Senate approves several bills, orders others to third reading; one House amendment sent to conference

The Senate completed floor action on multiple measures during the session, approving several bills on third reading, ordering others to third reading and asking for a committee of conference on at least one House amendment.

On third reading the Senate passed H.209 (an act relating to intranasal epinephrine in schools) by voice vote. The Senate also passed H.222 (an act relating to civil orders of protection) by voice vote.

The Senate considered H.482, "an act relating to Green Mountain Care Board authority to adjust a hospital's reimbursement rates and to appoint a hospital observer." The senator presenting the committee report quoted Chair Owen Foster of the Green Mountain Care Board, noting that "Any hospital can avoid having an H.482 trigger of a monitor by not making material misrepresentations" and that a formal finding of material misrepresentation is "a serious, serious thing to do." After a request for a division, the Senate recorded a counted vote: 16 in favor and 12 opposed, and H.482 passed.

The Senate also took up municipal charter amendments and other business. H.504 (approval of amendments to the charter of the City of Rutland) was reported out of committee and advanced to third reading after the Senate voted to move it forward. H.105 (expanding the youth substance awareness safety program) was likewise reported and moved to third reading per committee recommendation.

On S.63 (modifying regulatory duties of the Green Mountain Care Board), the Senate Health and Welfare committee reported that it concurred with two sections of the House proposal of amendment, highlighting that the board's budget-review process is collaborative rather than a contested-case adversarial process; the Senate then concurred with the House proposal of amendment on S.63.

On S.12 (sealing criminal history records), the Senate took up the House proposal of amendment, but a motion was made that the Senate not concur and to appoint a committee of conference; the Senate agreed to not concur and a committee of conference was requested.

Procedural resolutions were also handled: JRS 27, regarding weekend adjournment, was adopted; JRH 5 (authorizing limited remote joint committee voting through the remainder of calendar year 2025) was placed on the calendar for action the following day by the chair's discretion.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the Senate floor minutes): - JRS 27 (weekend adjournment): adopted (voice vote). - JRH 5 (limited remote joint committee voting): read by title; chair placed it on the calendar for action tomorrow. - H.209 (intranasal epinephrine in schools): passed (voice vote). - H.222 (civil orders of protection): passed (voice vote). - H.482 (Green Mountain Care Board authority; hospital reimbursement/observer): passed, recorded vote 16-12 after division request. - H.504 (Rutland city charter amendments): advanced to third reading (committee report; moved and ordered to third reading). - H.105 (youth substance awareness safety program): advanced to third reading per committee recommendation. - H.238 (PFAS consumer products): committee-recommended amendments accepted and bill ordered to third reading (see separate coverage). - S.63 (modifying regulatory duties of the Green Mountain Care Board): Senate concurred with House proposal of amendment. - S.12 (sealing criminal history records): Senate did not concur with House proposal of amendment and requested a committee of conference.

Several actions were taken by voice vote; the Chamber recorded a counted division vote only on H.482. Where the floor record does not report a named mover/second, the summary lists the procedural outcome and any recorded tally. The Senate concluded with routine announcements and adjournment.

(Occurrences and vote tallies taken from the Senate floor transcript for this session.)