Senate passes S.199 and S.278, adopts JRS 47 and takes multiple procedural actions

The Vermont Senate on the floor passed multiple bills and took several procedural actions in a session that also advanced S.209 for third reading.

On third reading, senators passed S.199, an act relating to mergers and governance of communications union districts, by voice vote. The body also passed S.278, an act relating to contributory negligence in civil actions involving assault, by voice vote. The clerk announced both bills as passed during the session.

Separately, the Senate considered and adopted JRS 47 by voice vote. Earlier in the sitting the body took a procedural motion to recommit Proposition 1 to the Committee on Government Operations; Senator from Chittenden Central moved the recommittal and the presiding officer announced that the ayes had it.

Senator Vyhovsky summarized H.516, a second-reading bill to approve charter amendments for the city of Essex Junction. He described substantive changes: revising the city's conflict-of-interest language so council members may hold city employment when state law requires it (supported by 86% of voters on that question), allowing the city moderator to be appointed rather than elected (supported by 78% of voters on that question), and giving the city flexibility to set its annual meeting date on or before Jan. 1 each year. The committee reported the charter changes favorably and posed the question of whether to read the bill a third time; the transcript excerpt did not record a final third-reading vote on H.516.

As the Senate recessed, the reporter for Chittenden Central moved a brief recess to allow explanation of a budget-adjustment conference committee report.