House adopts resolution backing Mohsen Madawi, passes medical debt bill and postpones Barrie charter amendments

The Vermont House of Representatives on April 22 adopted a resolution urging the immediate release and due-process protections for Mohsen Madawi and took two additional formal actions: it passed Senate Bill 27, an act relating to medical debt relief, and postponed action on House Bill 10, which would approve charter amendments for the city of Barre, for one legislative day.

Representative Cole of Hartford, the resolution’s sponsor, described Madawi as a longtime White River Junction resident and a U.S. permanent resident. The resolution, read on the floor, states that Madawi arrived for what he believed was a final citizenship interview on April 14, 2025, and that immigration authorities instead arrested and detained him, refusing to provide information about his whereabouts or status. The resolution “strongly objects to the manner and circumstances under which U.S. immigration authorities arrested and detained Mohsen Madawi and strongly advocates that he be afforded due process under the law and released immediately from detention,” and directs the clerk to send copies to federal immigration and Vermont congressional officials. The House adopted the resolution by voice vote; the clerk reported, “The ayes do have it.”

On the floor before the vote, Representative Cole asked the chamber to welcome friends and supporters of Madawi seated in the balcony and quoted Madawi on his approach to peace: “My compassion extended beyond the Palestinian people. My compassion is also for the Jewish people and for the Israelis as well,” Cole said during remarks recounting Madawi’s public work.

Separately on the action calendar, the House took third reading of S.27, described on the floor as “an act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports.” The presiding officer called for the question; after a voice vote the clerk announced, “The ayes do have it and you have passed the bill in concurrence with proposal of amendment.” The transcript records no floor debate on the bill during the third reading.

The House also considered House Bill 10, relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the city of Barre. A member moved to postpone action for one legislative day; the chamber approved that motion by voice vote and the clerk announced the postponement.

Earlier in the session the House read three house concurrent resolutions from the consent calendar commemorating historical events and a museum exhibit: HCR 67 (the 250th anniversary of Ethan Allen’s planning in Bennington in 1775 and the expedition to Ticonderoga), HCR 72 (commemorating Ethan Allen’s arrival in Castleton on May 9, 1775), and HCR 103 (commemorating the establishment of the Austin School for the Deaf collection and exhibit at the Vermont Historical Society Library in Barre). Those concurrent resolutions were read on the floor pursuant to the consent calendar and presented for the record.

Votes at a glance

- HR 8 (Madawi): Adopted by voice vote after floor reading; resolution objects to the manner of arrest and detention, urges due process and immediate release, and directs transmittal to federal and congressional offices.

- S.27 (medical debt relief): Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment (third reading); no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

- H.B. 10 (Barre charter amendments): Postponed for one legislative day on a motion from the member from Cavendish; approved by voice vote.

- HCR 67, HCR 72, HCR 103: Read and entered from the consent calendar (commemorative resolutions); presented for the record.

Context and next steps

The Madawi resolution does not itself affect federal immigration custody; it is a formal expression of the House’s position and directs copies to federal officials. The transcript records supporters and people wearing religious or advocacy symbols in the gallery during the floor statements. S.27 will move forward consistent with its passage; the transcript records the bill passed in concurrence with proposals of amendment but does not include a roll-call tally or floor debate on the merits during the third reading. Action on H.B. 10 is scheduled to resume following the one-day postponement.

Public remarks and ceremonial recognitions that were part of the same session — including readings commemorating Ethan Allen and recognition of the Austin School for the Deaf exhibit — were ceremonial and were handled on the consent calendar or as recognition items, not as contested legislative debate.