S 56 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to creating an Office of New Americans

This bill amends Vermont's legislative structure to establish an Office of New Americans Study Committee, not a new agency. It requires the Governor to appoint six committee members, including one New American with lived experience nominated by a specific community organization (e.g., Association of Africans Living in Vermont or Migrant Justice). The committee's purpose is to study issues affecting New Americans in Vermont, with membership directly reflecting input from key immigrant-serving organizations. The bill passed both chambers and was signed into law by the Governor on May 21, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed May 23, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
16
Committee
14
Amendments
7
May 23, 2025
Signed into law
Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 21, 2025
executive
May 22, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor on May 21, 2025
executive
May 14, 2025
Introduced
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in
lower
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
As passed by Senate and House
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment concurred in
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment; text
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
New Business/House Proposal of Amendment
upper
May 9, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
upper
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
lower
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Rep. Dickinson of St. Albans Town moved that the House propose to the Senate to amend the bill, which was agreed to
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Dickinson of St. Albans Town recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Stone of Burlington reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably by Senator Westman for Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Government Operations
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations
upper
7 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors