The Vermont Senate voted to suspend its rules and confirm two gubernatorial appointees, the chamber’s presiding officer announced during a brief floor session.

The senator from Rutland moved that “the rules be suspended and the following 2 gubernatorial appointees be taken up together and without debate and that they be confirmed by the Senate,” naming Rhonda Shippy of Morgan as a member of the Vermont Economic Development Authority and William Johnson IV (as recorded) as a utilities representative member of an electricians licensing body. The presiding officer called for the question and a voice vote; the presiding officer declared, “The ayes have it. Motion carries.”

The appointments were taken up without further debate, per the motion. The transcript does not record a second to the motion or a roll-call tally; the confirmation was announced by voice vote. The motion and confirmation were presented to the Senate as pending items on the calendar and resolved during the brief session.

The action fills two named positions referenced on the Senate handout; the transcript does not specify term lengths, vacancy reasons, or the appointing governor’s statement on the nominations.

The confirmations were conducted as part of routine floor business while senators managed timing around other legislative activity, including an ongoing education conference committee mentioned elsewhere on the floor.