Senate passes H.154 in concurrence and confirms Julie Moore as ANR secretary; other first readings referred to committees

The Vermont Senate on March 31 passed H.154, designating November as the Vermont Month of the Veteran, and confirmed Julie Moore as secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

The chamber took the third reading of H.154 and passed it in concurrence by voice vote. The Senate then considered gubernatorial appointments; senators agreed to suspend the rules to take up non-underlined appointees by voice vote, and the body confirmed a slate of appointees without debate.

Julie Moore’s confirmation for a term from March 1, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2027, was considered by the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, which reported her nomination favorably on a 5–0 vote. The committee report and floor remarks noted that Moore has served as ANR secretary since 2017, oversees more than 650 employees, manages roughly a $330 million budget and administers about 360,000 acres of public land. The Senate took a roll-call vote and confirmed Moore 27–2.

The secretary announced that several House bills — H.401 (exemptions for food manufacturing establishments), H.474 (miscellaneous election law changes) and H.481 (stormwater management) — received first reading and were referred to the committees on health and welfare, government operations, and natural resources and energy, respectively.

Ending: With H.154 passed and Moore confirmed, the Senate recessed until 9:30 a.m. April 1 to continue appropriation and budget work.