Senate votes to adjourn until Feb. 6 after brief devotional remarks; presiding officer apologizes

The Senate voted to stand in adjournment until 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, following a short devotional and a statement from the presiding officer who apologized for comments made the previous day that a colleague said had felt singling them out.

Rabbi Arya Yaakov Dunat offered the chamber's devotional remarks, saying, "Each of us lives a life of unique experiences," and urging "vulnerable, honest dialogue" as a way to strengthen relationships. The rabbi introduced themself as "Rabbi Arya Yaakov Dunat" and identified themself as the rabbi and spiritual leader of a synagogue in Burlington.

After the devotional, the presiding senator said they had learned that "my words yesterday made a senator and a person I consider a friend feel singled out," added, "I never intended that," and said their priority was to "maintain the decorum of the Senate" and to address any rule concerns with the Senate secretary.

A motion to stand in adjournment "until 11:30 a.m., Friday, 02/06/2026" was made by the senator from Chittenden Southeast and restated for the record by the president. The president called for the question; senators voiced "Aye," and the president declared, "The ayes have it." The transcript records the voice vote but does not provide a roll-call tally.

Several senators announced committee meeting times before adjournment: the Senate Government Operations Committee will meet at 2:00 p.m.; Senate Institutions at 1:30 p.m.; the Education Committee at 1:30 p.m.; and Appropriations at 1:30 p.m. The transcript does not specify locations for those committee meetings.

With no further announcements, the Senate stood in adjournment until the date and time specified by the motion.