[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6562668,"mediaKeyId","3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e","parentId",3251291,"title","Votes at a glance: Vermont Senate procedural referrals, third readings and confirmations (May 12)","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",421000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e&start=421&end=421","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e/thumbnail_421000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562668/Vermont/Votes-at-a-glance-Vermont-Senate-procedural-referrals-third-readings-and-confirmations-May-12","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562668-378134f45742c432821094a775a68953/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738842&Signature=NNgnjshXtkN3hQUeyacw9MJZN6dIV8cP3LHeGQ~MfZv6438pEKjSAR8P1EM16k1LEotgkiw6aYidaSr4oP1jagpfn58sytuy3YGBhdxYfa8CB35htcWAMSzwp4pzAXSBC7P0BZ2~BdAbz5~uS6anlsjqiNZKv0HTgHAucZJhwQ-VDCwY2BcgVqteQHo2Ksaf-gT9Gr3u~ncEvcvCYJRH11ZICtYegTkzmYMqgx8-j1pDAHOWtmc9pXHjQ0jUKIXRTpANaBCxcLc4LjCW6Q~-DR21dUmJgRnsBK~FOQ5XwymzxMvPcHyVJ~r4NnCuQNW-NzltYOxqkv5aUTyMoRegaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Legislature","date","2025-05-09T15:28:35Z","article","The Vermont Senate on May 12 handled multiple referrals, third readings, committee actions and confirmations. Below are the items recorded on the Senate floor during the session and the outcomes as recorded in the floor transcript.

Votes and floor actions recorded (selected):

- H.479 (act relating to housing): Rules suspended and bill committed to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy with the report of the Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs intact. Motion carried (voice vote recorded \"ayes have it\").

- H.505: Referred under Rule 44A to the Committee on Government Operations (referral recorded on the floor).

- S.154 (an act relating to health insurance coverage for biomarker testing): Received first reading and was committed to the Committee on Finance (first reading announced on the floor).

- H.504 (act relating to amendments to the charter of the city of Rutland): First reading; referred to the Committee on Government Operations under Rule 44A (first reading announced and referral recorded).

- H.339 (third reading; bill to remove the repeal of 7 V.S.A. \u0000\u00016230): Third reading taken; voice vote recorded as \"ayes have it\" and the Senate passed H.339 in concurrence.

- H.364 (annexation of property by the village of Swanton): Third reading taken; voice vote recorded as \"ayes have it\" and the Senate passed H.364 in concurrence.

- H.396 (creation of the Molly Beatty distinguished service award): Third reading taken with proposal of amendment; voice vote recorded as \"ayes have it\" and the Senate passed H.396 in concurrence with the proposal of amendment.

- H.461 (expanding employee access to unpaid leave): Senator from Chittenden offered a non-substantive amendment to correct underlining; amendment adopted; the Senate passed H.461 in concurrence with the proposal of amendment (voice votes recorded).

- H.481 (stormwater management): Committee amendment adopted on the floor to correct terminology (\"impact fees\" to \"special assessment fees\" in one instance); amendment adopted and the Senate passed H.481 in concurrence with the proposal of amendment (voice votes recorded). The reporter on the floor provided additional data about phosphorus loads in Lake Memphremagog and Lake Champlain in response to a question.

- H.401 (exemptions for food manufacturing establishments / cottage-food bill): Committee reports read; Senate voted to propose to the House to amend the bill as recommended by the committee on health and welfare and then ordered the bill to third reading (voice votes recorded). See separate article for detailed coverage.

- SR 11 (resolution supporting cooperative relations with Canada and urging removal of certain tariffs): Committee amendment adopted (roll-call requested), and the amended resolution was ordered to third reading. (Recorded roll-call names appear in the Senate journal.) See separate article for debate details.

- S.51 (relating to Vermont unpaid caregiver tax credits): Rules suspended and the bill was taken up; Senate did not concur with the other body and a committee of conference was requested and ordered; committee of conference appointed (members named on the floor).

Confirmations and appointments recorded:

- Governor's appointment (Land Use Review Board): A gubernatorial appointee whose calendar entry name was not underlined (Brooke Dingledine) was taken up without debate and confirmed by the Senate (voice vote recorded \"ayes have it\").

- Matthew Valerio: The Senate confirmed the appointment of Matthew Valerio as Defender General for a term (03/01/2025 to 02/28/2029) following a roll-call vote; the transcript recorded the roll-call and the chair announced the confirmation.

Procedure and next steps: Several items were advanced to third reading; H.401 in particular was the subject of extended floor questions and the presenter committed to provide further technical clarifications by third reading. S.51 was sent to a committee of conference for negotiation with the other body.

This list summarizes floor-level actions recorded in the May 12 Senate session; it does not record final enactment in law for bills that advanced to third reading or actions that require further chamber or gubernatorial action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session - May 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On May 12 the Vermont Senate conducted multiple procedural referrals, passed several House bills in concurrence, amended and advanced other items, and confirmed gubernatorial and judicial-office appointments. This roundup lists those actions and recorded outcomes from the floor session.","taxTitle","SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",29455,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562672,"Vermont Senate amends resolution urging rollback of certain tariffs on Canadian imports; debate centers on scope and existing tariffs",1500,3192000,4692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e&start=3192&end=4692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e/thumbnail_3192000.jpg","/articles/6562672/Vermont/Vermont-Senate-amends-resolution-urging-rollback-of-certain-tariffs-on-Canadian-imports-debate-centers-on-scope-and-existing-tariffs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562672-9ff204271fd6052c77bce8e2d94eb0da/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738842&Signature=iYcdwfsY-KBz7JG1nfYjvmPQURX7IWX1tEL2XkXsO6HRrXhGDBrcqnZQbPaU1LTGsvsrNQDTF0hEDCIFwS-duuHvbMCNZMVF55lrnI9L1ylZ~PTyh6F4H2j5xIVkcg2rSfk66TfA0YbgKlZsTDO7SuAfSg~UopYhPqbNw9eVla8DTq44a8-CnbvAShwFIxWK07uaGRUwUnaQ5WUDdWOR00~4RoYGUR7MhF1N5eTu8iqU~rUFvjzlWRu583Zk9g8YPkqc5OJWvG9VZqRHa19cdossHlJOT0uBCZhZuiO~6PPHvWRLHrLmnZ7gN3EYsCdnI62vGfIKHTfhqwR4tKStJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate on May 12 amended and advanced SR 11, a resolution supporting \"warm and cooperative relations\" between Vermont, the United States and Canada and urging the U.S. president to remove tariffs imposed on Canadian imports.

Senator Randy Brock (Rutland) presented the economic development committee's report, saying the updated resolution narrows its request to \"remove tariffs against imports from Canada that were not in effect on 01/20/2025.\" Brock said the change responds to concerns that the original draft's call for an immediate rollback of all tariffs was \"not well informed.\" He described the economic ties between Vermont and Canada, saying Canadian visitors and cross-border business are important to the state and that Vermont exports roughly $850 million a year to Canada while importing about $2.6 billion.

Senator Weeks (Rutland) noted committee testimony that Canadian visits to Vermont were down about 70% compared with the previous year and said the resolution recognizes the economic harm of recent trade actions. Senator from Essex spoke in opposition, arguing that significant preexisting Canadian tariffs and long-standing protections (including subsidies) have long affected Vermont producers, particularly dairy farmers; Essex said those prior tariffs and subsidies would not be resolved by the proposed language.

The Senate amended the resolution as recommended by the committee on economic development and ordered third reading. A roll-call vote on the committee amendment resulted in the amendment being adopted (ayes recorded on the floor; recorded roll-call names appear in the Senate journal). Following debate, the Senate ordered third reading on the resolution.

Why it matters: Vermont and Canada have substantial cross-border trade and family ties; the resolution is symbolic but intended to register the Legislature's stance with the federal government and Canadian partners. The amendment limited the request to tariffs imposed after Jan. 20, 2025, focusing the resolution on recent administration actions rather than long-standing trade measures.

Next steps: SR 11 was ordered to third reading; the transcript does not record final passage after third reading within this session transcript. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the U.S. president, the Canadian prime minister, the premier of Quebec, Vermont's governor and the state's federal delegation, according to the presenter.","The Senate amended and advanced SR 11, a resolution that supports cooperative relations with Canada and urges the U.S. president to remove tariffs on Canadian imports not in effect on Jan. 20, 2025. Senators debated tariff history, economic impacts for Vermont, and whether the amended language appropriately targeted recent administration actions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562677,"Vermont Senate advances bill to expand cottage-food exemption, adds safety rules for pickled and fermented products",2176,1009000,3185000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e&start=1009&end=3185","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251291-1a710ffa803f27585ec74de4323fe29e/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6562677/Vermont/Vermont-Senate-advances-bill-to-expand-cottage-food-exemption-adds-safety-rules-for-pickled-and-fermented-products","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562677-a6386ef8a3b55e669a3d7859ab1e1430/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738842&Signature=dRKDSNdpAdYf-J1UJOUcye5Ep1wzE4~io~X3ra-yTOjpa1S1y5f5bErf5tgnV0L2XRrWqe5Y-u3mJ24UvKIZ0~x2UxPWXZpkMqhshpEb5Y~yX9EfAEqc~SgDej8NViumCPea5164gP8rbGj5o39VraIxigGOWWrtqkDeQRCfMsLr5Ps9vDFm0LQ3lxfm9F6zi-w348Lrlr643QwOviI8MR23Foh6tNQ-q5wgi-sfOCRy9unpxnd~vr11kHrDGELAA6xv6uTzol3M~tELM2PHuGGLflpcb-Kzt9RI6V~R5gIcG9qadCJO6WKQq7Wl6qbBshymuGIm9kBI~jdJ5ihrIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate on May 12 advanced H.401, a bill to expand the state's cottage-food exemption and add safety requirements for certain home-canned and fermented products.

Senator Rebecca Gulick (Chittenden Central), the Senate's health and welfare committee's reporter, told senators that H.401 would \"make it easier for local food producers to do what they do best\" by adding a new exemption for cottage-food operators with gross receipts of $30,000 or less and by requiring training and safety checks for pickled and fermented foods. \"As your health and welfare committee, we take the duty of ensuring that this is done safely, and consumer health is first and foremost in our mind,\" Gulick said on the Senate floor.

The bill would: raise the exemption threshold for cottage-food operations to $30,000 in gross receipts; create a cottage-food category within Vermont's food-manufacturing statute; require operators claiming the exemption to file an annual license-exemption notice with the Vermont Department of Health and attest to completing required training; and direct the Department of Health to adopt emergency rules while permanent rules are developed. The bill text defines cottage-food products to include non-potentially hazardous baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, popcorn, coffee, dry tea and, under specified conditions, certain home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill reduces regulatory and fee burdens for small, often farm-based producers who sell at farmers markets or to retailers while adding specific food-safety safeguards for products with higher risk, such as low-acid home-canned items. In committee, Gulick said the bill keeps Vermont \"in line with what other states are doing.\"

Debate and committee findings: Gulick said the health and welfare committee voted the bill out favorably by 10-0 and that the Senate finance committee subsequently voted 7-0 that the bill \"ought to pass\" with the proposed amendment, noting joint fiscal office analysis that the fiscal impact is marginal. The transcript records multiple senators asking technical and practical questions about the scope of the exemption and food-safety review.

Senators asked whether sales of fresh vegetables would be combined with cottage-food sales when computing the $30,000 threshold; Gulick said she would seek a definitive answer from legislative counsel and offered to provide that clarification by third reading. On foodborne-illness data, Gulick cited 2024 totals of 474 foodborne and intestinal illness cases across categories discussed in committee, and described several small outbreaks the Department of Health had investigated, while noting the difficulty of precisely attributing illnesses to particular sources.

On safety requirements, the bill requires that home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits included in the exemption either be made using validated recipes available from the National Center for Home Food Preservation or be reviewed by a \"process authority\" (a person with expertise in acidification and thermal processing). Gulick read a Department of Health memo explaining that a process review evaluates ingredients, preparation steps and packaging, and that regional process-authority reviews currently cost roughly $50 to $190 per product.

Several senators said they supported the purpose of the bill but requested more time for committees of jurisdiction to review specific agricultural and economic impacts. After floor questions and requests for additional detail, the Senate voted that it would propose to the House to amend H.401 as recommended by the committee on health and welfare and then ordered the bill to third reading. Senator Gulick told colleagues she would provide outstanding clarifications on third reading.

What the bill does not do: The Senate action was procedural'it proposed the committee's amendment to the House and ordered third reading. The transcript does not record final enactment by the full Legislature or any change in the effective date beyond the bill text that sets an effective date of July 1, 2025. The transcript does not record a finalized answer on whether fresh produce sales would be counted toward the $30,000 threshold; the presenter said she would provide a definitive response on third reading.

Next steps: Senators left open the possibility that the Senate agriculture committee and other committees of jurisdiction would review H.401 further before final passage. The bill remains subject to third-reading debate and any further amendments.

","The Vermont Senate voted to propose amendments and advance H.401, which would raise the cottage-food exemption to $30,000, add certain pickled and fermented products to the exemption if made using validated recipes or reviewed by a process authority, and require training and annual exemption filings with the Vermont Department of Health.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Vermont Senate procedural referrals, third readings and confirmations (May 12)

Vermont Senate amends resolution urging rollback of certain tariffs on Canadian imports; debate centers on scope and existing tariffs

Vermont Senate advances bill to expand cottage-food exemption, adds safety rules for pickled and fermented products