Senate Chamber [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a moment of silence and announcements. Bill H-237 was noted for its impact on state revenues and referred to the Committee on Finance. Senator Calamore introduced JRS 43, a joint resolution for a joint assembly to vote on the retention of six Superior Court judges, which was placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day. Several House bills were referenced, including H639 on genetic data privacy, H694 concerning amendments to the charter of the town of Bennington regarding the town manager, and H907 on legislative review of reporting requirements, all referred to their respective committees. The Senate discussed S157, an act relating to recovery residence certification. An amendment proposed by the Senator from Wyndham to clarify language regarding criminal offenses was supported by the Health and Welfare Committee and passed. S157 was subsequently passed as amended. S163, concerning the role of advanced practice registered nurses in hospital care, was read and passed. S255, which establishes a pilot law enforcement governance council in Windham County, was discussed. An amendment aimed at increasing accountability for sheriffs was proposed but ruled non-germane after a brief recess, leading to a failed motion to suspend the rules to consider it. S255 was then passed. S243, relating to funding for the Vermont Language Justice Project, was introduced to support providing critical health information in multiple languages during public health crises. Both the Committee on Health and Welfare and the Committee on Appropriations expressed support for the bill, with the latter voting to forward it without immediate funding. The meeting concluded with a request for concurrence on the bill. The committee discussed forwarding language and policy related to a bill, voting 700 to pass it forward without funding. They considered amending the recommendation from the Committee on Health and Welfare as proposed by the Committee on Appropriations, which was approved after a voice vote. A senator from Rutland inquired about languages commonly spoken in Vermont and requested information on those languages before the third reading. The senator also questioned whether the committee had considered modifying language regarding disease outbreaks in public health emergencies, with the committee indicating a desire for broad language to encompass various urgent health matters. Further questions about the intended use of funds were clarified to be for creating public health and personal health videos. The senator also asked if other programs within the Department of Health provided translation services, noting that while written translations exist, they may not be accessible to all, particularly those from cultures without a written language or those with lower literacy rates. The committee voted on whether to amend the bill as recommended, which passed. The next question regarding a third reading of the bill also passed. The senator from Chittenden Central announced that the Senate would adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and reminded members about the upcoming Proposition 4, which would be up for action on March 11. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.