Vermont Senate approves S.190 on child‑victim statements, adopts JRH 9 in brief session

The Vermont Senate on a brief agenda placed S.190 on third reading and approved it by voice vote, and the chamber also adopted JRH 9 before hearing several committee and event announcements and standing adjourned until Friday, Feb. 2.

Reverend Rachel Field of Saint Albans opened the session with a devotional. "God of moss and mountains, You enliven all things, love all things, and all beings are precious in Your sight," she said, closing the invocation with "Amen."

After routine announcements, the presiding officer read S.190 aloud as an "act relating to statements made by a child's victim of an offense involving serious bodily injury," asked whether there were amendments and posed the question, "Shall the bill pass?" Senators indicated approval by voice; the presiding officer declared the bill passed on third reading.

The chamber then took up JRH 9. After the presiding officer called for the question and members indicated support, the presiding officer stated, "Ayes have it," and declared JRH 9 adopted.

Members used the remainder of the short session for brief scheduling and event notices. The Senator from Addison announced a 1:30 p.m. meeting (committee or caucus not specified in the transcript); the Senator from Essex said the Senate Institutions committee will meet approximately 15 minutes after the session (the anchor in the transcript is ambiguous); and the Senator from Windsor invited colleagues to a legislative photographer's opening that the transcript associates with "the eye of Senator Patrick Leahy" at the Supreme Court at 4:30 p.m.

The Senator from Chittenden Central moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Friday, Feb. 2 (the transcript references Groundhog Day) at a stated morning time; members voiced "aye," and the presiding officer declared the motion adopted.

Votes at a glance
S.190 (third reading) — Question: "Shall the bill pass?" Outcome: approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript. Authority referenced in the transcript: S.190, described as "an act relating to statements made by a child's victim of an offense involving serious bodily injury."

JRH 9 — Outcome: adopted by voice vote; transcript records the presiding officer's declaration, "Ayes have it."

Adjournment motion — Outcome: motion to stand adjourned until Friday, Feb. 2 declared adopted by voice vote.

The session concluded with the chamber standing adjourned; no further substantive debate on S.190 or JRH 9 is recorded in the provided transcript.