Senate blocks referral of social-work compact bill, moves two other House measures to Appropriations

The Vermont Senate on the floor on a voice vote prevented H 543, an act relating to Vermont’s adoption of the social work licensure compact, from being referred to the Committee on Appropriations and announced the referral of H 247 to that committee. Senators also gave a first reading to H 883, the fiscal appropriations bill, and the presiding officer said H 883 will move to the Appropriations Committee.

The action on H 543 began when the senator from Caledonia moved "that senate rule 31 be suspended and that H 543, an act relating to Vermont's adoption of the social work licensure compact, not be referred to the committee on appropriations," so the bill could be placed on the notes calendar for action the next day. The presiding officer asked, "Are you ready for that question?" and, after a voice vote, announced, "The ayes have it and you have prevented H 543 from moving to the Committee on Appropriations." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for that voice vote.

Unidentified Speaker 2 then announced that under Rule 31 H 247 will move to the Appropriations Committee. Later, the clerk or reader gave a first reading of H 883, "An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government," and the presiding officer stated that H 883 will be moved to Appropriations. The floor exchange includes a note that H 883 was "introduced on March 26 or passed on March 26, 2024," language that the transcript leaves ambiguous; the article does not resolve that ambiguity.

Those actions set committee assignments for three bills affecting professional licensure and the state budget process. The Senate concluded other business and adjourned until April 4, 2024.