House Commerce Committee’s DFR witness backs Olson amendment to H.648; committee records 11–0–0 straw poll

The Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Jan. 29 heard from Joe Valente, director of policy at the Department of Financial Regulation, who told the panel that the department supports an amendment to H.648 and recommended reporting it favorably.

“For the record, we have reviewed the proposed amendment, from Maria, and I vetted it with our securities division, and we are, in favor of the amendment,” Valente said. “It’s a, sort of simpler and more elegant way of conveying what, we have had in our, original language.”

Committee leadership called a straw vote on whether to report favorably on the Olson amendment to H.648. The chair instructed members to raise their hands and then announced the straw-poll tally as 11 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions. The vote was described on the record as a straw poll to indicate committee support; no formal binding vote was recorded in the transcript.

Members did not offer extended debate after Valente’s testimony. The chair thanked Valente for appearing on short notice and closed the committee’s Commerce business for the day.

The committee announced it will reconvene at 9 a.m. the following morning for meetings with legislative interns at the University of Vermont in Norwich and noted a floor session scheduled for 3:30 p.m. the same day.

The record reflects only the DFR’s statement of support and the committee’s straw-poll result; the transcript does not record a formal motion maker or seconder, nor does it show a formal roll-call vote on final passage of the amendment or bill.