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Committee hears clerk on constitutional amendment process as PR3 arrives for House concurrence
Summary
Betsy Unresk, Book of the House, explained the constitutional amendment process after the Senate transmitted PR3. She outlined the two‑biennium path, the role of the governor and Secretary of State, and House Rule 51A requiring committee public hearings before floor action.
Betsy Unresk, Book of the House and clerk to the chamber, briefed the committee on the constitutional amendment process after the Senate transmitted PR3 to the House. Unresk reviewed the state Constitution’s two‑biennium process for amendments and explained the roles of the Senate, House, governor and Secretary of State.
Unresk explained that only the Senate may propose amendments and only in a proposing biennium (every other biennium); after the Senate adopts a proposal by a two‑thirds vote and the House concurs, the proposal is referred to the next General Assembly session. In that subsequent biennium the Senate and House must each concur by a majority for the proposal to be placed on the statewide ballot. “Only the Senate can propose amendments. The Senate must propose an amendment by a two‑thirds vote in the proposing biennium; the House may only concur,” Unresk said, summarizing Chapter II, Section 72 of the Vermont Constitution for committee members.
Unresk summarized the governor’s limited constitutional role—issuing a proclamation to notify the public that a proposed amendment will be on the ballot if both chambers concur in the final session—and the Secretary of State’s statutory duties to publish the text and summary at least once a week for three successive weeks in at least two newspapers and on legislative and Secretary of State websites before the general election. Unresk noted the ballot contains only the proposed amendment text; explanatory prefatory language from the legislature does not appear on the ballot.
Members asked procedural questions about committee referral and public hearings; Unresk explained House Rule 51A requires referral to the committee of jurisdiction and that committees must hold a public hearing before voting on the proposal if the committee intends to consider it. She advised committees to provide clear public notice (the committee’s website, press releases and local newspaper notices were suggested) and to consult the Secretary of State’s deadlines for fall publication.
Ending: The committee did not take action on PR3 Wednesday; members said they will consult the posted materials and may hold a public hearing under House Rule 51A before deciding whether to report the proposal to the full House.
