News from Montpelier 2020 overtime week 2

Floor sessions in the House this week saw the action on nine bills messaged to the Senate to continue to expedite the process to bring them to culmination. S. 339, an act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to vehicles was officially committed to the House Transportation committee Wednesday and testimony was taken during committee hearings throughout the week. The Floor presentation of the strike-all amendment to H. 942 the T-Bill, engendered debate but was accepted and the bill passed on a roll call vote of 147 yeas to 0 nays.
H. 955 an act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment, H. 947 an act relating to temporary municipal tax rate provisions in response to COVID-19, H. 958 an act relating to communications union districts and S. 345 an act relating to temporary municipal meeting provisions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak were taken up by the House Wednesday. They all passed and were messaged to the Senate, some with amendments and some in concurrence with the Senate proposal of amendment.
As a first order of business Friday H.R.20, House resolution extending the House Declaration of a State of Emergency was read and adopted. The Whereas’s of the resolution speak to the need for the House to continue using measures that permit the completion of business while minimizing transmission risk of COVID-19. With this resolution the House of Representatives extends the state of emergency which would have expired May 31, 2020 until June 30, 2020 for its Rules and procedures. H. 951 an act relating to the municipal emergency statewide education property tax borrowing program, H. 953 an act relating to fiscal year 2020 supplemental budget adjustments, H. 956 an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to alcoholic beverage laws and S. 283 an act relating to the Town of Hartford’s tax increment financing district all passed during Friday’s House floor session.
A roll call vote was requested on whether H. 959 an act relating to education property tax should be read a third time. After substantial debate on whether the setting of rates based on Town Meeting votes as opposed to current fiscal forecasts should be considered, third read was ordered on a vote of 127 yeas to 20 nays. Amendments may be offered before the bills third reading next week, in particular an amendment to limit the ability for the Education fund to incur a deficit, to the fiscal year 2021 and not for ‘any succeeding year’ as stated in the as introduced language.
As Vermonters return to their summer homes they are directed to read the COVID-19 guidelines at: https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19

I offer my deep gratitude to each and every one of you who are being cautious in contact but taking care of and serving our community. I can be reached at bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us or 802-849-6545