Senate clears a slate of bills, concurs with House amendments and messages multiple measures to the House

The Vermont Senate completed a packed morning calendar, passing measures and agreeing to House amendments on several items before adjourning until 1 p.m.

Highlights of the morning included the passage of H289 (renewable energy standard), H614 (land-improvement fraud and timber trespass), H661 (child abuse and neglect investigation standards), and H847 (peer support provider certification). The Senate also adopted the committee report and ordered third reading of H534 (retail theft), ordered third readings of other committee-returned bills, and read and referred multiple bills to their next committees. The Senate concurred with the House proposal of amendment on S30 (sister-state program) and S184 (temporary automated traffic law-enforcement systems) after floor explanations of the House changes.

Late in the morning, the Senate suspended its rules and instructed the Secretary to message a bundle of bills to the House "forthwith," including S30, H289, H614, H661, H847 and S184. Senators made several floor announcements (retirement reception, committee meetings) and the body adjourned until 1 p.m. to continue work.