Vermont Senate adopts JRS 36, introduces S.222–S.238 and sets next meeting date

The Vermont Senate adopted Joint Resolution JRS 36 and then completed a series of first readings for bills ranging from sealing records to changes in pension and health-related pilots, referring each measure to the appropriate committee.

Clerk: "Resolved by the senate and house of representatives." The clerk read JRS 36, which specifies that when the two houses adjourn on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 they are to meet again no later than Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. The presiding officer put the question and, by voice vote, "the ayes have it," adopting JRS 36.

The chamber then handled introductions and first readings for a block of bills. Highlights of titles read by the clerk include S.222, "an act relating to sealing records of nonviolent offenses" (referred to Judiciary); S.223, an assessment of the Vermont Emergency Management Division's disaster preparedness (referred to Government Operations); S.224, relating to compensation and benefits for members of the Vermont General Assembly (referred to Government Operations); S.226, relating to seizure and forfeiture reporting (referred to Judiciary); S.227, on the siting of transit amenities (referred to Natural Resources and Energy); S.230, on Medicare Advantage and supplemental insurance plans (referred to Finance); S.231, a pilot to support community nurses serving aging Vermonters (referred to Health and Welfare); and S.238, relating to the board of trustees of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation (referred to Education). Where the transcript garbled a title (S.232), the clerk's reading indicated the bill concerns revoking Vermont's adoption of California clean-air standards; that measure was referred to Natural Resources and Energy.

Most introductions were limited to a title reading and a referral; no floor debate on the individual bills is recorded in the transcript.

With no orders of the day, the Senator from Chittenden Central moved that the Senate "stand in adjournment until Wednesday, January 10th at 1 PM." The chamber approved the motion by voice vote and stood adjourned to that date. Senators also announced committee meeting times, a harassment prevention training set for 2 p.m. on the Senate floor, and a Senate Democratic Caucus at 12:15 p.m. in the lounge (livestream link on the legislative website).

What comes next: Each bill introduced received only its first reading and referral; committee scheduling and any subsequent hearings or votes are to be determined by the standing committees to which the bills were referred.