Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The senate please come to order. In lieu of a devotional, we will take a moment of silence. Thank you. Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? Are there any announcements? Being none, we have resolution JRS 34 relating to work weekend 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, 01/23/2026, it be to meet again earlier than Tuesday, 01/27/2026.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: 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. We now have a joint senate resolution to take up at this time. J r s 35 introduced by senator Baruth of Chittenden. Please listen to the first reading.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: J r s 35. Joint resolution providing for a joint assembly for the election of an adjutant and inspector general and two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution. The chair in its discretion will place this resolution on the calendar for action tomorrow. We now have JRS 36 relating to establishing a procedure for the conduct of the election of the two legislative trustees of the Vermont State College Corporation by plurality vote by the general assembly offered by senator Baruth. Listen to the reading of the resolution by title only.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: J r s 36, joint resolution establishing a procedure for the conduct of the election of two legislative trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by plurality vote by the General Assembly in 2026.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution. The chair in its discretion will place the resolution on the calendar for action tomorrow. We now have senate bills for introduction. S two seventy three, an act relating to provisions of state funded education in school districts that do not maintain an elementary school or a high school. Introduced by senator Gulick and others. Listen to the first reading.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two seventy three, an act relating to the provision of state funded education in school districts that do not maintain an elementary school or a high school.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the reading of the resolution and it is referred to the committee on education. S two seventy four, an act relating to the sales and use tax exemption for fuel used in a residence for domestic use. Introduced by senators Watson and Perchlik. Listen to the first reading.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two seventy four, an act relating to the sales and use tax for exemption for fuel used in a residence for domestic use.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill, and it is referred to the committee on finance. S two seventy five, an act relating to creation of this cemetery vandalism response fund introduced by senator Weeks and others. Listen to the first reading of the bill.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two seventy five, an act relating to the creation of the cemetery vandalism response fund.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill and it is referred to the committee on government operations. S two seventy six, an act relating to requiring municipalities to hold a vote concerning the operation of cannabis establishments introduced by senators White and Vyhovsky.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two seventy six, an act relating to requiring requiring municipalities to hold a vote concerning the operation of cannabis establishments.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill, and it is referred to the committee on government operations. S two seventy seven an act relating to prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses introduced by Senator Gulick. Listen to the first reading.

[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two seventy seven an act relating to prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill and it is referred to the committee on economic development. There are no orders of the day. Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. I would move that the senate stand in adjournment until 1PM, Wednesday, 01/21/2026. And if I might lead off the announcements, senators no doubt know that today is the budget speech. So I'll ask that everyone come back to the chamber at 12:55, five minutes before the speech. We'll assemble here, and then when they're ready, we'll head on over for that speech. Thank you, mister president.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any further announcements? Senator from Chittenden.

[Senator Virginia "Ginny" Lyons (Chittenden)]: Thank you, mister president. Senate health and welfare will meet at ten minutes plus ten. Thank you.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there further announcements? Senator from Windham.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Senate judiciary will meet at ten

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Lamoille.

[Senator Richard Westman (Lamoille)]: Transportation will meet at ten.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Windsor.

[Senator Alison Clarkson (Windsor, Majority Leader)]: Good morning. Senate economic development housing and general affairs will meet at 09:50, ten of ten. I would also like to share with our senate colleagues that today is a we have a special birthday. The only two facts I know about this birthday is that he was born in 1965. Lyndon Bane Johnson was sworn in on this day in 1965. And I guess there's a third fact that he is one of Windsor District's district partners. Would you please put your hands together and wish Senator Joseph Major a happy birthday. Happy birthday, senator.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any further announcements? Senator from Washington.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Food, natural resources, and energy will meet at ten.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Essex. Thank you, mister president. Senator Agricultural Meet at ten.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Senator Rutland.

[Senator Richard Westman (Lamoille)]: Thank you, mister president. The senate government operations committee will meet with the house counterpart in their committee room this afternoon at 02:30.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Washington.

[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. Senator appropriations will meet at some point after the governor's speech, but I'm not sure exactly when it is. So come by and look at our chalkboards, and you'll find out.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Washington.

[Senator Ann Cummings (Washington)]: Thank you, mister president. Senate finance will also meet after the governor's address.

[Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none, the senator from Chittenden Central has moved that the senate stand in adjournment until 1PM, Wednesday, 01/21/2026. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it, and we'll stand in adjournment till 1PM, Wednesday, Jan