House calendar: bill referrals and congratulatory resolutions; guests welcomed

The House clerk read a slate of bills and referrals at the start of the session and members used the floor to introduce guests and note community events.

The clerk announced two senate bills for referral: S.187 (an act relating to student application of sunscreen) was referred to the Education Committee, and S.302 (an act relating to public-health outreach programs regarding dementia risk) was referred to the Human Services Committee. The clerk also listed house bills requiring referral to Ways and Means (H.622 and H.630) and four bills carrying appropriations referred to the Appropriations Committee (H.10, H.140, H.673, H.706).

The House read HCR 145 and HCR 146, congratulatory concurrent resolutions honoring Harwood Union High School’s 2023 bass-fishing championship team and its Division 2 boys soccer championship team, and directed the secretary of state to send copies of the resolutions to the school.

Several members introduced guests and nonprofit representatives from across Vermont: a member announced a flood-photography exhibit reception in Barry; the member from Waterbury invited the Harwood bass-fishing champions into the chamber; the member from Essex welcomed members of Migrant Justice and representatives who assist asylum seekers and refugees; the member from Starksboro introduced David Fry from the Developmental Disability Council; and the member from Burlington introduced his daughter Ruby in the gallery.

These items concluded prior to the House taking up the second reading of S.18 later in the session.