Senate resolution relating to electronic participation in Senate Session

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Baruth

Allows temporary electronic participation in Senate sessions during health emergencies, enabling remote voting and debate when in-person attendance isn’t possible.

As adopted by Senate

Summary of SR 3 (2025-2026) — Senate Resolution Relating to Electronic Participation in Senate Session (Vermont)

Purpose and intent

Establishes a temporary rule to allow electronic participation in Senate Sessions under defined emergency circumstances.

The rule is designed to enable Senators to participate in debate, deliberation, and voting without being physically present in the Senate chamber when certain conditions apply.

Key provisions and changes

Designation of a temporary rule, Rule 9B, governing electronic participation:

In-person Sessions: General Senate Sessions are to be held in person.
Emergency electronic participation (Rule 9A procedures):
A Senator may participate electronically if any of the following apply:
- (A) The Senator has tested positive for COVID-19 or has a COVID-19 diagnosis and is within a required isolation period.
- (B) The Senator has COVID-19 symptoms and is awaiting a diagnostic test result.
- (C) The Senator is the primary caregiver for a household member who must stay home due to conditions in (A) or (B).
- (D) The Senator or the household member for whom the Senator is the primary caregiver has a temporary emergency relating to care or health.
Duration limits:
For emergency (D) scenarios, a Senator may participate electronically for up to two consecutive days.
The Rules Committee may approve longer durations of participation under (D) if warranted.

Temporal scope:

The temporary rule is to remain in effect through Tuesday, March 11, 2025, after which it may be revisited or expire unless renewed.

Who and what is affected

Affects individual Senators by permitting them to participate electronically when meeting the specified emergency conditions.

Affects Senate procedural processes by providing an approved mechanism (Rule 9B) for electronic participation in lieu of in-person attendance during emergencies.

The Vermont Senate Rules Committee is involved in approving extended durations for (D) emergencies beyond the two-day limit.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Adoption: The resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 8, 2025.

Effective period: The temporary rule is in effect through March 11, 2025.

Ongoing governance: The resolution contemplates potential future action by the Rules Committee for longer durations under certain emergency scenarios (section a(1)(D)).

Practical impact and considerations

Ensures continuity of legislative function and participation by Senators who cannot be physically present due to health or caregiving emergencies.

Maintains in-person sessions as the default mode, preserving traditional proceedings while providing a controlled, temporary alternative during emergencies.

Supports timely debate and voting on bills or resolutions without forcing absences when health or caregiving constraints are present.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to prior pandemic-era electronic participation rules or outline potential implications for voting quorum and attendance records.