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Contentious floor debate on landlord‑tenant overhaul; committee substitute passes but disability accommodation amendment fails
Summary
Senators debated H.772 — a narrowed package addressing Good Samaritan overdose protections, bifurcation to separate a victim tenant's lease, no‑trespass orders for problematic guests, and a housing‑court study — and adopted a committee substitute by roll call (17–12); a later floor amendment addressing disability‑related termination protections failed and a later roll call produced a 15–15 tie with the lieutenant governor casting a no vote on a procedural question.
Senator Hashim (Judiciary) presented H.772 after the bill was narrowed to a set of judiciary‑focused provisions. The Judiciary report included Good Samaritan language preventing landlords from terminating a tenancy for calling 911 during an overdose, bifurcation rules to allow a tenant who is a victim of domestic abuse to request a split from an offending co‑tenant, provisions to allow a landlord to issue individualized notices against trespass for guests in specified circumstances (intended to address State v. Dixon), and a housing court study to examine an expedited residential docket. Hashim read a supportive quote from the Vermont State Police colonel: "When you are in an emergency situation, we don't want you to hesitate or wonder whether calling 911 is the right thing to do. It is. Saving a life is the most important thing."
Senator Clarkson (Economic Development) explained that many economic development sections were removed and the committee focused on a few carefully limited changes; the committee emphasized the no‑trespass change and a court‑study approach rather than broad policy rewrites. After debate and a brief series of recesses to consult, the Senate adopted a substitute amendment offered by the committees by roll call (17 yes, 12 no).
A later floor amendment intended to protect tenants with disabilities from termination unless reasonable accommodations had been attempted was presented and debated at length. Senators expressed differing views on whether the language was sufficiently clear and whether the floor was the right place to adopt such changes without additional committee vetting. The amendment failed on the floor. Near the end of the session the Senate proceeded through procedural votes; a recorded roll call on a floor question produced a 15–15 tie and the Lieutenant Governor cast a no vote (recorded on the floor). Committees and conference committees were announced and the Senate adjourned until 2:30 p.m.
