Senate adopts joint resolutions on trustee election procedure, passes two health insurance bills and refers budget adjustment

The Vermont Senate on voice votes adopted two joint resolutions to set a joint assembly and an expedited voting procedure for election of a sergeant at arms and three trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, passed two health insurance bills on third reading and referred a house budget-adjustment bill to committee.

The first resolution (JRS 12) directs the Senate and House to meet in joint assembly on Feb. 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. “to elect a sergeant at arms and 3 trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.” The Senate then adopted JRS 13, which establishes that, for this election only, the three trustee vacancies will be filled by plurality vote on a single ballot: members may vote for up to three candidates, and the three candidates receiving the most votes will be declared elected; if the first ballot yields a tie for one or more seats, balloting will continue until the vacancies are filled.

The body also handled several bills listed on the orders of the day. S.30, described as “an act relating to updating and reorganizing the health insurance statutes in 8 V.S.A. chapter 107,” passed on third reading. H.35, “an act relating to unmerging the individual and small group health insurance markets,” likewise passed on third reading. A House bill, H.141, “an act relating to the fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment,” was read and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Floor action on the resolutions and bills was taken by voice vote; the record in the transcript shows the presiding officer calling for the question and the clerk or presiding officer announcing “the ayes have it.” No roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript and numerical vote counts were not specified.

Aside from floor business, senators made scheduling and event announcements: the Climate Solutions Caucus will host a meeting with the youth lobby and youth council at 12 p.m. in Room 10, with pizza at noon and speakers at 12:15 p.m.; several Senate committees (Finance, Government Operations, Institutions) were scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m.; and senators noted a broadcasters’ reception at Capital Plaza and a Vermont Symphony Orchestra performance that evening featuring a commissioned work by a Vermont high school senior.

The Senate adjourned after a motion to stand adjourned until 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, which passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- JRS 12 (Joint resolution providing for the election of a sergeant at arms and 3 trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College): Adopted by voice vote; no numerical tally specified. - JRS 13 (Joint resolution establishing plurality voting procedure for the 3 trustee vacancies at the Feb. 20, 2025 joint assembly): Adopted by voice vote; no numerical tally specified. Key provisions: single ballot for all trustee candidates, members may vote for up to three candidates, top three vote-getters declared elected; successive ballots if tie(s) occur. - H.141 (An act relating to the fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment): Read; referred to the Committee on Appropriations. - S.30 (An act relating to updating and reorganizing the health insurance statutes in 8 V.S.A. chapter 107): Passed on third reading by voice vote; no numerical tally specified. - H.35 (An act relating to unmerging the individual and small group health insurance markets): Passed on third reading by voice vote; no numerical tally specified.

No substantive floor debate on the bills or resolutions is recorded in the transcript excerpt provided; actions were taken by reading and immediate voice vote.