VermontVermont would support partnerships with governments abroad
Vermont’s commerce agency would support partnerships with governments abroad, with applications screened by the agency and reviewed by a committee.
What it does
Vermont’s commerce agency would support partnerships with governments abroad through a Sister State Program overseen by a committee of state officials and community representatives.
Organizations seeking a sister state partnership would go through agency screening and committee scoring. The Governor would make the final decision on applications the committee recommends.
The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission would report on its accomplishments, work, and funds raised to two legislative committees.
Argument forVermont could build cultural, education, and economic ties abroad through scored applications for partnerships with governments in other countries.
Argument againstApplicants might have less insight into why they were screened out because the agency’s sensitive review and its records would remain private.
More detail
Vermont’s commerce agency would support a Sister State Program, overseen by a committee. The committee would include state officials, legislators, and representatives with experience in arts, international affairs, and higher education. The program’s stated goal is to strengthen Vermont’s international ties and encourage cultural exchange, economic development, and cooperation in education.
The agency would review applications, and the committee would score eligible ones before the Governor makes a final decision. Organizations applying to become partners in the Vermont Sister State Program would go through this process. The agency would privately review applicants for political, legal, ethical, and strategic concerns; those records would not be open to public inspection. The Governor would decide only on applications the committee recommends, and an approved partnership would use a signed agreement with an end date. The agency would send an application to the committee within 10 days after completing its initial review. The committee would review it within 30 days after receipt, and the agency would notify the applicant within 30 days after receiving the Governor’s decision.
The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission would report on its past work and fundraising to two legislative committees. The report would cover the Commission’s accomplishments, how it served its statutory purposes, and funds raised and gifts received since it began. The report would go to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. The report would be due on or before December 1, 2029.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 20Rep. Marcotte of Coventry moved to commit the bill to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which was agreed toLatest
- May 20Action Calendar: Governor’s Veto
- May 19House message: Governor Phil Scott vetoed bill on May 18, 2026Major
- May 19Notice Calendar: Governor’s Veto
- May 18Vetoed by Governor Phil Scott on May 18, 2026Major
- May 12Delivered to Governor on May 12, 2026To Governor
- May 7Senate Message: Passed in concurrenceMajor
- May 6Read 3rd time & passed in concurrencePassed 2nd Chamber
- May 6New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 53rd reading ordered
- May 5Reported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 5Reported favorably by Senator Brock for Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 5Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 5Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 5Favorable report by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 5Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 1Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 1Favorable report by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 1New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 30Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 30Favorable report by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Apr 30Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 30Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 24Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Apr 24Favorable report by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Apr 24Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 19Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 17Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 17Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 13Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 13Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 13Rep. Stevens of Waterbury recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 13Rep. Boutin of Barre City reported for the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- Mar 13Read second timeMinor
- Mar 13Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 12Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Feb 4Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Feb 4Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 14Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic DevelopmentIntroduced
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