Senate reads dozens of bills for first time, refers them to committees; approves adjournment

The Senate convened and the presiding officer called the body to order, opening the floor and observing a moment of silence. The presiding officer also announced that Senator Nader Hashim was sworn in earlier in the day as an attorney in the state of Vermont and congratulated him.

Lawmakers proceeded to the first reading of a slate of bills, S.269 through S.297. Each bill was formally introduced and assigned to a standing committee for further consideration. Sponsors named on the floor included Senator Clarkson (S.269); Senators Vahalski and Nader Hashim (S.270); Senator Psihovsky (S.271); Senator Gulick (S.272, S.279); Senator White (S.273–S.274); Senator Harrison (S.275); Senators Williams and Starr (S.276); Senator Vlachowski (S.277); Senators Lyons and Gulick (S.280); Senator Campion (S.281); Senator Clarkson (S.282); multiple sponsors for S.283; Senators Williams and others for S.284; Senator Sears (S.285); Senator Starr (S.286); Senators Brock, Norris, and Collin (S.287); Senator Brock (S.288, S.293, S.294); Senator McDonald (S.295); and other sponsors for S.296–S.297. Committee referrals announced on the floor included judiciary; economic development, housing, and general affairs; natural resources and energy; education; health and welfare; government operations; and transportation, among others.

The transcript includes a number of spoken descriptions of bill subjects, but several of those recorded descriptions were garbled or unclear in the record available. Where the floor clearly stated a committee referral, that referral is reported here; unclear or corrupted bill-description language in the transcript is not restated in this article.

After introductions, senators made routine announcements: the government operations committee and senate finance committee were scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m., education at 1:30 p.m., and other caucus or stakeholder meetings were announced (including an agricultural producers event and a Farmers Night performance by the acapella group Counterpoint). The Senator from Windsor moved that the Senate adjourn until 1 p.m. Thursday, January 18th. The presiding officer called for the ayes and declared the ayes have it; the Senate stood adjourned until that time.

No roll-call vote was recorded on the adjournment motion in the transcript; the outcome was decided by voice vote as announced on the floor.