Summary of HCR 103 — Commemorating the Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit
Bill Number: HCR 103
Title: House concurrent resolution commemorating the establishment of the Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre
Classification: Concurrent resolution (ceremonial)
Introduced: March 7, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Mollie Burke
Cosponsors: Nader Hashim, Wendy Harrison, Ian Goodnow, Emilie Kornheiser
Purpose / Intent
HCR 103 is a ceremonial concurrent resolution that formally recognizes and commemorates the establishment of a collection and public exhibit relating to the Austine School for the Deaf at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre. The resolution honors the historical significance of the Austine School for the Deaf, acknowledges contributions of students, staff, families, and the deaf community, and highlights the importance of preserving and providing public access to related archival materials.
Key provisions
- Expresses the Legislature’s commemoration of the creation of the Austine School for the Deaf collection and exhibit housed at the Vermont Historical Society Library (Barre).
- Recognizes the historical, cultural, and educational value of the collection and exhibit.
- Encourages awareness, preservation, and use of the collection for research, education, and public understanding of Vermont’s deaf community history.
Note: As a concurrent resolution, HCR 103 is nonbinding and does not create legal rights, impose duties, or appropriate funds.
Who or what is affected
- Vermont Historical Society Library (Barre) — the repository and exhibitor of the collection.
- Austine School for the Deaf alumni, former staff, students, families, and the broader deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Vermont.
- Historians, researchers, educators, and members of the public interested in Vermont’s educational and disability history.
Procedural timeline / status
- Filed: March 7, 2025
- Referred to subcommittee (Disability Prevention & Women’s & Children’s Health): March 17, 2025
- Placed on Consent Calendar: April 17–18, 2025
- Adopted in concurrence by both chambers (per Joint Rule 16b): April 18, 2025
- Ceremonial Reading: April 22, 2025
Potential impact
The resolution offers official legislative recognition, which may raise public awareness, support archival preservation, encourage donations or additional research, and strengthen partnerships between the Vermont Historical Society and the deaf community. It does not, however, authorize funding or create regulatory changes.
