Senate approves remote meetings, recovery-residence review and school device reporting; several bills advanced

The Vermont Senate moved a group of bills through the floor on March 20. In brief:

S55 — authorizing public bodies to meet electronically under Vermont’s open meeting law — passed on third reading by voice vote.

S186 — an act directing a systemic evaluation of recovery residences and communities — passed on third reading by voice vote.

S284 — an act about the use of electronic devices and online products in schools — reached third reading after a floor amendment to collect qualitative data on policy effectiveness and an added requirement for consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health; sponsors said the amendment strengthens the bill’s evaluation and media-literacy components and the Senate passed the bill.

S289 — an age-appropriate design code for digital products — passed on third reading by voice vote.

Other actions: The Senate adopted committee reports and ordered third readings for S150 (automobile-insurance changes reported by the Judiciary Committee), S183 (Agency of Human Services re-envisioning study), S305 (PUC technical and Energy Efficiency Modernization Act fixes), S246 (basic needs budget and livable wage methodology updates), and H801 (charter adoption for the town of Waterbury) after committee presentations and floor discussion.

Floor highlights included a committee debate on whether recent legislation on insurance and schools could raise rates or increase enforcement burdens and a vote-by-division on a Natural Resources committee amendment to S305 that was reported as 20 in favor and 7 opposed on the floor. Several senators emphasized that some committee recommendations were unanimous, and committee reporters thanked witnesses and staff who provided technical and public testimony.

The Senate also scheduled committee business, handled a handful of procedural announcements, and adjourned until March 21 at 1 p.m.