Meetings
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[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Bizarre. They don't. Government. We're we're together. Yes.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Will the senate please come to order? In lieu of a devotional, we will take a moment of silence. Thank you. I'd like to start the day by saying, yesterday, we had a very emotional, day, and, sometimes when that happens, I find people get out of order, and I try my best to keep things in order. But yesterday, I felt personally attacked when a senator used, you are being political, which is out of order and beyond the rules. I would ask all senators to know the rules of the senate and use them because if we are not following the rules, we're no better than the people we're calling out around this country that are not following the rules. Are there any announcements? Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Mister president, quick question for the senate secretary. Would now be the appropriate time to bring up j r s thirty seven or when we do orders of the day?
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: There are no orders of the day. It would be in order to call it up at this time.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, Mr. President. With that said, we have on the notice calendar JRS37, a joint resolution supporting in solidarity with national and international ski organizations and numerous skiers across the globe. That appearing on the calendar for notice, I would move that the rules be suspended in order to take it up for immediate consideration.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The senator from Chittenden Central has moved that the rules be suspended and that j r s 37, a joint resolution supporting in solidarity with national and international ski organizations and numerous skiers across the globe, the introduction of long overdue gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition appearing on the calendar for notice today will be taking up for immediate consideration. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Ayes have it and the motion carries. Senator Ram Hinsdale for the presentation of the resolution.
[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden Southeast)]: Mister president.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Sorry. Hang on. I I got it. Yeah. Yeah. One one second, senator. Because it is being treated as a bill, we have to read it a second time. And so we have on the calendar for action JRS 37. It is treated as a bill and referred to the Committee on Economic Development, which reports it has considered the resolution and recommends that the resolution be amended as it appears today on page 61 of the calendar. And that when so amended, the resolution ought to be adopted. Listen to the second reading of the resolution.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: JRS 37, joint resolution supporting in solidarity with national and international ski organizations and numerous skiers across the globe, the introduction of long overdue gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the second reading, and I recognize the senator from Chittenden Southeast District, senator Ram Hinsdale, for the report of the committee on economic development.
[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden Southeast)]: Mister president, j r s thirty seven affirms the Vermont General Assembly support for long overdue gender equality in the Nordic Combined Olympic competition. It recognizes the Nordic Combined event as a demanding and historic Winter Olympic sport, while acknowledging the demonstrated excellence of women competitors who have been excluded from Olympic participation. The resolution specifically highlights Vermonter, Tara Verity Moats, whose world class achievements underscore both the talent of women in the sport and the detriment of continued exclusion. It expresses solidarity with national and international ski organizations and athletes, urging the International Olympic Committee to preserve and enhance Nordic combined by adopting gender inclusive competition. And it directs the Secretary of State to transmit the resolution to the relevant international government bodies. The committee adopted two amendments to JRS 37 that we believe strengthen the resolution. First, the committee amended the text to explicitly recognize a name Vermont's female Olympic medalists in winter sports. We should never miss an opportunity to celebrate Vermont's outsized achievements on the world stage, particularly in the Winter Olympic Olympics, and to lift up the women who have represented our state with distinction. Second, the committee brought on the scope of the resolution to advocate for gender equality across all future Olympic events so that athletes are not required to fight these battles one sport and one competition at a time. The resolution was voted out of committee on a vote of four zero one. I was the absence, which seems to be how I came to serve as the reporter. This resolution is intended to be timely as we look ahead to Friday's opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. We wish all of our Olympians and especially our Vermonters the very best, and we hope this resolution widens the circle of those who have the honor of representing their country in this most distinguished global athletic competition. I anticipate we will now hear from the Senator from Orleans, who I congratulate on successfully landing his first resolution on the Senate floor and who has earned the honorary title of Great Girl Dad for his efforts today. With that, Mr. President, we ask for the support of the Senate for JRS 37.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator for more lanes.
[Senator Robert Plunkett (Orleans)]: Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to thank
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: the senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Robert Plunkett (Orleans)]: She did a wonderful job reporting. Mister president, I would like to add women should be able to have their own Nordic combined competition in Olympic sports for reasons of fairness and legitimacy with Olympic principles. Equal opportunity means providing women the same chance to compete in events they have earned through performance. Olympic inclusion should be based on merit, not exclusion. The Olympic Charter discusses non discrimination inequality, excluding women from this event while allowing men's events go against these values. I can't imagine telling my two daughters they can't compete in Olympics because they are women. But if you were a man, you still could.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: That hurts. Sometimes, mister president,
[Senator Robert Plunkett (Orleans)]: you just know when something is wrong and when something is right. This resolution is right. Thank you, mister President.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The question is shall the resolution be amended as recommended by the Committee on Economic Development? 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. Question now is, shall the resolution be read a third time. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Ayes have it. Motion carries. Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. Given that the Winter Olympics are coming soon, there is some time sensitivity to this. So I will move that the rules be suspended and that JRS 37 be placed in all remaining stages of passage.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The senator from Chittenden has moved that the rules be suspended and JRS 37 be placed in all remaining stages of passage. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. Ayes have it, and the motion carries. Do I have that script? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Are there any amendments prior to third reading? Seeing none, listen to the third reading of the resolution.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: JRS 37, joint resolution supporting in solidarity with national and international ski organizations and numerous skiers across the globe, the introduction of long overdue gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Now you've heard the third reading and the question is shall the resolution be adopted? 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. Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president, and thank the body for that, vote. I would ask at this point that the rules be suspended and that JRS 37 be messaged to the house forthwith.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: The senator from Chittenden Central has moved that the rules be suspended and JRS 37 be messaged to the house forthwith. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Ayes have it. Motion carries. We have no oh, senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. At this point, pending announcements, I would move that the senate stand in adjournment until Senator.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Too early, I'm told. We still have some house bills for reference, I believe. We have h six forty eight, an act relating to I can't see it under the clip. An act relating to banking insurance and securities, which passed the house on 01/28/2026. Please listen to the first reading.
[John H. Bloomer Jr. (Secretary of the Senate)]: Page six forty eight, an act relating to banking insurance and securities.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: I don't I don't see a list of where that's going, but I'm betting it's being referred to the committee on government operate on finance. Is that the only one? Senator from Chittenden.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Thank you, mister president. Pending announcements, I would move that the senate stand in adjournment until 1PM, Thursday, 02/05/2026.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Are there any announcements? Senator from Washington.
[Senator Philip Baruth (President Pro Tempore, Chittenden Central)]: Mister president, senate appropriations will meet at 01:29.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Washington.
[Senator Ann Cummings (Washington)]: Thank you, mister president. Senate finance will meet at 01:30. We obviously have some heavy bills to take up.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Rutland. Thank you, mister president. Senate government operations will meet at 02:00. Senator from Windham.
[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden Southeast)]: Thank you, mister president. Senate institutions will meet at 01:30.
[Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman (President of the Senate)]: Senator from Windsor.
[Senator Ann Cummings (Washington)]: Thank you. Tonight at Farmers Night, we have this moth like evening of what we're calling a stories from the woods, a curated story hour. And our department of forest parks and recreation along with our fish and wildlife have put together this evening with six storytellers and their stories that are about our natural world and its intersection with our human life And they should be just charming and wonderful. I hope I hope you join us. It's just, I think, gonna be a pretty special evening.
[Senator Alison Clarkson (Windsor)]: And for date night next Wednesday, I would remind senators that the Vermont Symphony Orchestra is going to be here, and it's a very rare and special treat once a year that we get to hear the symphony here at the State House. So bring those hot dates everybody. Thank you.
[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 1PM, Thursday, 02/05/2026. Are you ready for the question? If so, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it. We'll stand in adjournment until 1PM, Thursday, 02/05/2026.