Senate passes S 218 to study fees for 'salt' program; vote 7-0

The Senate approved S 218, identified in the meeting as a 'salt' bill, in a 7-0 roll-call vote after a motion tied to a committee recommendation.

Senator Harding moved that the body "pass S 218 as recommended by the Senate Natural Resources Committee." With no amendments or further discussion, clerks conducted a roll call; Senators Chittenden, Bette, Harding, Brock, Healy, Meadows and Cummings each recorded "Yes," and an official tally was announced as "7 0 0." The motion was declared approved.

According to remarks during the session, the bill directs a fee study to determine what charges should be assessed to support the program; speakers also noted the bill’s implementation depends on appropriations, meaning the study does not by itself appropriate funds. As stated in the meeting, the Senate’s role is limited to commissioning the study and considering fee recommendations; whether any fees are adopted or funding provided will depend on later appropriations and further legislative action.

The motion was presented as being sent by the Senate Natural Resources Committee. After the vote, members confirmed that the paperwork was at the clerk’s desk and prepared for signatures.

No amendments or objections were recorded in the transcript, and no dates for implementation or additional hearings were specified in the session’s discussion. The session moved on after members completed the procedural steps to finalize the passage.