Senate approves two bills, advances utilities/energy measure after committee reports

The Vermont Senate passed two bills and moved a utilities and energy-planning measure forward during floor action on April 27.

The chamber approved H519, "an act relating to Vermont State Employees Retirement System Group G membership," and H762, "an act relating to the county and regional governance study committee," both "in concurrence with proposal of amendment," after third readings on the floor. The presiding officer put the question on both bills and the ayes carried each measure.

Why it matters: H519 affects retirement-system membership rules for a named group; H762 establishes or continues a study committee on county and regional governance. Both measures advance through the legislative process with proposed amendments attached.

Committee reports shaped floor action on H940, a miscellaneous public-utility bill that the Senate ordered for third reading. Senator Cummings, reporting for the Committee on Finance, said the bill ultimately centers on energy planning and that finance "took care of two small items in the bill that really fell within our jurisdiction of utility regulation" before transferring the measure to Natural Resources and Energy for broader consideration. Cummings said Finance approved allowing Burlington Electric and Burlington Gas to continue using thermal energy credits to fund electric-conservation work, noting the utilities have used such credits for EV charging infrastructure at apartment complexes. "We approved that," Cummings said, and reported that the telecom advisory committee, which "has not met in 5 years, so we put it out of its misery and it no longer exists."

Senator Beck, reporting for the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, said the panel heard from the Public Utility Commission and recommended provisions requiring retail electric providers to prioritize weatherization and thermal-sector efficiency programs; to seek PUC approval for plant expenditures during a three-year performance period as part of triennial energy-efficiency utility planning; and to include a regional plan and PUC consultation with municipal planning efforts. Beck said the committee voted 5-0-0 and that the bill's effective date is on passage.

Senator Watson reported for Appropriations that only one section of H940 implicated appropriations: an extension tied to the Electric Efficiency Modernization Act that reallocates how funds are used without increasing or decreasing the total amount. Appropriations approved that section on a 7-0-0 vote.

Votes at a glance: H519 — passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment (third reading ordered and passage recorded on the floor); H762 — passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment; H940 — second reading completed and the Senate ordered third reading after committee reports. The transcript records voice votes (ayes) but no roll-call tallies.

The Senate completed the day's business and, pending announcements, moved to stand adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Appropriations Committee announced it would meet at 12:30 p.m. the same day.