News from Montpelier Special Session 2021

The Senate and House members convened in Special Session on Monday November 23, 2021 in response to the Governor’s proclamation. The text of the proclamation is included in the House Journal for the Session. https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2021.1/Docs/JOURNAL/hj211122.pdf Both chambers introduced a trio of resolutions that set the rules to govern and inform the other body and Governor that they had organized. The House was recessed until the Senate’s completion of action on S.1. https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2021.1/S.1 Upon receipt of the bill from the Senate the House referred it to the Committee on Government Operations. The Committee took testimony and came back to present it to the Members with the recommendation that it be passed. An amendment was offered removing the authority for a criminal penalty to be imposed for the infraction of a mask mandate rule which failed on a vote of 46 ayes and 85 nays. The bill was passed in concurrence on a roll call vote of 90 ayes and 41 nays.