Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Vermont House introduces nine bills, appoints committee members and reads three congratulatory resolutions
Loading...
Summary
At the Vermont House of Representatives session Jan. 21, lawmakers gave first readings to nine bills covering impaired driving, firearms and housing among other topics; appointed members to two joint committees; read three previously adopted concurrent resolutions honoring Richford High School athletic teams; and adjourned until Jan. 22.
The Vermont House of Representatives on Jan. 21 gave first readings to nine bills, referred each to a standing committee, appointed members to two joint legislative committees and read three house concurrent resolutions congratulating Richford Junior-Senior High School athletic teams.
Members opened the session with a devotional and the Pledge of Allegiance before the House Clerk read the titles of the nine introduced measures and the presiding officer referred each to the committee named on the floor. The bills cover a range of topics including impaired driving, firearms in alcohol-licensed premises, a rare disease advisory council, a dental licensure compact, motor-vehicle soot emissions, an electronic roll-call system for the House, identifying state property for conversion to affordable housing, miscellaneous alcoholic beverage statute amendments, and changing greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements to goals.
The introductions are the formal first step for each measure; no committee hearings or floor votes on the bills occurred during the session. Lawmakers also announced appointments to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Judicial Retention, and read three house concurrent resolutions that the two chambers had adopted previously by consent.
Bills introduced and committee referrals
- H.44: "An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing impaired driving." Introduced by Representative Malone of South Burlington and Representative Burdett of West Rutland; referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
- H.45: "An act relating to prohibiting possession of firearms on premises where alcohol is licensed to be served." Introduced by Representative Bloomley of Burlington and others; referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
- H.46: "An act relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council." Introduced by Representative Donahue of Northfield and others; referred to the Committee on Human Services.
- H.47: "An act relating to Vermont's adoption of the dentist and dental hygienist compact." Introduced by Representative Stone of Burlington and Representative Donahue of Northfield; referred to the Committee on Health Care.
- H.48: "An act relating to prohibiting the emission of excessive soot or smoke from certain motor vehicles." Introduced by Representative Groening of Jericho and Representative Arsenal of Williston; referred to the Committee on Transportation.
- H.49: "An act relating to the implementation of an electronic roll call system in the Vermont House of Representatives." Introduced by Representative Harrison of Chittenden and Representative Morwicki of Putney; referred to the Committee on Rules.
- H.50: "An act relating to identifying state real property suitable for conversion into affordable housing." Introduced by Representative Casey of Montpelier and Representative McCann of Montpelier; referred to the Committee on General and Housing.
- H.51: "An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing alcoholic beverages." Introduced by Representative Byron of (town not specified in transcript) and Representative Boyden of Cambridge; referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.
- H.52: "An act relating to changing the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements to goals." Introduced by Representative Harrison of Chittenden and others; referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure.
Appointments
The speaker announced appointments to two joint committees. Appointees named to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules were the member from Underhill, Representative Squirrel; the member from Lowell, Representative Higley; the member from Burlington, Representative Ode; and the member from Randolph, Representative Sackwoods. Appointees to the Joint Committee on Judicial Retention were the member from Williston, Representative Arsenal; the member from Sheldon, Representative Oliver; the member from Montpelier, Representative Casey; and the member from Pittsford (transcript: Pittsburgh), Representative Malle.
Readings of concurrent resolutions
The House clerk read three house concurrent resolutions previously adopted under the consent calendar congratulating Richford Junior-Senior High School athletic teams: HCR 1 (boys track and field division 4 champions), HCR 4 (girls soccer division 4 champions), and HCR 5 (softball division 4 champions). The clerk also read the instruction directing the secretary of state to send copies of each resolution to Richford Junior-Senior High School.
A motion to adjourn until Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at 3 p.m. was made and carried by voice vote. The presiding officer announced that "the ayes do have it" and the House stood adjourned.
What happens next
Each introduced bill is now in the committee to which it was referred; committees will determine whether to schedule hearings, request testimony or amend the measures. The House took no final votes on the introduced bills during the Jan. 21 session.
