Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 101 D · 66 R · 9 I cosponsors

HCR 178 — House concurrent resolution in memory of former Senator William H. Carris of Wells

Last action — Ceremonial Reading

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 179 sponsors

    179 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (101 D · 66 R · 9 I) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

32 added · 37 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HCR 178 adds several lines, providing a more detailed and personal tribute to former Senator William H. Carris. It highlights his achievements, including his athletic accomplishments as a Junior Olympic ski jumper, his leadership in transforming Carris Reels into an international leader, and his commitment to community and public service. These changes matter because they offer a deeper understanding of Carris's impact and legacy, honoring his contributions in a more comprehensive way.

→
Previous
Latest
R-219 Page 1 of 1 No.
State of Vermont House of Representatives Montpelier, Vermont Concurrent House Resolution H.C.R.
R-219.
178 Offered by All Members of the House Offered by All Members of the Senate House concurrent resolution in memory of former Senator William H.
House concurrent resolution in memory of former Senator William H.
Carris of Wells Whereas, although born across the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire, Bill Carris was a proud fifth-generation Vermonter, and Whereas, as a youth, his enthusiasm for daring winter athletic competitions inspired him to train and succeed as a Junior Olympic ski jumper, and Whereas, Bill Carris graduated from Rutland High School and the former Castleton State College, where he met his future wife, Barbara Tracy, and then served in the U.S.
Carris of Wells.
Army as a financial specialist stationed in Germany, and Whereas, on returning home to Vermont, he entered his family’s business, Carris Reels, a manufacturer of reels for wire and cable packaging, and in 1980 he assumed leadership of the company, transforming this small enterprise into an international industry leader, and Whereas, in 1995, Bill and Barbara Carris implemented an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) at Carris Reels, converting the company’s ownership into a structure that directly benefitted the staff and became the centerpiece of the corporation’s operational philosophy, and Whereas, beyond his business career, Bill Carris was a passionate philanthropist who was focused on the betterment of his Rutland County community, and Whereas, in 2006, Bill Carris decided to serve his fellow citizens in the public sector, and the voters of Rutland County elected him to the Vermont Senate for the first of three consecutive terms, where his business knowledge was relied upon during his service on the Committees on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs and on Finance, and among his other committee assignments were Institutions, Joint Rules, Judicial Rules, Legislative Information Technology, and Senate Rules, on which he served as vice chair, and Whereas, this admired Rutland County leader died on October 22, 2025, at 81 years of age, and his survivors include his wife, Barbara;
(H.C.R.178) Offered by All Members of the House Offered by All Members of the Senate Whereas, although born across the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire, Bill Carris was a proud fifth-generation Vermonter, and Whereas, as a youth, his enthusiasm for daring winter athletic competitions inspired him to train and succeed as a Junior Olympic ski jumper, and Whereas, Bill Carris graduated from Rutland High School and the former Castleton State College, where he met his future wife, Barbara Tracy, and then served in the U.S.
Army as a financial specialist stationed in Germany, and Whereas, on returning home to Vermont, he entered his family’s business, Carris Reels, a manufacturer of reels for wire and cable packaging, and in 1980 he assumed leadership of the company, transforming this small enterprise into an international industry leader, and Whereas, in 1995, Bill and Barbara Carris implemented an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) at Carris Reels, converting the company’s ownership into a structure that directly benefitted the staff and became the centerpiece of the corporation’s operational philosophy, and Whereas, beyond his business career, Bill Carris was a passionate philanthropist who was focused on the betterment of his Rutland County community, and Whereas, in 2006, Bill Carris decided to serve his fellow citizens in the public sector, and the voters of Rutland County elected him to the Vermont Senate for the first of three consecutive terms, where his business knowledge was relied upon during his service on the Committees on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs and on Finance, and among his other committee assignments were Institutions, Joint Rules, Judicial Rules, Legislative Information Technology, and Senate Rules, on which he served as vice chair, and Whereas, this admired Rutland County leader died on October 22, 2025, at 81 years of age, and his survivors include his wife, Barbara;
and grandchildren, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
and grandchildren, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
VT LEG #387216 v.1
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Ceremonial Reading

  2. Adopted in concurrence per Joint Rule 16b

  3. Adopted pursuant to Joint Rule 16b

  4. Senate Message: Adopted in concurrence

  5. On Consent Calendar

  6. On Consent Calendar

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

179 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 14 not signed on

Sponsors (179)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (14)

"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

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HCR 178?
HCR 178 is sponsored by Ram Hinsdale, Gina M Galfetti (Republican), Martha A Feltus (Republican), Alice M. M Emmons (Democrat), Zon Eastes (Democrat), David K Durfee (Democrat), Abbey Duke (Democrat), Anne B. B Donahue (Independent), Deborah "Debbie" C Dolgin (Republican), Karen N Dolan (Democrat), Leonora Dodge (Democrat), Joshua Dobrovich (Republican), Eileen G Dickinson (Republican), Allen "Penny" R Demar (Republican), Ann E Cummings (Democrat), Wendy A Critchlow (Democrat), Timothy R. R Corcoran II (Democrat), Jonathan Cooper (Democrat), Peter C Conlon (Democrat), Brian P Collamore (Republican), Esme Cole (Democrat), VL L Coffin IV (Republican), Alison Clarkson (Democrat), Brian J Cina (Progressive/Democrat), Kevin "Coach" B Christie (Democrat), Thomas I Chittenden (Democrat), Thomas "Tom" F Charlton (Republican), Ela Chapin (Democrat), James "Jim" Casey (Republican), Conor Casey (Democrat), William P Canfield (Republican), R. Scott Campbell (Democrat), Gregory "Greg" Burtt (Republican), Elizabeth L Burrows (Democrat), Bridget M Burkhardt (Democrat), Mollie S. S Burke (Democrat), Thomas B Burditt (Republican), Chris Brown (Republican), Randy D Brock (Republican), Patrick "Pat" M Brennan (Republican), Carolyn W Branagan (Republican), Erin Brady (Democrat), Lucy Boyden (Democrat), Michael Boutin (Republican), David "Dave" Bosch (Republican), Michelle Bos-Lun (Democrat), Seth Bongartz (Democrat), Tiffany Bluemle (Democrat), Alyssa Black (Democrat), Doug Bishop (Democrat), Matthew J Birong (Democrat), Daisy Berbeco (Democrat), John Benson, Scott L Beck (Republican), Philip E Baruth (Democrat/Progressive), Ashley R Bartley (Republican/Democrat), John L Bartholomew (Democrat), David W Yacovone (Democrat), Theresa A Wood (Democrat), Richard J Bailey (Republican), Sarah "Sarita" C Austin (Democrat), Angela Arsenault (Democrat), Steven Heffernan (Republican), Troy Headrick (Independent), Nader A Hashim (Democrat), Zachary J Harvey (Republican), Wendy K Harrison (Democrat), Leanne Harple (Democrat), Ruth E Hardy (Democrat), Lisa A Hango (Republican), Martine Larocque L Gulick (Democrat), James A Gregoire (Republican), William "Will" Greer (Democrat), Edye Graning (Democrat), Kenneth W Goslant (Republican), Ian Goodnow (Democrat), Leslie Goldman (Democrat), Golrang "Rey" Garofano (Democrat), Emily Carris Duncan (Democrat), Kevin C Winter (Republican), Terry K Williams (Republican), Rebecca "Becca" E White (Democrat), Kirk White (Democrat), Candice White (Democrat), Richard A Westman (Republican), Kenneth "Ken" L Wells (Republican), David H Weeks (Republican), Anne E Watson (Democrat/Progressive), Chea Waters Evans (Democrat), Edward "Teddy" Waszazak (Democrat), Matt E Walker (Republican), Tanya C Vyhovsky (Progressive/Democrat), Dara Torre (Democrat), Chloe Tomlinson (Progressive/Democrat), Chris A Taylor (Republican), Michael "Mike" Tagliavia (Republican), Shawn Sweeney (Democrat), Mary-Katherine A Stone (Democrat), Thomas S Stevens (Democrat), Brenda Steady (Republican), Trevor J Squirrell (Democrat), Michael "Mike" Southworth (Republican), Laura H Sibilia (Independent), Amy D Sheldon (Democrat), Robin P Scheu (Democrat), Larry Satcowitz (Democrat), Barbara Rachelson (Democrat), Beth M Quimby (Republican), Christopher "Chris" A Pritchard (Republican), Monique Priestley (Democrat), Debra L Powers (Republican), Phil Pouech (Democrat), Robert Plunkett (Democrat), Sandra "Sandy" H Pinsonault (Republican), Gayle S Pezzo (Democrat), Andrew J Perchlik (Democrat/Progressive), Joseph Parsons (Independent), Woodman H Page (Republican), Herb Olson (Democrat), Thomas Oliver (Republican/Democrat), Carol Ode (Democrat), John K O'Brien (Democrat), Kate Nugent (Democrat), Daniel A Noyes (Democrat), Rob North (Republican), Robert W Norris (Republican), Michael Nigro (Democrat), Todd Nielsen (Republican), Richard M Nelson (Republican), Michael Mrowicki (Democrat), Christopher Morrow (Democrat), Mary A. A Morrissey (Republican), Kristi C Morris (Democrat), John Morley III, Michael R Morgan (Republican), Leland J Morgan (Republican), Brian Minier (Democrat), Marc B Mihaly (Democrat), Anthony "Tony" Micklus (Republican), Jubilee McGill (Democrat), Francis M McFaun (Republican), Patricia A McCoy (Republican), Kate McCann (Democrat), Christopher P Mattos (Republican), James W Masland (Democrat), Michael J Marcotte (Republican), Alicia Malay (Republican/Democrat), Joseph "Joe" D Major (Democrat), Eric Maguire (Republican), Virginia "Ginny" V Lyons (Democrat), Joseph "Joe" Luneau (Republican), Emily J Long (Democrat), Kate Logan (Progressive/Democrat), Jed Lipsky (Independent), Wayne A Laroche (Republican), Saudia LaMont (Democrat), Valorie Taylor (Republican), Martin J LaLonde (Democrat), Kate Lalley (Democrat), Larry Labor (Republican), Jill L Krowinski (Democrat), Emilie Krasnow (Democrat), Emilie K Kornheiser (Democrat), Bram Kleppner (Democrat), Charles A Kimbell (Democrat), Chris Keyser (Republican), John Kascenska (Republican), Kathleen C James (Democrat), Russ H Ingalls (Republican), Robert Hunter (Democrat), Christopher Howland (Republican), Mary E. E Howard (Democrat), Lori Houghton (Democrat), Rebecca Holcombe (Democrat), Mark A Higley (Republican), Robert J Hooper (Democrat), Philip Jay J Hooper (Democrat), Michael N Hoyt (Democrat), and Karen Lueders (Democrat).
What is the current status of HCR 178?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HCR 178?
Track HCR 178 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HCR 178

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HCR 178

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →