Vermont Bills

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 17, 2023

HCR 48: House concurrent resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on the observance of St. Patrick’s Day 2023

This bill is a commemorative resolution that honors the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a historic peace deal signed in 1998 that helped end decades of conflict in Northern Ireland. It does not create new laws or change policy but instead directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to several Irish political leaders and the Vermont Congressional Delegation. The resolution acknowledges the agreement's role in establishing a peaceful political framework for Northern Ireland and recognizes its importance on St. Patrick's Day 2023. This type of symbolic legislation serves to recognize historical events rather than implement concrete policy changes.

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 17, 2023

HCR 53: House concurrent resolution recognizing the week of May 14–20 as National Skilled Nursing Care Week and the week of September 10–16 as National Assisted Living Week in Vermont

This legislative resolution formally recognizes two specific weeks in Vermont as National Skilled Nursing Care Week and National Assisted Living Week to honor long-term care facilities and their staff. The bill designates May 14-20 as National Skilled Nursing Care Week and September 10-16 as National Assisted Living Week to acknowledge the work of caregivers and support residents in these facilities. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to relevant health and disability organizations, facilitating official recognition of these observances. The measure does not create new funding or policy requirements but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the importance of skilled nursing and assisted living care in Vermont.

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 17, 2023

HCR 56: House concurrent resolution recognizing March 12–18 as AmeriCorps Week in Vermont

This bill designates the week of March 12-18 as AmeriCorps Week in Vermont to honor the contributions of current and past AmeriCorps members and volunteers. It directly affects the SerVermont office, which oversees over 2,200 AmeriCorps members and volunteers across 420 service locations in the state. The resolution requires the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to SerVermont for official record-keeping and awareness. This measure serves as a formal recognition of AmeriCorps programs that provide educational scholarships, environmental conservation, and volunteer opportunities for Vermonters of all ages.

passed both · Vermont · Senate Mar 16, 2023

JRS 18: Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment

This legislative bill sets a specific meeting schedule for the Vermont State Legislature following a Friday adjournment on March 17, 2023. It requires both the Senate and House of Representatives to reconvene no later than Tuesday, March 21, 2023, ensuring a weekend break of three days. The resolution directly affects state legislators by establishing the timeline for their next session without altering any laws or policies. This procedural measure simply confirms the dates when lawmakers will return to work after the weekend.

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 16, 2023

HCR 38: House concurrent resolution congratulating the 2023 Hartford High School Hurricanes Division II championship boys’ indoor track team

This bill is a formal resolution that congratulates the 2023 Hartford High School Hurricanes boys' indoor track team for winning their first Division II state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's historic achievement, which included first-place finishes in the 300-meter run and long jump, along with relay victories, resulting in a 101-82.5 final score. It specifically names the 20 team members, head coach Mike Perry, and assistant coach Fatimah Shabazz who earned the title. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to Hartford High School to formally acknowledge their accomplishment.

passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 15, 2023

S 9: An act relating to the authority of the State Auditor to examine the books and records of State contractors

This Vermont bill expands the State Auditor's authority to review financial records of state contractors, allowing the Auditor to examine documents relevant to contract performance. The law requires state contracts to include terms granting the Auditor discretion to access contractor records, while protecting non-public information from public inspection. It also updates existing statutes to clarify that all state departments and contractors must provide requested records for audit purposes. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to any entity providing services to the state government.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 15, 2023

HCR 22: House concurrent resolution recognizing July 2023 as Park and Recreation Month in Vermont and designating July 21, 2023 as Vermont Park and Recreation Professionals Day in Vermont

This bill officially recognizes July 2023 as Park and Recreation Month in Vermont and designates July 21, 2023 as Vermont Park and Recreation Professionals Day. The resolution honors the importance of park and recreation programs for promoting active lifestyles, environmental protection, and community well-being. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. This is a ceremonial measure that does not create new laws or require funding.

passed both · Vermont · House Mar 15, 2023

HCR 45: House concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont medal winners at the 2022 National Senior Games and designating March 15, 2023 as Senior Physical Fitness Day at the State House

This House concurrent resolution congratulates Vermont athletes who won medals at the 2022 National Senior Games and designates March 15, 2023 as Senior Physical Fitness Day at the State House. It specifically honors 45 Vermonters who competed in 11 sports, including top finishers like 87-year-old Flo Meiler who won five gold medals. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the honored athletes, the Vermont Senior Games Association, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. This is a ceremonial measure that recognizes athletic achievement and promotes senior fitness awareness without creating new laws or funding.

passed · Vermont · House Mar 14, 2023

HR 6: House resolution updating House Rules

This bill updates the House Rules of the Vermont House of Representatives to modernize procedures for handling legislation and managing the chamber. Key changes include clarifying how bills are formatted and printed, adjusting timelines for when bills move between committee and floor consideration, and specifying when short-form bills must be converted to standard form. The resolution also restricts photography and phone use on the House floor, limits who may enter the chamber during sessions, and outlines how joint resolutions are processed differently from regular bills. These procedural adjustments apply to all members of the House and staff involved in legislative operations.

passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 3, 2023

SR 9: Senate resolution relating to electronic participation in Senate Sessions

This Senate resolution extends the deadline for a temporary rule allowing electronic participation in Vermont Senate sessions from March 3, 2023, to January 5, 2024. The amendment directly affects senators who may need to vote or participate in proceedings remotely due to health or other circumstances. By updating the rule's expiration date, the Senate maintains flexibility for remote participation while keeping the provision in place for an additional period. The resolution is a procedural measure that modifies an existing rule without creating new substantive requirements for senators.

passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 3, 2023

SR 8: Senate resolution relating to concurrently conducted electronic committee meetings

This Senate resolution temporarily extends the application of Senate Rule 32A, which governs committee meetings, through January 5, 2024. The measure allows Senate committees to conduct electronic meetings concurrently, meaning multiple committees can meet at the same time via video or other electronic means. This provision overrides a previous rule that restricted such electronic meetings to emergency situations only. The resolution directly affects Senate committees and their members by providing a specific timeframe for using these flexible meeting arrangements.

passed both · Vermont · Senate Mar 3, 2023

JRS 16: Joint resolution providing for a Joint Assembly to vote on the retention of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and eight Superior Court Judges

This bill directs the Vermont General Assembly to hold a joint session vote on March 28, 2023, to decide whether to retain 12 judges and justices seeking another term. The measure applies to the Chief Justice and four Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, as well as eight Superior Court Judges who have submitted declarations requesting retention. Because the judicial retention committee could not complete its review process by the statutory deadline, this resolution allows the legislature to proceed directly to a vote without the usual public hearings and committee evaluations. The bill also establishes a backup schedule requiring the Assembly to meet on consecutive days, excluding weekends, until the retention votes are completed.

Bill results