Members of the House of Representatives take their oath of office on the opening day of the Legislature at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSolemnly swearThe Statehouse brimmed with anticipation and anxiety on Wednesday, the halls whirring with the undirected energy of so many new bodies not knowing exactly what to do. There was a press conference, near collisions in narrow doorways, and, oh, were there oaths — so many oaths. The building’s third-largest caucus appeared to be the staff of Vermont Public, who made themselves known with cameras, microphones and branded T-shirts and hoodies. Most first-term legislators had a couple months to prepare for day one. But Rep. Zachary Harvey, R-Castleton, was only publicly appointed yesterday, after the seat’s representative-elect decided to step down. Thankfully, his background in finance meant he didn’t need to buy a suit for his swearing in. And he carpooled, so finding parking was no problem. What surprised him the most so far?“You hear so much about the partisan gridlock, but I’ve been graciously welcomed by my Democratic colleagues,” he said. Mid-interview, Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, D-Norwich, a veritable Statehouse vet, passed through the hallway leaving the House chamber.“New person thing,” she said to Harvey, gesturing toward a thermos stashed on the window sill. “That’s where you leave your cup.”While Harvey had little time to prepare, Rep. Jonathan Cooper, D-Pownal, wasn’t sure he’d have time to get comfortable. Due to a procedural error, not all voters in Cooper’s Bennington-1 district received the proper ballots. The House has the power to decide what happens next, perhaps approving his victory, perhaps calling for a revote.Like other new members, Cooper’s wife and daughter joined him in Montpelier. The special day had arrived on the heels of a campaign marked by personal tragedy. This July, Cooper’s 9-year-old daughter, June Violet Cooper, died by accidental drowning at summer camp. Without a political record to run on, Cooper said he found himself explaining his story to voters.“That story changed,” he said. “Conversations shifted out of policy and into the personal, into family.”“It showed us why we love the town we live in,” he added. Wednesday, with his family looking on, Cooper soaked in the occasion. Unknown lay ahead.“That starts tomorrow,” he said. “But today…” he trailed off. — Ethan WeinsteinIn the knowRep. Jill Krowinski, a Democrat from Burlington, won a third term as speaker of the Vermont House on Wednesday, overcoming a challenge from Dover independent Rep. Laura Sibilia. The outcome showed Krowinski still enjoys substantial, bipartisan support among her House colleagues — even after her caucus suffered significant losses in last fall’s election. The speaker has the sole authority to make committee appointments in the House, and Krowinski appeared to reward Republicans’ support — and pointed to their increased numbers — by putting a Republican at the helm of a second committee. Coventry Rep. Michael Marcotte was the only ‘R’ to chair a House panel in recent years, the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. This session, he will be joined by a second caucus member — Swanton Rep. Matt Walker, who will helm the House Transportation Committee. Meanwhile, the number of Republicans serving as committee vice chairs has more than doubled — from four last year to nine members this year. Overall, nearly all — 11 of the 14 — House committees will have some GOP leadership this year. Many shifts in leadership were prompted by Democratic losses in November. But there were also some notable swaps involving representatives who won reelection. For one, Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, is now a rank-and-file member of the Appropriations Committee instead of chair of House General and Housing. Also, Rep. Sibilia is the ranking member on the new Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee — no longer a committee vice chair.—- Shaun RobinsonSen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden Southeast, was elected the third member of the Committee on Committees, the powerful three-person group in charge of Senate committee assignments. Those assignments are expected Thursday or Friday. How to handle the procedural error in the Bennington-1 district vote — a seat that includes Pownal, Readsboro, Stamford, Woodford and Searsburg — will be “the first major issue” taken up by the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, according to its newly announced chair, Rep. Matt Birong, D-Vergennes. Birong wouldn’t say what to expect, only that his committee would do its due diligence. He said he expected to hear from Attorney General Charity Clark on the issue next week. —- Ethan WeinsteinRead the story on VTDigger here: Final Reading: New Vermont lawmakers take on their first day.