Vermont Senate passes a slate of bills; constitutional labor amendment sent to voters

The Vermont Senate on third reading approved multiple measures and advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters.

On the floor the Senate passed S.23 (use of synthetic media in elections), S.27 (medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports), S.51 (Vermont unpaid caregiver tax credit), S.59 (amendments to Vermont's open meeting law, as amended), S.60 (establishing a Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather), and S.109 (miscellaneous judiciary procedures). The Senate also adopted S.R.10, a resolution disapproving Executive Order 0125, and concurred in Proposal 3, a proposed constitutional amendment to recognize a right to collectively bargain and requested the concurrence of the House.

Why it matters: the measures address a range of policy areas — from election integrity and consumer protections to agricultural disaster assistance and labor rights — and several have implications for state spending, administrative rules and how future disputes may be resolved.

Votes and outcomes (as recorded on the floor): - S.23, “an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections” — Passed on third reading (floor voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). - S.27, “an act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports” — Passed on third reading (floor voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). - S.51, “an act relating to the Vermont unpaid caregiver tax credit” — Passed on third reading (floor voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). - S.59, “an act relating to amendments to Vermont’s open meeting law” — The Senate adopted an amendment (to require a posted agenda item to be listed as “proposed executive session” when an executive session is included) and then passed the bill on third reading (voice votes reported; amendment carried by voice vote, bill passed by voice vote). - S.60, “an act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions” — A floor amendment offering limits and prioritization for awards was proposed and debated and ultimately defeated on the floor; the bill then passed on third reading (voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). - S.109, “an act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures” — Passed on third reading (voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). Discussion on S.109 included follow-up about sections 23 and 24 concerning public inebriates and the Department of Corrections’ capacity to receive them. - S.R.10, “senate resolution relating to disapproval of Executive Order 0125” — Adopted (voice vote recorded as “ayes have it”). - Proposal 3 (proposed amendment to the Vermont Constitution to add a right to collectively bargain) — The Senate recorded a roll-call result of 29 voting yea, 0 nay, and the Senate concurred in Proposal 3 and requested the concurrence of the House; the resolution proceeds to the House and, if again approved, would be placed before voters.

Floor debate highlights: S.60 drew the most substantive floor exchange. A senator offered an amendment that would have (1) limited awards to no more than three awards to an individual applicant in a 10-year period, (2) prioritized awards to applicants who had not previously received the funding, and (3) required applicants to demonstrate that assistance from other sources (insurance, USDA, FEMA) was unavailable. The amendment sponsor described those limits as intended to target finite state resources and avoid duplicating federal support; the Senate committee on agriculture recommended moving the bill without the amendment, citing lack of evidence of likely abuse and an existing board to administer the program. A senator representing orchard-growing areas cautioned that some agricultural losses (for example from late frost) are not location-specific and would not be addressed by the proposed amendment.

Separate floor debate occurred on Proposal 3 (the proposed constitutional amendment recognizing a right to collectively bargain). Senator Rahm Hinsdale, speaking at length in favor, characterized the amendment as a preventative measure against efforts in other states and at the federal level that he said have weakened labor protections. The Senate proceeded with a roll-call vote that resulted in 29 yeas, 0 nays.

The Senate adjourned, setting a continuation for the next legislative day.