SmartTranscript of House Session: 2025-02-19-3:00 p.m.

[Speaker 0 ]: Will the house please come to order and members kindly take their seats? Good afternoon. The devotional today will be led by the Reverend Devin Thomas of the Lutheran Church in South Burlington. [Reverend Devin Thomas]: Siblings in service, siblings in love, if you'll please join me in prayer. May a spirit of compassion, may a spirit of love and service bless this legislative body as you come together to do the work of your constituents and of our state here today. May that spirit drive you to work together with open hearts and open minds, recognizing the needs of many outside of this building who rely upon your dedication, rely upon the power that you exercise here in this chamber. May you keep your hearts open to them as you do your work today, remembering those who struggle to find affordable housing, for those who struggle to find clothing and shelter in these cold times. Remember those who come from other lands seeking security, love, and community. Remember that you are stewards of the people. And may that spirit of service guide you to honor that position, to honor each other, and to honor the positions in which you fill. You have the power to do great good. And so may you be blessed with a spirit of goodness here today. Amen. [Speaker 0 ]: Members, we have twenty nine house bills for introduction today. With that member from Hultany, can you please offer us a motion to suspend our rules to introduce bills by number only? [Speaker 2 ]: Madam speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to introduce bills by number only. [Speaker 0 ]: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and you have suspended our rules to introduce bills by number only. Please listen to the first reading of bills by number only. [Speaker 3 ]: H two fifty seven. [Speaker 0 ]: To commerce and economic development. [Speaker 3 ]: H two fifty eight. [Speaker 0 ]: To judiciary. [Speaker 3 ]: H two fifty nine. [Speaker 0 ]: To health care. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty. [Speaker 0 ]: To human services. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty one. [Speaker 0 ]: To general and housing. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty two. [Speaker 0 ]: General and housing. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty three. [Speaker 0 ]: To general and housing. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty four. [Speaker 0 ]: To judiciary. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty five. [Speaker 0 ]: To energy and digital infrastructure. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty six. [Speaker 0 ]: To health care. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty seven. [Speaker 0 ]: To health care. [Speaker 4 ]: H two sixty eight. To commerce and economic development. [Speaker 3 ]: H two sixty nine. [Speaker 0 ]: To human services. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy. [Speaker 0 ]: To human services. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy one. To health care. H two seventy two. To environment. H two seventy three. [Speaker 0 ]: To agriculture, food resiliency, and forestry. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy four. To health care. H two seventy five. [Speaker 0 ]: To health care. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy six. [Speaker 0 ]: To environment. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy seven. [Speaker 0 ]: To energy and digital infrastructure. [Speaker 4 ]: H two seventy eight. To energy and digital infrastructure. [Speaker 3 ]: H two seventy nine. [Speaker 0 ]: To energy and digital infrastructure. [Speaker 4 ]: H two eighty. To environment. [Speaker 3 ]: H two eighty one. [Speaker 0 ]: To government operations and military affairs. [Speaker 3 ]: H two eighty two. [Speaker 0 ]: To transportation. [Speaker 3 ]: H two eighty three. [Speaker 0 ]: To environment. [Speaker 3 ]: H two eighty four. [Speaker 0 ]: To transportation. [Speaker 3 ]: And h two eighty five. [Speaker 0 ]: To transportation. Members, we have a joint senate resolution to take up at this time. JRS fourteen is a joint resolution relating to weaken adjournment on February twenty first twenty twenty five. It was offered by Senator Baruth and was read and adopted on the part of the senate. Please listen to the reading of the resolution. [Speaker 5 ]: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives. That when the two houses adjourn on Friday, February twenty first twenty twenty five, it'd be to meet again no later than Tuesday, February twenty fifth twenty twenty five. [Speaker 0 ]: Now you have heard the reading of the resolution and the question is, shall the house adopt the resolution in concurrence? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do have it and the resolution is adopted in concurrence Members, we have received a request to read a house concurrent resolution that the house and the senate adopted pursuant to the consent calendar. HCR twenty one is a house concurrent resolution expressing strong appreciation for the essential role of Vermont school board members in the state's public education system and designating February as school board recognition month in Vermont. Please listen to the reading of the resolution. [Speaker 6 ]: Whereas the education of Vermont's youth is of greater importance and the role of local school board members is essential in this process. And whereas all too often, Vermonters do not fully appreciate the scope of the commitment school board members must make to their duties and the challenges they encounter in performing this critical civic role. And whereas as the citizens of Vermont and the General Assembly in our in particular, engage in a major examination of education financing in our state, school board members will be important contributors to this critical discussion. And whereas these special community public servants deserve our admiration and respect for their continuing devotion to the success of publication education in Vermont. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives that the general assembly expresses strong appreciation for the essential role of Vermont school board members in the state's public education system and designates February as school board recognition month in Vermont. And be it further resolved that the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Vermont School Boards Association. [Speaker 0 ]: Are there any announcements? Member from Georgia. [Speaker 7 ]: Thank you, madam speaker. It's my pleasure this afternoon to introduce to you, madam speaker, a fine pastor, a good friend. He's a pastor at the Lutheran Church in Burlington and former member of the Georgia select board. In fact, he was chair of the Georgia select board for quite a while. Reverend Devin Thomas delivered our devotion devotionals this afternoon, and I would like it if you and the members could help me welcome him to the people's house. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest of the member from Georgia please rise and be recognized? Member from Dover. [Speaker 8 ]: Madam speaker, we just heard a reading of the resolution, declaring February's recognition, school board recognition month. And wanted to ask that the body welcome a few school board members and representatives from the Vermont School Boards Association. Our school boards, of course, are charged with creating budgets that can pass and waiting on information from us and others in order to do so and really do a lot of difficult work this time of year. I'd ask the body to recognize Ursula Stanley, Flor Diaz Smith, as school board members, Sue Zaglowski, Sandra Cameron, Debbie Singer, and David Englander from the v s, the Vermont School Boards Association. Excuse me. They are seated in the gallery. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest of the member from Dover please rise and be recognized? Member from Winooski. [Speaker 9 ]: Madam speaker, today is recovery day. This is an annual advocacy celebration that's dedicated to honoring the power of substance use recovery and the diverse pathways that individuals undertake on their recovery journeys. This year's theme, recovery rooted in community connection, emphasizes the vital role that community support and peer connections play in a successful recovery outcome. The Vermont Association of Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, also known as Bamhar, is a statewide nonprofit that's provided advocacy and professional training to Vermont's workforce since nineteen thirty nine. The organization was founded during the depression by a surprisingly visionary group, the Montpelier Ladies Garden Club. These women saw the need for radical social change in the way that mental health was treated. They believed that we should treat mental health for what it is, a health challenge. They believe sorry. Nothing more, nothing less than a health challenge. No different from any other aspect of our health. Vamhar has a vision in which all communities actively embrace the full spectrum of the human experience with compassion and acceptance where all pathways to healing can be celebrated. Can you please help us to welcome Vamhar to the chamber today? [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest of the member for Winooski please rise and be recognized? Member from Rutland City. [Speaker 10 ]: Thank you, madam speaker. With us today to celebrate Recovery Day are members of the Recovery Partners of Vermont. Recovery Partners of Vermont consists of fourteen recovery service organizations, including centers and residents, which work across the state to support individuals and their families in their recovery from substance use. Recovery Partners Vermont members offer peer support, safe and healthy physical environments for people to start their lifelong recovery journey and assist with support services, promote norms that reinforce healthy living skills for sustainable recovery. They work with every individual to get them the support they need at the time they need it, offering healing and hope that lasts a lifetime. That is what we celebrate today. Recovery organizations have seen a significant increase in demand for our services as Vermont continues to address the opioid public health emergency. State investments in recovery organizations is an upstream investment in prevention with long term cost savings and enormous social benefits to our state. I have the absolute privilege and honor of serving on their board of directors for many years. So with us, madam speaker, I ask this body to welcome to the People's House members of the Recovery Partners of Vermont, which is sitting right up there on the top balcony. Thank you. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest of the member from Rutland City please rise and be recognized? Member from callus. [Speaker 11 ]: Madam Speaker, I move that the committee on general and housing be relieved of house bill one seventy five. That's a bill which is an act relating to clarifying the right of adjunct faculty to receive unemployment insurance benefits and that the same be committed to the committee on commerce and economic development. [Speaker 0 ]: The member from Kalos moves that the committee on general and housing be relieved of house bill one seventy five, which is an act relating to clarifying the the right of adjunant faculty to receive unemployment on insurance benefits. And at the same, be committed to the committee on commerce and economic development. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you relieved the committee on general and housing of House Bill one seventy five and committed the same to the committee on commerce and economic development. Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington. [Speaker 12 ]: Madam speaker, with your indulgence, I will make this brief announcement in French and then in English for reasons that will rapidly become apparent. Madam Speaker, we have a special guest with us today. Missier Jean Luc Emly has traveled from Quebec City to be with us here today. He had a long career in public service. He worked for decades in the provincial government of Quebec. After he retired, he devoted himself to developing and mentoring the next generation of leaders through conferences and workshops across the province. After he retired a second time, he continued his public service, serving on the boards of public oversight for architects, for psychologists, for bailiffs, and for accountants. He is also, through no fault of his own, my father-in-law. He is here with my wife, Genevieve Henry. They are in the balcony. Madam speaker, please join me in wishing them a warm Vermont welcome to the people's house. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the family of the member from Burlington please rise and be recognized? Member from Bristol. [Speaker 9 ]: Madam speaker, I ask that we recognize two organizations whose work in community recognizes the spiritual aspect of the climate crisis. Vermont Interfaith Action and Vermont Interfaith Power and Light. They are here today with other organizations for faith climate action day twenty twenty five. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest member from Bristol please rise and be recognized? Member from Bradford. [Speaker 7 ]: Madam speaker, rural caucus has a public forum tonight, at five thirty PM in room ten and as well on our usual rural caucus, Zoom. And every everyone is welcome. [Speaker 0 ]: Are there any further announcements? Member from East Montpelier. [Speaker 13 ]: Madam speaker, I would just like to remind the body that it is restaurant week in Montpelier. And you're encouraged to go out, which many of you do already. And enjoy our wonderful restaurants town. You can learn about some of the restaurant deals and special menus on Montpelier Alive's website, montpelier alive dot com. Hope to see you out and about. [Speaker 0 ]: Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington. [Speaker 14 ]: Madam speaker, it's Wednesday, which means it's farmer's night. Tonight at seven thirty, we will be having sheet of projects here. They are a vibrant collection of artisans focusing on cultural education and diversity by sharing West African dancing, drumming, and other folk traditions. And if that's not enough to get you here, there may be a cameo appearance by the member from East Montpelier. So see you tonight at seven thirty. [Speaker 0 ]: Member from Williston. [Speaker 15 ]: Madam speaker, tomorrow, Wednesday, the women's caucus will meet in room ten at noon. We will be hearing from Carrie Brown, the executive director of the commission on women, to hear about the commission's twenty twenty five priorities as well as a member of, the treasurer's task force on the federal transition and others. We hope to see you there. [Speaker 0 ]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none. Orders of the day. Members, we will begin with house bill ninety eight, which is an act relating to confirmatory adoptions. The bill was referred to the committee on judiciary, which recommends that the bill be amended as printed in today's calendar. The member from South Burlington, representative Malone, will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill. [Speaker 5 ]: H ninety eight, an act relating to confirmatory adoptions. [Speaker 0 ]: Member from South Burlington. [Speaker 16 ]: Madam speaker, before I get to the bill, people may be wondering why the delays. It's nothing the matter with the bill, frankly. So the original reporter of the bill, the representative from Burlington, representative Rachelston, contracted the flu last week. So she was unable to report the bill last week and we delayed it to yesterday. Thankfully, the representative from Burlington became healthy enough to be able to fly down to DC where she was there for her the birth of her first grandchild, who was born last night, yesterday evening at five o'clock. So so, we needed an extra day, to have me prepare a little bit for this. So, onto the bill. And we do congratulate her, and and I'm sure when she gets here, she'll show us all, photos. Anyway, h ninety eight, it proposes an expedited confirmatory adoption process. Seems very appropriate, that, Barbara Rachelson is down in DC for welcoming her new child actually. It would provide additional protection for parents who conceived a child through assisted reproduction and who are already legally recognized as parents under Vermont law. A legal parent child relationship is core to every child's stability and well-being because of the many rights and responsibilities that this relationship conveys. A legally recognized parent can make medical and other important decisions for their child. A legally recognized parent child relationship ensures that a child will have certain benefits, including the right to inherit from their parents. The Vermont Parentage Act currently provides that a person may establish parentage by consenting to assisted reproduction under chapter seven of title fifteen c. When children are born through assisted reproduction, one or both of their parents may not be genetically related to them due to the use of donor gametes. Parents who use assisted reproduction, both in Vermont and elsewhere, continue to face the reality that other states may discriminate against them and refuse to recognize their legal status as parents because of a lack of genetic connection. Although Vermont recognizes parents who use assisted reproduction with donor gametes as legal parents, other states may not. So when a family created by assisted reproduction leaves Vermont for any purpose or duration, the protections of the Vermont parentage act may fall short of protecting those children and parents. A state may choose not to recognize the law of another state if it's against its own public policy, but they must recognize legal judgments and court orders of another state. The full faith and credit clause of the US constitution requires states to give full recognition to another state's court orders. Because all US states and jurisdictions are required to recognize validly issued court orders, securing parentage through an adoption order addresses this problem and protects the family. With an adoption order, if the family moves to another state, that state must recognize the parents legal relationships to their children. Regular adoptions require expensive and intrusive processes such as background checks and home inspections. H ninety eight would remove the cumbersome, costly, and unnecessary barriers of such a process. It would streamline the adoption process to confirm a parent child relationship that already exists under Vermont's parentage law. I will now walk through the bill and you can follow along in today's calendar starting on page one zero eight. So section one of the bill adds a new section to Vermont's adoption title, title fifteen a that establishes an expedited process for these types of adoptions. Because the petitioners who would use this section are already legal parents of the child under Vermont law and are living within caring for the child, the extensive process for adoption of a legal stranger is not required. Section a provides definitions. Subsection b establishes the prerequisites for filing a petition to confirm parentage through an adoption of the child. Subsection c sets forth the information that is to be contained in a petition for confirmatory adoption, including one, the petition for adoption signed by all parents. Two, a copy of the petitioners married certificate, if petitions petitioners are married. Three, a declaration signed by the parents explaining the circumstances of the child's birth through assisted reproduction, attesting to their consent to assisted reproduction, and stating that there are no other persons with the claim to parentage of the trial under titles fifteen c. And finally, four, a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. Subsection d provides that the complete petition for adoption operates as the petitions petitioners written consent to adoption. Subsection e provides that if a petitioner used a a donor's gamete or embryo for conception, notice to or consent of the donor is not required. Subsection f excludes the confirmatory adoption procedure from requirements of traditional adoptions. But the court has the discretion to impose those additional requirements. Subsection g provides that the court is to grant the adoption and issue an adoption decree promptly upon finding that first for marital parents, that the parent who gave birth and the spouse were married at the time of the child's birth and the child was born through assisted reproduction, or two, for non marital parents. First, that the person who gave birth and the non marital parent consented to the assisted reproduction, and b, no other person has a legal claim to parentage or if there is someone with a claim to parentage, that person has been notified and where necessary consented. I will note now with respect to the subdivision, g two b, we have noted, an ambiguity with that, with the notice requirement, and you may be seeing, amendment, on third reading. Subsection h provides that the court shall not deny an adoption petition if the petitioner is already a presumed parent or legally recognized in Vermont. Finally, under subsection I, the fact that a person did not file a petition for adoption pursuant to this confirmatory adoption procedure, it won't be held against the person in a parentage dispute involving individuals claiming to be presumed parents. Section two of the bill provides that the act is to take effect July first twenty twenty five. Madam speaker, this bill is a common sense provision that makes the adoption process more streamlined and efficient for pay parents seeking an adoption decree to firmly establish an existing parent child relationship recognized under the Vermont Parentage Act. We heard from the following witnesses, legislative council, the director of family advocacy of the of of glad, GLBTQ legal advocates and defenders, senior policy council of family quality, the Vermont judiciary through the Vermont's chief superior judge, and a senior partner of a Burlington law firm specializing in adoption and surrogacy law. Through this bill, Vermont would address an urgent need for parents who seek to secure an adoption decree without unnecessary barriers that would provide important protection for children. The bill passed on a vote of eleven zero zero, and we ask for the body's support. [Speaker 0 ]: The question is, shall the bill be amended as recommended by the committee on judiciary? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have amended the bill. Now the question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Members next is house bill thirteen, which is an act relating to Medicaid payment rates for home and community based service providers and designated and specialized service agencies. Please listen to the third reading of the bill. [Speaker 5 ]: H thirteen, an act relating to Medicaid payment rates for home and community based service providers and designated and specialized service agencies. [Speaker 0 ]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The eyes do have it and you have passed the bill. Up next is House Bill forty four, which is an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing impaired driving. Please listen to the third reading of the bill. [Speaker 5 ]: H forty four, a night relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing impaired driving. [Speaker 0 ]: The question is, shall the bill pass? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill. Members, the final bill in our action calendar today is house bill one fifty four, which is an act relating to designating November as the Vermont month of the veteran. The bill was referred to the committee on government operations and military affairs, which recommends that the bill ought to pass. The member from Burlington, representative Hooper, will speak for the committee. Please listen to the second reading of the bill. [Speaker 5 ]: H one fifty four. An act relating to designating November as the Vermont month of the veteran. [Speaker 0 ]: Member from Burlington. [Speaker 11 ]: Thank you, madam speaker. [Speaker 5 ]: I [Speaker 11 ]: would like to yield to the more reliable vocal cords of the veteran from Milton. [Speaker 0 ]: The member from Burlington yields to the member from Milton. [Speaker 17 ]: Madam speaker, as read already, h one fifty four, an act relating to designating November as the Vermont month of the veteran. You can follow it on page one eleven. There isn't really much to follow, but pretty straightforward. In testimony, the member who sponsored bill from Putney brought this bill to our committee for the second time on behalf of a constituent input from last year. The bill passed our body here in the house last session, but for an uncertain reason, didn't make it out of the senate, so it didn't pass, overall as a, a law. So this is our second bite at the apple, so to speak, on this one. This constituent input to the member from Putney on the genesis of this bill was why can't we have a full month recognizing veterans when we have full months that recognize lots of other causes? So I think we don't say that's a noble thing. And, because right now, veterans are recognized on November eleventh, one day. So the suggestion was let's make it the whole month of November. It's straightforward and reads simply. It's the intent of the general assembly to honor the, special value of the military service that the veterans of the US Armed Forces have contributed to the security and well-being of our nation by designating November as the Vermont month of the veteran. Madam speaker, there's an old saying that goes like this, A veteran is someone that at some point in their life has written a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. I think that speaks volumes. We took testimony from, legislative council, the office of legislative council, and the sponsor of the bill, the member from Putney. Our committee vote on the bill was ten zero one, and we ask for your support. Thank you. [Speaker 0 ]: The question is, shall the bill be read a third time? Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and third reading is ordered. Members, that completes the orders of the day. Members, the chair has two announcements. First, the member from Bristol, representative Cortes, is appointed to the Green Mountain Care Board Nominating Committee. And the second is that we have a a reminder here that tomorrow morning at ten thirty AM, we have a joint assembly to elect the sergeant at arms and UVM trustees. So please arrive in the house chamber at approximately ten fifteen so we are ready for the senate's arrival and can gabble in at ten thirty. Are there any announcements? Member from Burlington. [Speaker 18 ]: Madam speaker, in news that will not surprise this body, we have some guests in the chamber this afternoon. I have been waiting because I know they haven't all arrived. So I'm gonna read some names of some people who are probably not here, And I think some people have arrived who are not on my list. But I do want to welcome members of the Abenak Odenakie. Odenak First Nation to the state house this afternoon. Some of them, maybe all of them are in the balcony. We are welcoming counselor Jacques Watso, counselor Florence Benedict, Daniel g Nollet, general director, Siguani La Chapelle, research assistant, Isaac La Chapelle Gill, Ndakina, Guardian, and Susie Obamsohn, assistant general counsel. And they're gonna be accompanied by professor Daryl LaRue from the University of Ottawa, professor David Massell from the University of Vermont, and UVM historian in genics researcher Richard Whitting along with the UVM graduate and advocate, Jules Lee. I do hope, madam speaker, that the body will join me in providing a warm and overdue welcome to our guests. [Speaker 0 ]: Will the guest of the member from Burlington please rise and be recognized? Are there any further announcements? Member from Burlington. [Speaker 19 ]: Madam speaker, it sounds like it's an action packed evening in the state house, and I have one more announcement. Tonight from five to six forty five PM, in the cafeteria, we're having our first official meeting of the universal health care caucus. Our agenda is to review the history of universal health care in Vermont, to take stock of the current landscape, and to identify pathways to move forward to guaranteeing health care as a human right to all Vermonters. Thank you. [Speaker 0 ]: Are there any further announcements? Seeing none member from Poltenay, can you please offer us a motion to adjourn until Thursday, February twentieth at three PM? [Speaker 2 ]: Madam Speaker, I make a motion this body stand in adjournment until Thursday, February twentieth two thousand twenty five at three PM. [Speaker 0 ]: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, please say nay. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and the spotty stands in adjournment until tomorrow at three PM.

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SmartTranscript of House Session: 2025-02-19-3:00 p.m.

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