Meetings
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[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Will Senate please come to order.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Yes. Our
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: devotional exercises will be conducted by rabbi Toby Weisman, founding director of Yearning for Learning Center for Jewish Studies. Welcome.
[Rabbi Toby Weisman]: Good afternoon.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Good afternoon. In
[Rabbi Toby Weisman]: addition to Monday being Martin Luther King Day, it was also the first day of the Hebrew month of Shabbat. And on the fifteenth of the Hebrew month of Shephaat, Jews around the world will celebrate a very little known holiday called Tu Bishvat, which means the fifteenth of the month of Shephaat. But what it really is is a celebration of the New Year for trees. This is the time in the land of Israel where signs of spring are already happening. The almond trees are blossoming, and the sap begins to rise in the trees. And the trees begin to revive and yearn to grow again. In Deuteronomy chapter 20 verse 19, we learn a person is like the tree of the field. And our sages understand this to mean that we, all of us, need to cultivate those tree like qualities which we all have to be the best we can be. All of us here today are like trees, are like tall trees in our community. And the question we need to ask ourselves is, what can we learn from trees that will help us serve our communities in the best way possible on the highest level. Like the trees, we need to ask ourselves, how can we begin to revive and yearn and to grow again and to encourage others to grow again? So here's a few questions we can ask ourselves. As trees shelter the seedlings that live in their shade, how will we ensure that the next generation will grow up to be kind and loving? As trees grow toward the sun, reaching up higher and higher, how will we continue to grow and inspire others to reach for the light? As trees nourish themselves by deepening their roots in their soil, how do we ensure that our roots remain firmly planted in our traditions that nurture us? As trees produce sweet fruits, how do we ensure that our fruits will be sweet and nourish all who come to enjoy them. Doctor King said, life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are we doing for others? What are you doing for others? Let us be inspired by these teachings of the trees and the words and the actions of doctor Martin Luther King. Let us use all of our gifts to make the world a more loving and peaceful place for all. Thank you.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any announcements? Seeing none, we have senate bills for introduction. S two ninety, an act relating to no net loss of state lands used for hunting and fishing introduced by senator Brennan. Listen to the first reading of the bill.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety, an act relating to no net loss of state lands used for hunting and fishing.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bills referred to the committee on natural resources and energy. S two ninety one, an act relating to travel disclosures for legislators and certain executive officers Introduced by senator Vyhovsky and others. Listen to the first reading.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety one, an act relating to travel disclosures for legislators and certain executive officers.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill. It is referred to the committee on government operations. S two ninety two, an act related granting public higher education employees the right to strike. Introduced by senator Ram Hinsdale and senator Vyhovsky. Listen to the first reading.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety two, an act relating to granting public higher education employees the right to strike.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill. It is referred to the committee on economic development. S two ninety four, an act relating to the creation of the whole home repair program introduced by senator Vyhovsky. Listen to the first reading.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety four, an act relating to the creation of the whole home repairs program.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Where'd two ninety three go? S two ninety three, an act relating to brownfield redevelopment of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill introduced by senator Clarkson and others. Listen to the first reading of the bill.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety three, an act relating to Brownfields redevelopment of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill. It's referred to the committee on natural resources and energy.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Okay.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: 94. Okay. Okay. Just making sure that s two ninety five got referred to two
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: ninety where are
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: we going? Oh, two ninety four got referred to the committee on economic development. Sound good. S two ninety five, an act relating to group membership in the state employees retirement system introduced by senator Vyhovsky. Listen to the first reading of the bill.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: S two ninety five, an act relating to group membership in the state employees retirement system.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the first reading of the bill. It is referred to the committee on government operations. Oh, we now have house bills for reference. And we'll start. We have h 84, an act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient and provider consent. Introduced by representative Hooper and others. It passed the house on 01/20/2026. Listen to the first reading of the bill.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: H 84, an act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to to be recorded with patient and provider consent.
[Lieutenant 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 health and welfare. We now have h five thirty four, an act relating to community action agencies introduced by representative Wood of Waterbury. It was passed the house January 22. Please listen to the first reading of the bill.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: H five thirty four, an act relating to community action agencies.
[Lieutenant 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 health and welfare. Orders of the day. We now have senator, s 60 up for action with house proposal of amendment. Senator from Essex.
[Senator Russ Ingalls (Essex-Orleans)]: Mister president, I move that s 60 an act relating to establishing the farm security special fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions be recommitted to the committee of agriculture.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The senator from Essex has moved that f 60 enact relating to establishing the farm security special fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions be recommitted to the committee on agriculture. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it, and the motion carries. That completes the orders of the day. Are there any announcements? Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. Any announcements, I've moved that the senate stand in adjournment until 11:30AM, Friday, January.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator senator Baruth, senator Cummings has a movement of a bill. So if you, would let her go first, it would save us some steps, please.
[Senator Russ Ingalls (Essex-Orleans)]: Absolutely. Thank you, mister
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: president. Senator from Washington.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. I'm not sure what the formal motion is, but I do not wanna make that motion until I have a chance to tell my committee what I'm doing on their behalf.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Okay. Thank you, senator from Washington. Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: So I believe I need only add the words twenty third twenty twenty six.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any further announcements? Senator from Rutland. Thank you, mister president. Senate government operations will meet at 02:00. Senator from Washington. Senator appropriations will meet at 01:30. Senator from Washington.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Senate finance will meet at 01:30.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Bennington.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Mister president, the Senate Education Committee will meet at 01:30 in Room 11.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Windham.
[Rabbi Toby Weisman]: Thank you, mister president. Senate institutions will meet at two.
[Lieutenant 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 11:30AM on Friday, 01/23/2026. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it, and we'll stand in adjournment until 11:30AM, Friday, 01/23/2026.