Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont HCR294: House concurrent resolution honoring Nicholas Monte, Bennington County’s chocolatier extraordinaire
Status: Passed both chambers, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, May 15, 2026:
R-352 Page 1 of 2 No. R-352. House concurrent resolution honoring Nicholas Monte, Bennington County's chocolatier extraordinaire. (H.C.R.294) Offered by Representatives Morrissey of Bennington, Cooper of Pownal, Corcoran of Bennington, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Greer of Bennington, Hunter of Manchester, James of Manchester, Nigro of Bennington, and Pinsonault of Dorset Offered by Senators Bongartz and Plunkett Whereas, in 1988, Nick Monte and his wife, Judy, opened the Village Peddler gift store in East Arlington, allegedly to slow down from being a general store owner in Arlington, and he introduced chocolate into the store, thus beginning a second-career journey as a chocolatier, and Whereas, his chocolate talents are an amalgamation of creative artistry and technical expertise, using specialized tools, including an enrober, a cooling tunnel, and tempering machines, and Whereas, the delicious confection's presence has expanded to include the Chocolatorium, a unique chocolate exhibit and a fun place to explore that welcomes visitors to "immerse yourself in the wonderful world of chocolate," through a film, selfguided tour, or participation in a chocolate-making experience that allows visitors to become chocolatiers, and Whereas, in 2002, Nick Monte expanded his chocolate domain, opening the Village Chocolate Shoppe (VCS) in Bennington, the home of Benny, the 100-pound chocolate moose and his wife, Molly, and Whereas, that same year, Nick Monte greatly enhanced his chocolatiering skills when, …
Sponsors
- Mary Morrissey (R, Bennington-5) · primary sponsor
- Seth Bongartz (D, Bennington District)
- Jonathan Cooper (D, Bennington-1)
- Timothy Corcoran (D, Bennington-2)
- David Durfee (D, Bennington-3)
- William Greer (D, Bennington-2)
- Robert Hunter (D, Bennington-4)
- Kathleen James (D, Bennington-4)
- Michael Nigro (D, Bennington-5)
- Sandra Pinsonault (R, Bennington-Rutland)
- Robert Plunkett (D, Bennington District)
Latest actions
- : Adopted in concurrence
- : Adopted pursuant to Joint Rule 16b
- : Senate Message: Adopted in concurrence
- : Adopted in concurrence per Joint Rule 16b
- : On Consent Calendar
- : On Consent Calendar
Common questions
- What is HCR294?
- HCR294 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): House concurrent resolution honoring Nicholas Monte, Bennington County’s chocolatier extraordinaire.
- What is the status of HCR294?
- Passed both chambers as of May 15, 2026. Latest action: Adopted in concurrence (May 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HCR294?
- Mary Morrissey (R, Bennington-5), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HCR294?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.C.R.294
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.