Senate adopts weekend adjournment resolution and holds first readings of several bills

The Senate adopted a joint resolution setting a weekend adjournment schedule and took up first readings of a slate of bills before agreeing to adjourn.

A reader presented JRS 37, "joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on January 19, 2024," which resolves that "when the two houses adjourn on Friday, January 19, 2024, [they] shall meet again no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024." The presiding officer put the question and, by voice, the Senate adopted the resolution (ayes).

The chamber then heard first readings of several bills and recorded committee referrals: S 263, "an act relating to expanding Vermont's health care workforce through graduates of international medical schools" (referred to Health and Welfare); S 264, "an act relating to special plates for motor vehicles for veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces" (Transportation); S 265, "an act relating to the disposal of development soils" (committee referral noted); S 266, "an act relating to general assembly communication fund" (Government Operations); S 267, "an act relating to retroactively reinstating MBSA section 6081 b" (Natural Resources and Energy); and S 268, "an act relating to establishing a baby bond trust program" (Government Operations). The presiding officer also announced first readings of two House bills: H 27, "an act relating to coercive, controlling behavior, and abuse prevention orders" (Judiciary), and H 72, "an act relating to a harm reduction criminal justice response to drug use" (Health and Welfare).

Several senators made routine scheduling announcements about committee meetings and a Democratic caucus. The Senate recorded that there were no orders of the day and, following a motion by the senator identified in the transcript as the "senator from Chittenden Central," voted by voice to stand adjourned until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17th.

The session opened with a devotional by Reverend Tom Hardy of the United Congregational Church of Bethel, who read a passage by John O'Donohue; that devotional was ceremonial and did not affect the legislative business recorded. The Senate adjourned after the procedural business described above and committee scheduling announcements.