News from Montpelier 2021 session week 12

Thursday afternoon the Joint Assembly was convened for the results of the votes for retention of Superior Court Judges and Magistrates. Judge Brian Grearson, Judge Nancy Waples, Magistrate Christine Hoyt, Magistrate Joseph Lorman and Magistrate Brian Valentine were all retained to their offices. H.315 an act relating to COVID-19 relief, a bill that was on the fast track to assist Vermonters, seems to have slowed up since it passed out of the House on February 26. The Senate voted it out with amendments on March 24 returning it to the House. It was posted to the Calendar each day this week but then postponed. The changes proposed in the Senate’s amendment were reviewed and Appropriation members will propose an amendment for consideration. Two bills that the House did act on this week were H.227 an act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the City of Winooski and J.R.H.2. Joint resolution sincerely apologizing and offering sorrow and regret to all individual Vermonters and their families and descendants who were harmed as a result of state sanctioned eugenics policies and practices. Both bills received a Roll Call vote to move them to second reading and passed on voice votes.
The General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee introduced J.R.H.2 on the House Floor Wednesday with the Chair giving a speech that encompassed some of the historical background and present day affects that this Resolution is making an apology for. House members made statements that spoke to their personal experience or connection to the policies and procedures sanctioned by Vermont’s involvement in the eugenics movement. The Roll Call vote was 146 ayes to 0 nays and on Thursday a unanimous voice vote passed it to the Senate. The rest of the time allotted to committee work this week was dedicated to the walk-through of several bills, discussion of housing stabilization programs and vote on amendments to H.157 an act relating to construction contractors.
The bills that the Committee gave an initial walk-through to were H.211 an act relating to recovery residences, H.339 an act relating to creating the Vermont Silver Rose Veterans’ Service Certificate, H.347 an act relating to creating uniform standards for tiny houses, S.79 an act relating to improving rental housing health and safety, H.308 an act relating to authorizing card check elections, H.329 an act relating to amending the prohibitions against discrimination, H.320 an act relating to prohibiting agreements that prevent an employee from working following the settlement of a discrimination claim, H.85 an act relating to requiring employment breaks, H.365 an act relating to exemptions from the minimum wage, H.416 an act relating to abandoned swimming pools and S.78 an act relating to binding interest arbitration for employees of the Vermont Judiciary. Testimony and discussion with representatives of the Vermont Housing Authority was the last piece of business for the committee Friday afternoon.
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Representative Barbara S. Murphy bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us 802-849-6545