Vermont House opens second year with new appointees, resignations and routine procedural business

Madam Speaker called the Vermont House to order on Jan. 6 and opened the second year of the biennium, outlining priorities including housing, workforce challenges, flood recovery and health protections. "We have done hard things before and for the greater good of Vermont, we will do them together once again," the presiding officer said.

The House received three resignation letters. A letter from Representative Marie K. Cortes of the Addison Ford District was read formally, stating, "I am writing to formally tender my resignation from the Vermont House of Representatives effective today, which was 06/19/2025." Representative Heather Supernaught of Barnard also submitted a resignation letter, saying she had decided to step away to serve her community in other ways that would not strain her values or her farming career. Representative Jim Harrison of Rutland submitted a letter resigning effective Jan. 6, 2026; his letter thanked colleagues and noted his service on the Appropriations Committee.

The chamber welcomed two gubernatorial appointees. The clerk read Governor Philip B. Scott's letters appointing Karen Leaders of Lincoln to represent House District Addison 4 and Michael Hoyt of West Hartford to represent House District Windsor 4; both were escorted to their assigned seats and assigned to committees (Leaders to Health Care; Hoyt to Environment).

Members accepted announced committee reassignments prompted by the membership changes: Representative Feltes was named vice chair of Appropriations; Representative Bartholomew was named vice chair of Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry; Representative Page was appointed to Ways and Means; Representative Leland Morgan was appointed to Education; Representative Nelson was designated ranking member of Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry.

On procedural business, the House agreed to a motion to suspend rules to allow the first reading of more than 60 bills by number only. Clerks read the bills and listed committee referrals spanning Health Care, Human Services, Judiciary, Commerce and Economic Development, Energy and Digital Infrastructure, General and Housing, Corrections and Institutions, and Education. HR10, a House resolution amending House rules related to bill draft request and approval deadlines, was read by title and placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day pursuant to House Rule 52.

Under "Orders of the Day," the member from Waterbury moved to commit House Bill H.91, "an act relating to the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing program," to the Committee on Human Services; the ayes prevailed and the bill was committed to committee. The House also received and adopted in concurrence Joint Senate Resolution 30 (JRS30), which schedules a joint assembly for Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. to receive the governor's State of the State message; the House then suspended rules to message its action to the Senate.

Members used part of the floor time for tributes and personal announcements. The Appropriations Committee offered a humorous resolution commending Representative Jim Harrison for his years of service and his role on the committee; several members rose to speak in praise. Members also recognized guests, including exchange students visiting from abroad.

Before adjourning, the House announced a series of Appropriations Committee budget workshops (Jan. 9 and Jan. 20 in Room 10) led by the Joint Fiscal Office. A motion to adjourn until Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. carried and the House was adjourned.

The day's formal actions included the suspension of rules to introduce bills by number, the first-reading referrals of more than 60 bills, the commitment of H.91 to the Committee on Human Services, the placement of HR10 on the calendar for the next legislative day, and the adoption of JRS30 to call the joint assembly for the governor's address.