Vermont House Bill HCR103

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 4/18/25
• Passed: 4/18/25

Caption

House concurrent resolution commemorating the establishment of the Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre

Summary

H.C.R. 103 is a ceremonial House concurrent resolution commemorating the establishment of a new Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre. The resolution recounts the history of the Austine School for the Deaf, including the original donation by Brevet Colonel William Austine, the General Assembly’s early 20th-century acts supporting the school, its opening in 1912, and its operation until 2014. It also notes the transfer of a select collection of the school’s oldest artifacts from the Winston Prouty Center in Brattleboro to the Vermont Historical Society Library for public exhibition. The resolution does not create or amend any substantive state law, appropriate funds, or alter agency duties. Its practical effect is limited to official recognition and commemoration by the General Assembly, and it directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the Austine School for the Deaf Museum Board and the Vermont Historical Society. The measure serves primarily as a historical tribute and public acknowledgment of the school’s legacy and the new exhibit in Barre.

Impact

H.C.R. 103 has no direct legal or regulatory impact on Vermont statutes, state programs, or private parties. It is a concurrent resolution of commemoration only, so it does not change the law, impose obligations, or authorize spending. Its effect is symbolic and archival, formally recognizing the Austine School for the Deaf’s historical significance and the relocation of artifacts for exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment around the resolution is strongly positive and celebratory. The bill’s language emphasizes gratitude, historical preservation, and the importance of honoring the Austine School for the Deaf’s role in Vermont’s educational and cultural history. The reference to a dedication ceremony with State officials speaking suggests broad institutional support and a noncontroversial reception.

Contention

There is little to no apparent contention surrounding H.C.R. 103. Because it is a commemorative resolution rather than a policy bill, the main focus is on historical recognition and preservation of artifacts, not on competing legal or fiscal interests. The only potentially sensitive issue is the stewardship and placement of the school’s historic materials, but the text indicates those artifacts are already under museum board supervision and have been transferred for public exhibition without noted dispute.