---
type: "Bill"
title: "An act relating to flags and flag-flying protocol"
description: "An act relating to flags and flag-flying protocol"
jurisdiction: "us/states/vt"
legislature: "Vermont General Assembly"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "H. 551"
citation: "Vermont H. 551 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Maida Townsend"]
version_count: 5
action_count: 20
vote_count: 0
first_action: "2018-01-03"
last_action: "2018-05-01"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/a330b2e9-557f-4823-87d0-1859fb7ab471"
source_url: "http://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/loadBillDetailedStatus/2018/1454"
source_hash: "fe21e8cf023c46b5617e42d98b198c8915020d5c12c722f57530d71998915c80"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-vt"]
---

# Vermont H. 551 (2017-2018) — An act relating to flags and flag-flying protocol

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **As Introduced** (filed) — [source](https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/BILLS/H-0551/H-0551%20As%20Introduced.pdf)
2. **Act Summary** (committee substitute) — [source](https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/ACTS/ACT111/ACT111%20Act%20Summary.pdf)
3. **As Enacted** (committee substitute) — [source](https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/ACTS/ACT111/ACT111%20As%20Enacted.pdf)
4. **Official** (committee substitute) — [source](https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/BILLS/H-0551/H-0551%20As%20passed%20by%20the%20House%20Official.pdf)
5. **Unofficial** (committee substitute) — [source](https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/BILLS/H-0551/H-0551%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House%20Unofficial.pdf)

## Sponsors

- Maida Townsend — primary (person)
- Dennis Devereux — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2018-01-03** Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
- **2018-01-23** Read Second Time
- **2018-01-23** Rep. Martel of Waterford reported for the committee on Corrections and Institutions
- **2018-01-23** Third Reading Ordered
- **2018-01-24** Read Third time and Passed `passage`
- **2018-01-26** Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Institutions `introduction`
- **2018-04-06** Entered on Notice Calendar
- **2018-04-06** Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Institutions
- **2018-04-10** New Business/Second Reading
- **2018-04-10** Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Institutions
- **2018-04-10** Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Flory for Committee on Institutions
- **2018-04-10** Proposal of amendment by Committee on Institutions agreed to
- **2018-04-10** 3rd reading ordered
- **2018-04-11** New Business/Third Reading
- **2018-04-11** Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment `passage`
- **2018-04-12** Senate Message, passed in Concurrence with proposal of amendment
- **2018-04-17** Senate Proposal of Amendment concurred in `passage`
- **2018-04-19** House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
- **2018-05-01** Signed by Governor on May 1, 2018 `executive-signature`
- **2018-05-01** House message: Governor approved bill on May 1, 2018

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/a330b2e9-557f-4823-87d0-1859fb7ab471`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Vermont legislature records).