Vermont H 406: An act relating to promoting racial and social equity in economic opportunity and cultural empowerment

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.406
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VT LEG #381022 v.1
H.406 1
Introduced by Representative Headrick of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Public property and supplies; names of State facilities 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit 6
naming State buildings and facilities after individuals. 7
An act relating to naming State buildings and facilities after individuals 8
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 9
Sec. 1. FINDINGS 10
(a) The process of naming State buildings and facilities is inherently 11
influenced by the politics of the day. 12
(b) The General Assembly has sought to delegate its responsibility to name 13
State buildings and facilities to an administrative committee through the 14
creation of the State Building Naming Study Committee in 2024 Acts and 15
Resolves No. 162, Sec. 21, but that legislation has met resistance and the 16
implementation of the Committee has been administratively onerous. 17
(c) Recent requests to name State buildings within the Capitol Complex 18
have raised concerns about setting a precedent that could lead to further 19
constituent-driven proposals, creating a burdensome and contentious process. 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.406
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VT LEG #381022 v.1
(d) Historical inequities have prevented individuals from marginalized 1
communities from achieving the level of recognition typically required for 2
consideration in the naming process. To date, all State buildings named after 3
individuals have been named exclusively after White men. 4
(e) The General Assembly finds that the process of naming State buildings 5
and facilities is fraught with challenges, including political influence, 6
inequitable representation, and administrative burden. To address these 7
concerns, the General Assembly enacts this legislation prohibiting naming 8
State buildings or facilities after individuals. 9
Sec. 2. 29 V.S.A. § 820 is amended to read: 10
§ 820. THE NAMING OF STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES 11
(a) Except for State transportation buildings and facilities named by the 12
Transportation Board in accordance with 19 V.S.A. § 5, the name by which a 13
State building or facility is to be known shall be authorized by the General 14
Assembly. 15
(b) The General Assembly shall not authorize any request to name a State 16
building or facility after an individual that has not been formally approved by 17
the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2025. 18
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 19
This act shall take effect on passage. 20