Senate approves series of third‑reading bills including automobile insurance and municipal charter

The Vermont Senate on March 21 completed third readings and approved a string of bills covering insurance, healthcare planning, environmental permitting, wages and local governance. The actions were taken during a floor session that the presiding officer said would focus on third readings and move through the calendar selectively.

Senators heard and passed S 150, an act relating to automobile insurance; S 183, an act relating to planning for the Agency of Health Care Administration; S 213, an act addressing wetlands, river corridor development and dam safety; S 246, amending the Vermont basic needs budget and livable wage; S 305, miscellaneous changes related to the Public Utility Commission; and H 801, approving the charter adoption for the town of Waterbury. Where the transcript records voice votes, the presiding officer declared the ayes to have it and the bills passed.

S 213 drew a short floor exchange seeking clarification of mitigation language for wetlands. A senator asked whether the statutory language implied historic restoration obligations; the reporter of the bill explained the floor report had cited a historical estimate — that about 35% of wetlands have been lost since pre‑colonial times — and clarified the bill’s requirements apply to new permits and current actions rather than imposing retroactive obligations on current landowners.

The measures will go through the customary post‑passage procedures for enrollment and transmission to the governor as appropriate. No additional amendments were recorded on the floor for the items listed above.

Procedural note: the presiding officer said the Senate would not follow the calendar in strict order and would ‘bounce around’ items to finish by the planned recess time; the body adjourned after the day’s work and set a resumption time for the following day.