Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont HCR296: House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bo
Status: Passed both chambers, May 15, 2026
House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bookstore, on its 50th anniversary
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, May 15, 2026:
R-354 Page 1 of 1 No. R-354. House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of Bennington, Vermont's last remaining Christian bookstore, on its 50th anniversary. (H.C.R.296) Offered by Representatives Greer of Bennington, Morrissey of Bennington, Cooper of Pownal, Corcoran of Bennington, Durfee of Shaftsbury, and Nigro of Bennington Offered by Senators Bongartz and Plunkett Whereas, religion has always played a central role in the life of Jacob Esh, who was born in 1941 and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a traditional Amish farming family, and Whereas, in 1970, he married Lorraine, with whom he has happily shared his life for the past 55 years, and they began selling Christian books from store racks located in bus stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other locations, which eventually surpassed 40 points of sale, and Whereas, in December 1975, Jacob and Lorraine Esh decided to consolidate their retail business to a single site and rented a small space inside a mall on North Street in Bennington, and Whereas, after several moves, in 1982, Jacob and Lorraine Esh purchased a duplex at 110 County Street that would serve as their residence until 1995 and the store's home ever since, and Whereas, sales were steady during the 1980s, when roughly 30 Christian bookstores operated in Vermont, and Whereas, in the store's early years, …
Sponsors
- William Greer (D, Bennington-2) · primary sponsor
- 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)
- Michael Nigro (D, Bennington-5)
- Robert Plunkett (D, Bennington District)
Latest actions
- : 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 HCR296?
- HCR296 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bo.
- What does HCR296 do?
- House concurrent resolution congratulating Inspirational Bible Book & Gifts of Bennington, Vermont’s last remaining Christian bookstore, on its 50th anniversary
- What is the status of HCR296?
- Passed both chambers as of May 15, 2026. Latest action: Adopted pursuant to Joint Rule 16b (May 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HCR296?
- William Greer (D, Bennington-2), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HCR296?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.C.R.296
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.