Votes at a glance: Senate packages several conference reports and amendments to the House

During the session the Senate moved, considered and by voice votes adopted or concurred with a series of conference reports and House proposal amendments and then ordered its actions messaged to the House. The measures and floor outcomes were:

• S220 (Vermont public libraries): Senate concurred with the House proposal of amendment after an Education Committee report (committee vote reported 5‑0).

• S253 (building energy codes): Senate concurred with House amendments after Natural Resources & Energy committee review (committee vote reported 4‑0).

• H780 (judicial nominations and appointments): Senate concurred after the House struck the bill’s legislative‑intent section and related language about the Office of Racial Equity executive director’s appointment.

• H546 (administrative and policy changes to tax laws): Senate accepted and adopted the committee of conference report; floor remarks noted changes about ATV sales‑tax treatment and a limit on local option tax petitions.

• H534 (retail theft): Senate accepted the conference report creating first‑through‑fourth offense tiers for under‑$900 thefts and adjusting penalties.

• H563 (criminal motor vehicle offenses): Senate accepted the conference report replacing a reckless standard with a "should have known" standard for a lesser unauthorized‑operation offense and removing jail time for that tier.

• H870 (Office of Professional Regulation): Senate passed the OPR annual bill with committee amendments and directed a funding study.

• H882 (capital construction and bonding): Senate accepted the conference report, preserving hatchery operations through 2027 and funding multiple studies and small upfit amounts.

All listed actions were taken by voice votes; the Senate then requested the clerk message its actions to the House and recessed until 7 p.m.