Vermont Senate confirms six judicial nominees, moves medical-debt bill to Health & Welfare and introduces habitat and school-construction measures

The Vermont Senate confirmed six judicial nominees on Monday and reassigned a medical-debt bill to a different committee while giving first readings to two newly introduced bills.

The chamber approved the confirmations by roll call or voice vote for six nominees to superior court and family-division posts. The appointments confirmed were Bonnie Badgwick (Superior Court judge, assigned to the Caledonia and Essex circuits), Joseph McLean (Superior Court, environmental division), Timothy C. Doherty Jr. (Superior Court), Jessica L. Seaman (family-division magistrate), Dana M. DeSano (Superior Court), and Laura C. Rountree (Superior Court). Most confirmations recorded roll-call results of 29 yays and 0 nays.

Why it matters: These confirmations fill multiple judicial vacancies across Vermont circuits and the family-division bench, affecting the state’s capacity to handle family, juvenile, environmental and criminal dockets. The committee reassignment and bill introductions signal early-stage work on medical-debt policy and on conservation and school construction priorities.

Inverted-pyramid details

Committee reassignment and bill introductions A motion from the Senator from Windham relieved the committee on Judiciary of S.27, “an act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports,” and committed the bill to the Committee on Health and Welfare. The motion passed by voice vote; an exact tally was not recorded on the floor.

The Senate also introduced S.38, “an act relating to conserving habitat corridors and wildlife crossings,” and referred it to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy after its first reading. Legislators gave a first reading to S.39, “an act relating to the state aid for school construction program,” and committed that bill to the Committee on Education.

Confirmations and roll calls The chamber conducted roll-call votes to confirm most nominees. The secretary announced results of the roll calls for multiple confirmations as 29 yays and 0 nays. The nomination actions, as reported on the floor, include the following term details as stated during the session: - Bonnie J. Badgwick — Superior Court judge, term from and including Jan. 26, 2025, to and including March 31, 2030 (assigned to the Caledonia and Essex circuits; will hear family-division matters and provide backup to criminal and civil dockets). Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0. - Joseph McLean — Superior Court judge, environmental division, term from and including July 29, 2024, to and including March 31, 2028. Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0. - Timothy Charles Doherty Jr. — Superior Court judge, term from and including Jan. 7, 2025, to and including March 31, 2030. Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0. - Jessica L. Seaman — Family-division magistrate, term from and including Oct. 17, 2024, to and including March 31, 2027. Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0. - Dana M. DeSano — Superior Court judge, term from and including Dec. 20, 2024, to and including March 31, 2030. Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0. - Laura C. Rountree — Superior Court judge, term from and including Dec. 20, 2024, to and including March 31, 2028. Committee vote reported as 4–0–1; floor roll call 29–0.

On the floor, the Senator from Windham presented biographical and professional summaries for multiple nominees, describing areas of practice and the circuits or dockets to which appointees will be assigned. Several senators asked that some confirmations be taken by roll call; the requests were granted and the secretary called the roll.

Process notes and context The session opened with a devotional exercise conducted by Reverend Arnold Thomas of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Jericho; those remarks were ceremonial and not part of the day’s legislative actions. Multiple standing committees announced upcoming meeting times. The Senate moved to adjournment at the end of the day after recording final votes and announcements.

Votes at a glance - Motion to relieve Judiciary Committee of S.27 (medical debt relief) and commit to Health and Welfare — mover: Senator from Windham; outcome: passed (voice vote; exact tally not specified). - Confirmation: Bonnie J. Badgwick — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result announced as 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above. - Confirmation: Joseph McLean — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above. - Confirmation: Timothy C. Doherty Jr. — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above. - Confirmation: Jessica L. Seaman — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above. - Confirmation: Dana M. DeSano — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above. - Confirmation: Laura C. Rountree — outcome: confirmed; roll-call result 29 yays, 0 nays; term dates as stated above.

What the record shows and does not The floor transcript records committee vote numbers reported to the Senate (committees reported votes as “4–0–1” for several nominees), and the floor roll calls that followed. Where the transcript records a voice vote for the S.27 committee reassignment, the transcript does not give a numerical tally for that specific voice vote. The article does not infer any outcomes beyond what the Senate recorded on the floor.

Ending The Senate adjourned and scheduled to reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Future committee work on S.27, S.38 and S.39 will take place in the referred committees, which will determine any hearings, amendments, or further floor action.