House suspends rules to introduce 40 bills; adopts two concurrent resolutions honoring athletes

The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES voted to suspend its rules to allow the introduction of 40 bills by number only, read two house concurrent resolutions adopted by the consent calendar, and recessed until Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

The motion to suspend the rules was made by the member from St. Alban's Town. “Madam Speaker, I make a motion that we suspend our rules to introduce bills by number only,” the member said; the ayes were called and the chair announced the motion carried. Members then heard the first reading of the bills by number and the committee referrals listed on the record.

Why it matters: Suspending the rules to introduce bills by number is a procedural step that lets the House move a large set of measures into the committee process quickly; the session also included ceremonial actions recognizing local athletic achievements.

House procedure and introductions Members were asked to listen to the first reading of 40 house bills introduced by number. The clerk read bill numbers and committee referrals in sequence, with referrals including Government Operations and Military Affairs; Education; Judiciary; Commerce and Economic Development; Environment; Health Care; Human Services; Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry; General and Housing; Corrections and Institutions; Energy and Digital Infrastructure, among others. For example, the record includes bill references such as “H 3 11” (to Government Operations and Military Affairs), “H 3 12” (to Education), and continuing through a set of bills recorded in the session transcript. One committee bill, listed in the record as H 3 39, was specifically placed on the notice calendar of the next legislative day pursuant to House Rule 48.

Resolutions read on the floor The House also read two house concurrent resolutions that the House and Senate had already adopted via the consent calendar and recorded the readings in the chamber.

- HCR 3 congratulates the 2024 Enosburg Falls High School Hornets on winning the Division 2 state softball championship after a 10–8 comeback over the Linden Institute. The resolution text read the team roster and coaching staff, and directed the secretary of state to send a copy of the resolution to Enosburg Falls High School.

- HCR 26 congratulates Alana Maher on winning a bronze medal with the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The resolution recounts Maher’s local and collegiate background, notes Quinnipiac University and NIRA honors mentioned in the resolution text, and directs the secretary of state to send a copy of the resolution to Maher.

Announcements and adjournment Several members made brief announcements and introductions, including recognition of guests and environmental and athletic organizations in the gallery. A motion to adjourn was offered by the member from Saint Albans Town: “I make a motion that this body stands in adjournment until Wednesday, February 26 at 3PM.” The ayes were called, and the presiding officer announced the body stood adjourned until that date.

Votes at a glance - Motion to suspend rules to introduce bills by number only — mover: member from St. Alban's Town; voice vote called; chair announced the motion carried. - HCR 3 (House Concurrent Resolution congratulating Enosburg Falls High School Hornets) — adoption recorded as adopted by consent calendar; read into the record. - HCR 26 (House Concurrent Resolution congratulating Alana Maher) — adoption recorded as adopted by consent calendar; read into the record. - H 3 39 (committee bill) — placed on the notice calendar of the next legislative day pursuant to House Rule 48. - Motion to adjourn until Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. — mover: member from Saint Albans Town; voice vote called; chair announced the motion carried.

The session did not include extended debate on the introduced bills during this portion of the floor; most measures were advanced by number and referred to the committees listed on the record.