Vermont House reads two municipal charter bills, refers chloride bill to Ways and Means and designates Vermont Children’s Alliance Day

The Vermont House of Representatives on April 24, 2025 read two municipal charter bills for the first time, referred a proposed chloride-contamination program to the Committee on Ways and Means because it affects state revenue, adopted a concurrent resolution recognizing Vermont Children’s Alliance Day, and postponed consideration of a Senate bill on Medicaid payment for residential substance use disorder treatment.

The measures read for the first time were House Bill 509, "an act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Winooski," introduced by Representative Rebecca of Winooski and Representative Tomlinson of Winooski, and House Bill 510, "an act relating to repealing the charter of the town of Danville," introduced by Representative Bert of Cabot. Both bills were referred to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs for further review after the first reading.

The chamber also referred House Bill 86, "an act relating to establishing the chloride contamination reduction program at the Agency of Natural Resources," to the Committee on Ways and Means under House Rule 35(a) because the measure affects state revenue. The referral was announced by the clerk during the reading of the calendar.

The House recorded the reading of House Concurrent Resolution 95, designating April 24, 2025 as Vermont Children’s Alliance Day at the State House. The member from Wolcott, speaking after the resolution was read, described child advocacy centers (CACs) as essential to coordinated responses to child abuse, saying, "The child advocacy centers provide a safe space where the child is heard through forensic interviews conducted with care and professionalism." The member noted CACs provide victim advocacy, coordinated care and wraparound services and that Vermont has 13 such centers.

On the action calendar the member from Colchester moved to postpone action by one legislative day on Senate Bill 36, "an act relating to the Medicaid payment model for residential substance use disorder treatment services." The House took a voice vote; the presiding officer announced, "The ayes do have it," and action on Senate Bill 36 was postponed for one legislative day.

Separately, the House Committee on Rules appointed Representative Sebelia of Dover to the House Discrimination Prevention Panel; the clerk announced the committee appointment.

Members also used announcements to mark observances: the House heard a devotional recognizing Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) led by former Representative Avraham Pet of Montpelier, and members offered remarks commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Several guests connected to Holocaust-education efforts were introduced and recognized in the gallery.

No final committee reports or policy decisions on the introduced bills were taken at the April 24 session; the bills were sent to the committees named above for further consideration. Action on Senate Bill 36 was delayed to allow further legislative consideration the following legislative day.

Orders of the day concluded with an announcement that the House would stand adjourned until Friday, April 25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.