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VermontS.562025-2026 SessionSenate

An act relating to creating an Office of New Americans

Sponsored By: Martine Larocque L Gulick (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Vermont studies a New Americans office

Effective May 21, 2025, the law creates a nine-member committee to study an independent Office of New Americans. It does not create the office or provide new public benefits. The Vermont Refugee Office director chairs the committee, with one appointee each from Labor and the Office of Racial Equity. The Governor appoints six members, including one New American with lived experience who may be nominated by the Association of Africans Living in Vermont. The other five are nominated by refugee, Afghan, development, migrant-rights, and state college organizations named in the law. The report must review population, economic, and public health data, service use, and approaches in other states. It must cover education, training, professional licensing, housing, and support for employers and towns. The committee must consult community groups, public agencies, municipal leaders, educators, and business leaders about work barriers and service gaps. It must recommend the office’s structure, duties, funding, staffing, definition of New Americans, and possible service transfers or consolidation. The Agency of Human Services provides administrative, technical, and legal support. The first meeting is due by September 1, 2025, and the report by September 1, 2026. The committee ends when it submits its report or on September 1, 2026, whichever comes first. Members can receive daily pay and expense reimbursement for up to 10 meetings. Legislative members qualify only while serving as legislators during a legislative adjournment, with payments from General Assembly appropriations. Other members receive payments as permitted by state law from Agency of Human Services appropriations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Martine Larocque L Gulick

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • David H Weeks

    Republican • Senate

  • Nader A Hashim

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca "Becca" E White

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ruth E Hardy

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tanya C Vyhovsky

    Democrat/Progressive • Senate

  • Wendy K Harrison

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 21, 2025

    5/23/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on May 21, 2025

    5/22/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 15, 2025

    5/15/2025Senate

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/14/2025Senate

  5. As passed by Senate and House

    5/13/2025Senate

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/13/2025Senate

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

    5/13/2025Senate

  8. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/13/2025Senate

  9. House proposal of amendment

    5/9/2025Senate

  10. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/9/2025Senate

  11. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

    5/8/2025House

  12. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/7/2025House

  13. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    5/7/2025House

  14. Third Reading ordered

    5/6/2025House

  15. Rep. Dickinson of St. Albans Town moved that the House propose to the Senate to amend the bill, which was agreed to

    5/6/2025House

  16. Rep. Dickinson of St. Albans Town recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

    5/6/2025House

  17. Rep. Stone of Burlington reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

    5/6/2025House

  18. Read second time

    5/6/2025House

  19. Action Calendar: Favorable

    5/6/2025House

  20. Notice Calendar: Favorable

    5/2/2025House

  21. Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

    4/30/2025House

  22. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

    3/27/2025House

  23. Read 3rd time & passed

    3/25/2025Senate

  24. New Business/Third Reading

    3/25/2025Senate

  25. 3rd reading ordered

    3/21/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 29)Opens in a new window

    5/28/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/14/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/14/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    5/8/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/8/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    3/26/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    3/26/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/6/2025

    PDF

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