The Vermont House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported a resolution on Thursday that requires legislators to conduct their business inside the Statehouse 30 days after Gov. Phil Scott lifts the Covid-19 state of emergency.
The measure, H.R.11, almost passed unanimously, but one mystery dissenter could be heard on the voice vote.
The resolution also stipulates that the House continue to meet remotely until adjourning for the 2021 legislative session, and it requires lawmakers to meet via Zoom for the tentative veto session set for late June.
The big takeaway from Thursday’s vote is that House members have a strong desire to return to the Statehouse.
Under the provision, joint hearings and summer study meetings will take place in person 30 days after the governor rescinds all coronavirus restrictions. The document also signals the intent of House lawmakers to meet in Montpelier for the 2022 session.
“We don’t have knowledge certain when the overall state of emergency would be eased adequately for those committees to meet in person. We do know that there’s an anticipation that all the restrictions would be lifted and it would be safe to meet,” Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, said Thursday.
Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, R-Stowe, who has been a vocal advocate for returning to in-person proceedings, said Thursday that she feels strongly that the Statehouse must be open to lawmakers, the public and the press.
Scheuermann said she supported the resolution with the understanding that 30 days after the governor lifts the state of emergency, remote work would cease.
“That is my hope. That is my plea to the rules committee, and my plea to my colleagues in the House and in the other body,” she said, referring to the Senate.
For its part, the upper chamber has already passed a resolution that gives it the ability to continue meeting remotely until early January 2022. And while the House is looking for a full return to in-person meetings, the Senate is placing a premium on flexibility.
On Wednesday, as the Joint Committee on Rules received a briefing on the lower chamber’s resolution, Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, cautioned that some senators would like to be able to continue meeting and voting remotely over the summer.
Clarkson said she views in-person meetings this summer as a pilot program for 2022.
“I don’t think you flip a switch and things change automatically,” she said. “Normal doesn’t happen overnight, and we’ve had over a year now of trying to be very careful with each and to just do that change overnight is a challenge.
Click here to get Final Reading in your inbox.