government operations.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety seven.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety eight.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Economic development.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S one ninety nine.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 200. Education. S 201.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Education.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 202.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Natural resources and energy.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 203.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 204.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Finance.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 205.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Finance.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 206.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Health and welfare.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 207.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Economic development.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S 208. Judiciary. S 209.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Judiciary. There are no orders of the day. I got him. I see him over there. Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore)]: Thank you, mister president. Having announcements, I would move that the senate stand in adjournment until 1PM, Wednesday, 01/07/2026. If I might, make an announcement or a series. Rules Committee members there will be very brief rules committee immediately following the floor so if you could remain with us literally five minutes out of your day but thank you in advance. Members should know especially you members that tomorrow will be our joint assembly at 02:00 when we have a joint assembly we gather here and then we get into position and then we file into House Chamber of Commerce and seatmates and I'm working here at the Senator Morley your seatmates will help you help you do the right thing. You have some jokesters next to me. And then the last thing is a week from today next Tuesday we'll have our mandatory discrimination and harassment training in the chamber you'll get updates on that but just to give you an advance notice that that will be happening a week from today. Thank you mister president.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: And by way of announcement when we come out of the senate let's try to do that in an orderly fashion too. I think a couple times last year, things got a little scattered. The senator from Chittenden has moved that we stand in adjournment until 1PM, Wednesday, January 7. Are there any other announcements? Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Virginia "Ginny" Lyons]: Thank you, mister president. Senate health and welfare will meet at 11:00 for a brief, discussion and to meet our new members. So I'll see you then.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Are there any other announcements? Senator from Lamoille.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore)]: Transportation will meet at eleven to have a discussion about our priorities for the

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Senator from Windham. Thank you. Senate judiciary will meet five minutes after the fall of gavel. Senator from Essex. Thank you, mister president. Agriculture will meet at 11:00 to discuss priorities for the coming year. Senator from Washington.

[Senator Virginia "Ginny" Lyons]: Senate natural resources and energy will meet five minutes after the fall of

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore)]: the gavel.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Thank you.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Senator from Windsor.

[Senator Virginia "Ginny" Lyons]: Senate Economic Development Housing and General Affairs will meet at 11:00.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Are there any senator from Windham.

[Senator Wendy Harrison]: Thank you. Senate institutions will meet at one.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Senator from Washington.

[Senator Ann Cummings]: Thank you, mister president. Senate finance will meet at one. Note the new time for a very abbreviated version of how I spent my summer. And then at 01:15, we will meet, in Room 11, joint hearing with the, Ways and Means Committee on, federal changes and impact on some of our tax laws.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Senator from Rutland. Thank you, mister president. Senate government operations will meet at one. Senator from Washington.

[Unidentified Permanent Deacon (Diocese of Burlington)]: Thank you, mister president. Senator appropriations at one.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Are there any further announcements? Senator from Rutland.

[Unidentified Senator from Rutland]: Thank you, mister president. On behalf of the friends of the state house, I would like to recognize that the president of the senate is wearing his political pin that you purchased, about nine months ago. These pins, if you purchased them, are now available at the friends of the state house gift kiosk up by the cafeteria. Thank you for your patience.

[Presiding Officer (President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor) – Republican]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, the senator from Chittenden is moved that we stand in adjournment until 1PM, Wednesday, 01/07/2026. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. Ayes have it. We'll stand in adjournment until 1PM on Wednesday, 01/07/2026.