Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 5 D · 1 R · 1 I cosponsors

S 56 — An act relating to creating an Office of New Americans

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 21, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 07, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 23, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (5 D · 1 R · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

188 added · 89 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill S 56 adds specific language regarding the membership of a certain committee by including one more member and associated appointments. It now explicitly recognizes a member from World Education Services and requires that one member be appointed by the Governor and nominated by the Vermont Afghan Alliance. These changes are significant as they aim to enhance diversity and representation within the committee, acknowledging the contributions and needs of various communities in Vermont.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 1 of 4 S.56 An act relating to creating an Office of New Americans It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 1 of 8 S.56 Introduced by Senators Gulick, Hardy, Harrison, Hashim, Vyhovsky, Weeks and White Referred to Committee on Government Operations Date:
February 7, 2025 Subject:
Executive;
Office of New Americans;
report Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to create the Office of New Americans Study Committee to study and report concerning the creation of an independent Office of New Americans.
An act relating to creating an Office of New Americans It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 2 of 8 (2) one current member of the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(3) one current member of the Senate, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees;
(4) one member, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services;
(5) one member, appointed by the Commissioner of Labor;
(6) one member, appointed by the Executive Director of the Office of Racial Equity;
(7) one member representing the Association of Africans Living in Vermont;
and (8) seven members, appointed by the Governor, who shall include:
(A) one member, nominated by the Association of Africans Living in Vermont;
(B) one member, nominated by the U.S.
Committee for Refugees and Immigrants;
(C) one member, nominated by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation;
(D) one member, nominated by the Vermont Afghan Alliance;
(E) one member, nominated by World Education Services;
(F) one member, nominated by the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project;
and BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 3 of 8 (G) one member with experience or expertise serving nonnative Vermonters on a statewide level.
(c) Powers and duties.
The Committee shall study and submit a written report to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations concerning recommendations for creating an independent Office of New Americans, including:
(1) a summary of the current demographic, economic, and public health data regarding New Americans in the State and information regarding the government services being utilized and underutilized by New Americans;
(2) a summary or survey of varying and successful approaches to providing government services to New Americans in other states, with particular focus on the topics of the role of education and training institutions, professional licensing, housing, and support for employers and municipalities;
(3) in consultation with community-based organizations composed of or serving New Americans, State agencies and departments that provided services to New Americans, municipal government leaders, educational institutions, and business leaders, information on:
(A) the existing State and local-level barriers for New Americans for gainfully participating in the State’s workforce, economy, and business communities;
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 4 of 8 (B) additional governmental services needed by New Americans but not yet offered by the State;
and (C) the transfer or consolidation of existing governmental services for New Americans that would be more efficiently provided by a new Office of New Americans;
(4) the structure of a to-be-created independent Office of New Americans;
and (5) the proposed structure, duties, funding, and labor needs of an Office of New Americans.
(d) The Committee shall be composed of the following three subcommittees, with duties and leadership to be assigned by the Chair at the first meeting of the Committee:
(1) Legal Services;
(2) Equity and Access to State Programs and Resources;
and (3) Workforce, Economic Opportunity, and Inclusion.
(e) Assistance.
The Committee shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Agency of Human Services.
(f) Date of Report.
On or before September 1, 2026, the Committee shall submit the written report required by subsection (c) of this section.
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(g) Meetings.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 5 of 8 (1) The Chair shall call the first meeting of the Committee to occur on or before September 1, 2025.
(2) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
(3) The Committee shall cease to exist on the earlier of September 1, 2026 or the date that the Committee submits its written report.
(h) Compensation and reimbursement.
(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General Assembly, a legislative member of the Committee serving in the member’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A.
§ 23 for not more than 20 meetings.
These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the General Assembly.
(2) Other members of the Committee shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A.
§ 1010 for not more than 20 meetings.
These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the Agency of Human Services.
Sec.
2.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on passage.
Sec.
1.
OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS STUDY COMMITTEE;
REPORT (a) Creation.
There is created the Office of New Americans Study Committee to make recommendations for creating an independent Office of New Americans.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 6 of 8 (b) Membership.
The Committee shall be composed of the following members:
(1) the Director of the Vermont Refugee Office, who shall be Chair;
VT LEG #382104 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 2 of 4 (D) one member, nominated by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation;
(D) one member, nominated by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation;
VT LEG #382104 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 3 of 4 (A) the existing State and local-level barriers for New Americans for gainfully participating in the State’s workforce, economy, and business communities;
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 7 of 8 (A) the existing State and local-level barriers for New Americans for gainfully participating in the State’s workforce, economy, and business communities;
VT LEG #382104 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 4 of 4 (2) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
(2) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
(3) The Committee shall cease to exist on the earlier of September 1, 2026 or the date that the Committee submits its written report.
(3) The Committee shall cease to exist on the earlier of September 1, or the date that the Committee submits its written report.
(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General Assembly, a legislative member of the Committee serving in the member’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A.
(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General Assembly, a legislative member of the Committee serving in the member’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A.
§ 23 for not more than 10 meetings.
§ 23 for not more than 10 meetings.
(2) Other members of the Committee shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A.
(2) Other members of the Committee shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A.
§ 1010 for not more than 10 meetings.
§ 1010 for not more than 10 meetings.
Sec.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.56 Page 8 of 8 Sec.
VT LEG #382104 v.1
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

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

  2. Signed by Governor on May 21, 2025

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 15, 2025

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

  5. As passed by Senate and House

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

  8. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  9. House proposal of amendment

  10. Entered on Notice Calendar

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

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

  13. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  14. Third Reading ordered

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

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

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

  18. Read second time

  19. Action Calendar: Favorable

  20. Notice Calendar: Favorable

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

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

  23. Read 3rd time & passed

  24. New Business/Third Reading

  25. 3rd reading ordered

  26. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to

  27. Reported favorably by Senator Westman for Committee on Appropriations

  28. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Government Operations

  29. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  30. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  31. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  32. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  33. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  34. New Business/Second Reading

  35. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  36. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  37. Second Reading

  38. Entered on Notice Calendar

  39. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

  40. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  41. Second Reading

  42. Entered on Notice Calendar

  43. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 183 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

immigration civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 56?
S 56 is sponsored by Rebecca "Becca" E White (Democrat), David H Weeks (Republican), Tanya C Vyhovsky (Progressive/Democrat), Nader A Hashim (Democrat), Wendy K Harrison (Democrat), Ruth E Hardy (Democrat), and Martine Larocque L Gulick (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 56?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 07, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track S 56?
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