An act relating to election of Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Birong and 1 co-sponsor

The bill standardizes the timing of electing the Adjutant and Inspector General by cross-referencing the date, time, and place rules from 2 V.S.A. § 10(c) into 20 V.S.A. § 363(a)(1

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

Overview

H.811 is an introduced Vermont bill for the 2025-2026 session that would change how the Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard is elected. The bill seeks to align or clarify the election process by cross-referencing the election timing and procedure for these positions within Vermont statutes.

Main Purpose and Intent

The bill intends to modify the statutory framework governing the election of the Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard.

Specifically, it adds a cross-reference to 2 V.S.A. § 10(c), which sets the date, time, and place for the election by the General Assembly, into 20 V.S.A. § 363(a)(1), which currently provides for the biennial election of these officers by the General Assembly.

In short, it seeks to ensure that the election timing provisions in 2 V.S.A. § 10(c) apply to the biennial election of the Adjutant and Inspector General, presumably to harmonize or clarify when and where the election occurs.

Key Provisions and Changes

Add cross-reference: 20 V.S.A. § 363(a)(1) (biennial election by the General Assembly) would include a cross-reference to 2 V.S.A. § 10(c) (date, time, and place for election by the General Assembly).

The text indicates that the substantive bill text is omitted in the short form, but the summary suggests the primary change is procedural/formatting: ensuring the election follows the established timing framework specified in 2 V.S.A. § 10(c).

Affected Parties and Entities

Vermont General Assembly (the electing body for the Adjutant and Inspector General).

Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard (the officers whose election would be governed by the clarified timing framework).

Vermont National Guard leadership and staff, insofar as their leadership selection is governed by statute.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Class of election: Biennial election by the General Assembly (as currently stated in 20 V.S.A. § 363(a)(1)).

Change request: Introduces a cross-reference to 2 V.S.A. § 10(c) to specify or harmonize the date, time, and place for the election.

Status: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on January 28, 2026. The committee conducted a series of meetings in February 2026 to discuss and walk through draft versions (Draft 1.1, 2.2, etc.).

No explicit dates for the actual General Assembly election are provided in the short-form text; the cross-reference implies adherence to the timing rules already established in 2 V.S.A. § 10(c).

Additional Context

Sponsorship: Rep. Matthew Birong (primary) and Rep. Lisa Hango (co-sponsors).

Committee activity: House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs; noted activity in February 2026.

Supporting documents indicate standard legislative provenance (title, subject area, and committee references).

Practical Implications

If enacted, the election process for the Adjutant and Inspector General would be governed more precisely by the timing provisions in 2 V.S.A. § 10(c), potentially reducing ambiguity about when the General Assembly should schedule the election.

The change is procedural, aiming to improve consistency with other election timing rules rather than altering the fundamental authority or method of election.