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JRH 12

Joint resolution authorizing remote joint committee voting through the remainder of calendar year 2026 and the application of the ADA thereto

2025-2026 Regular Session

Allows joint committee members to vote remotely up to three days in rest of 2026, with quorum counting and required notification, recording, and ADA accommodations.

Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Lyons
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Bill Summary · JRH 12

Overview

J.R.H. 12 is a Joint House Resolution from Vermont that authorizes limited remote voting for members of joint committees through the remainder of calendar year 2026. It also addresses how remote voting interacts with committee quorum rules and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in certain accessibility situations.

Purpose and intent

  • Provide flexibility for joint committee members to participate in votes remotely for up to three days per member during the rest of 2026.
  • Ensure remote voting is tracked and recorded, with procedures for notifying chairs and clerks.
  • Clarify ADA-related voting accommodations when accessibility barriers prevent physical participation on-site.

Key provisions

  • Remote voting limit: Each member of a joint committee may vote remotely on no more than three days during the remainder of calendar year 2026.
  • Notification requirement: A member exercising remote voting must notify the committee chair or co-chairs (as applicable) and the committee clerk.
  • Quorum counting: Remote votes count toward the committee’s quorum.
  • Recording and tracking: The committee clerk must record every remote vote and track the number of remote voting days used by each member.
  • ADA accessibility provision: If a joint committee meeting is not accessible onsite due to the physical condition of the site, a member with a disability who is physically present at the site may vote remotely from the site and count toward quorum without using one of the member’s remote voting days provided by this resolution. This applies when the meeting cannot be moved to an accessible onsite location.

Who is affected

  • Members of Vermont joint committees (legislative)
  • Committee chairs/co-chairs and committee clerks responsible for notification, recording, and tracking votes
  • Members with disabilities who may benefit from ADA-related accommodations to participate remotely in person or from the site

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective period: Through the remainder of calendar year 2026.
  • Action: The resolution was read and placed on the calendar for action pursuant to Rule 52 on May 27, 2026.
  • Implementation details: Requires formal notification, remote vote recording, and ongoing tracking by the committee clerk; quorum requirements are preserved with remote votes counted toward quorum.

Potential impact

  • Increases flexibility for members facing travel, health, or other barriers while preserving committee operations and quorum standards.
  • Provides a concrete framework for remote participation that aligns with ADA considerations, potentially improving accessibility during joint committee meetings.
  • Requires procedural discipline (notification, recording, tracking) to ensure transparency and accountability in remote voting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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