Weekly report of how the House voted, from freshman lawmaker from Orange County
by Rep. Samantha Lefebvre
J.R.H.20 and H.R.22 authorize remote participation by legislators in ’22 via American Disabilities Act. Passed by voice vote, I voted yes.
H.447 (Town of Springfield charter) passed on a voice vote. I voted yes.
H.731 (’22 technical corrections): Passed unanimously.
S.247 (prohibiting discrimination based on genetic information) Passed unanimously.
S.206 (planning and support for individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders) Passed unanimously.
S.280 (misc. changes to laws re: vehicles) Passed by a voice vote on the floor. I voted yes, although I do have concerns with some of the additions that were added to a “technical corrections” bill.
S.197 (provision of mental health supports) Passed unanimously
S.210 (rental housing health and safety and affordable housing) – roll call vote result Yeas, 88, Nays, 54. I did not support this.
The state is facing a huge crisis with the housing market and rental properties are not safe from this as well. There are some cities in the state that have already stood up their own form of the rental registry. The state version has some lingering questions from House Members that will be answered by 3rd reading – if the city language is vaguer, then would the state still step in?
I do not feel that the intent of this bill will be executed, and in fact it will create more of a lack of rentals.
If the intent was just to have there be communication for the state to be able to update landlords on change, then something could be put into place for landlords to be able to sign up for that. This bill is heavy loaded with enforcement and fees.
S.162 (collective bargaining rights of teachers) Second reading of the bill, passed unanimously.
The author is a first-term Republican member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Orange.