House reads three Senate bills and adopts ceremonial resolutions honoring local figures

The House of Representatives opened its floor session with procedural business including first readings of three Senate bills and the ceremonial reading of three House concurrent resolutions.

Clerk/reader presented S.89 (an act relating to expanding survivor benefits), S.154 (an act relating to health insurance coverage for biomarker testing) and S.220 (an act related to the excess spending threshold). Each bill was read for the first time and referred to the committee named on the record: S.89 to General and Housing, S.154 to Health Care, and S.220 to Ways and Means.

The House also read three House concurrent resolutions adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR 170 congratulated Robert (Bob) Kilburn of Fair Haven on receiving the 2024 Ken Schrader Real Racer of the Year Award and noted his outreach to young fans; the member from Fairhaven introduced Kilburn and guests seated in the gallery. HCR 223 honored Michael Dworkin for a public service career including leadership of the Public Service Board and founding the Vermont Law School Institute for Energy and Environment. HCR 229 was a memorial resolution for Robert (Bob) Rocklin, recognizing his legal and musical contributions; family and friends were invited to rise and were recognized in the gallery.

These readings and recognitions were carried out early in the session prior to the Appropriations Committee report and the floor’s budget consideration.