Vermont Senate adopts adjournment resolution but leaves door open to reconvene if federal cuts hit

The Vermont Senate on the final day of its 2025 session adopted Joint Resolution JRS 28, formally completing its business while preserving the option to reconvene if federal budget actions create a material state funding shortfall.

The resolution, read on the floor and approved by voice vote, instructs that when the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House adjourn their respective chambers in June 2025 they may reconvene on the joint call of those leaders if necessary, or otherwise meet in January 2026. "We may, God forbid, but we may experience severe cuts to our funding federally," the Senator from Chittenden told colleagues while explaining why the language allowing a special reconvening was included. The senator cited an illustrative example: "If Medicaid were to be cut ... we were suddenly $200,000,000 off in our budget reckoning, we would come back." The senator emphasized that reconvening would occur only if needed and that the speaker and president would consult members before picking a date.

Why it matters: the resolution preserves the Legislature's ability to respond quickly if the federal budget reduces aid to Vermont programs—Medicaid was named specifically—rather than forcing lawmakers to wait until the next scheduled session. The measure also moves routine end-of-session business forward: the Senate ordered all bills passed by both chambers delivered to the governor and appointed a four-member committee to notify the governor that the Senate had completed its business and was ready to adjourn pursuant to JRS 28.

On procedural motions, the Senate voted to order bills to the governor "pursuant to joint rule 15," and the body approved a motion directing the secretary to inform the House that the Senate had completed session business. The president then appointed Senators Rahm Hinsdale, Beck, White and Collamore as the committee to inform the governor; the committee left the chamber to retrieve the governor and returned to present him. The Senate subsequently adopted a motion to adjourn pursuant to JRS 28.

Governor Philip B. Scott, who attended the Senate before adjournment, offered remarks summarizing the session. "In January, I asked that we focus on four areas: public safety, affordability, housing, and education," Governor Philip B. Scott said, and later described progress on tax relief, infrastructure for housing (including expansion of TIF authority), and an education compromise. His remarks were presented as a reflection on the session's work rather than as formal action by the Senate.

Distinction between discussion and action: the decision to adopt JRS 28 and the related procedural motions (delivery of bills to the governor, appointment of the notification committee, and the adjournment vote) were formal actions taken on the floor. The possibility of reconvening in the fall was presented as a contingency based on federal actions and not as a directive to immediately schedule further sessions; the senator who explained that scenario said the speaker and president would consult members before setting any reconvening date.

The Senate concluded by adopting the adjournment motion and standing in recess as the appointed committee left the chamber to inform the governor. The body adjourned pursuant to the provisions of JRS 28.