Senate introduces nine bills, adopts two joint resolutions and clarifies remote-attendance rules

The Senate opened with a brief moment of silence, then moved through a sequence of procedural items in which senators introduced nine bills and referred each to the appropriate committee, adopted two joint resolutions from the House and clarified rules for remote participation.

Clerk reading and referrals. The clerk read first titles for S 246 through S 254. S 246 was read as "an act relating to amending the Vermont basic needs budget and livable wage" and was referred to the Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs. S 247, described as "an act relating to repealing the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive Program Sunset," was referred to the same committee. S 248, "An act relating to the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act," was referred to the Committee on Judiciary. S 249 (heating systems in the Agency of Transportation building) was referred to Institutions. S 250 (emergency management personnel) and S 251 (state boards, commissions and state employees) were referred to Government Operations. S 252 (thermal energy networks), S 253 (building energy codes) and S 254 (including rechargeable batteries and battery-containing products under the state battery stewardship program) were referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

Why it matters. The first readings place these measures on committee tracks where staff and members will evaluate policy impact, fiscal implications and possible amendments. The measures touch labor and basic-needs budgeting, energy and building codes, waste stewardship for batteries, and administrative matters for state boards and emergency management staffing.

Resolutions adopted. The Senate took up JRH7 (a House joint resolution previously read) and adopted it by voice vote. The chamber then considered JRH8, "providing for an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the sergeant at arms," and likewise adopted it by voice vote.

Remote-attendance clarification. A senator explained the chamber's new remote-attendance provisions for members exposed to COVID-19: "Every senator has the right under the rules to miss 2 days in person and zoom in for 2 days without permission from the rules committee," the senator said, and added that the senator must notify both the senate secretary and the presiding office by email in advance. The presiding officer repeated that notifying the secretary and the office removes uncertainty about who is responsible for notification.

Committee scheduling and adjournment. Senators announced committee meeting times—Senate Finance at 1:30 p.m.; Senate Institutions to meet 15 minutes after the fall of the gavel; and Natural Resources and Energy at 9 a.m. the following morning. A motion to stand adjourned until 11:30 a.m. the next day was moved, and the Senate later approved a motion to adjourn until Friday, Jan. 12 at 11:30 a.m.

What’s next. All introduced bills were referred to the committees listed for further review; no floor debate or final votes on those bills occurred during this session. The adopted joint resolutions and the clarified remote-attendance procedures will be reflected in the Senate calendar and internal rules communications.