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Senate Judiciary committee adopts resolution reaffirming support for nonbinary and transgender Vermonters
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 12 voted to approve JRS 15, a policy resolution reaffirming Vermont's commitment to treating nonbinary and transgender residents with respect; the resolution does not change state law and includes a minor amendment on which outside groups receive copies.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 12 reported out JRS 15, a policy resolution that reaffirms Vermont's commitment to supporting the state's nonbinary and transgender community. Michelle Chow of the Office of Legislative Counsel told the committee the document is symbolic and does not change existing law.
"It's just a policy resolution, stating Vermont's commitment to supporting the Vermont's non binary and transgender community ... it does not change the law in any way," Michelle Chow, legislative counsel, said during the committee meeting.
The resolution, as introduced, listed two advocacy organizations to receive a copy — OutRight Vermont and the Pride Center of Vermont. Committee members discussed a small amendment clarifying the final "resolved" provision and asked whether the two named groups represented all statewide organizations that should be notified. Legislative counsel and other members said they did not have a comprehensive list on hand and that those two groups were commonly consulted at the State House.
Committee members moved the resolution as amended and recorded votes in favor. Several senators indicated assent during the roll call and the measure was reported favorably.
The measure is a reaffirmation rather than a change in statute: committee staff repeatedly emphasized the resolution does not alter existing anti‑discrimination law related to gender identity. The committee also requested a clean copy be circulated after the minor typographical spacing fix was added.
The committee did not direct staff to change statutory law as part of this vote; the action was limited to reporting the resolution out of committee with the small amendment for distribution.
