H.588 (Act 119)

An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Sponsors: Rep. Matthew Birong

Last Recorded Action: 5/29/2026 - House message: Governor approved bill on June 8, 2026

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Friday, January 16, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Walk-through and committee discussion

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation

Friday, January 23, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

10:45 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Patrick Gallivan, Executive Director, Vermont State Dental Society
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation
Kris Bowditch, Deputy Chief Investigator, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Katherine Bramhall, Owner, Gentle Landing Birth Center
Carrie Phillips, Pharmacy Executive, Office of Professional Regulation
Derek Everett, Chief Inspector, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Jessica Schifano, Policy Director, Department of Health

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Henri Bynx, Co-founder / Co-director, Ishtar Collective
Sadie Fischesser, Executive Director, Vermont Society of CPA's
Alex Smith, Senior Accountant, Fothergill, Segale and Valley Accountants
Heather Chadwick, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association
Laura Morley, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association
Laura Lynn Giubardo, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association

Friday, January 30, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

2:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Proposed amendment

Sierra Downs, President, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association
Miya Wilson, Legislative Chair, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association
Nicole Lord, Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Liaison, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association
Gail Zatz, Advocate, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

9:00 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Michael Studin, Lieutenant, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Vermont State Police
Steven Brown, State's Attorney, Windham County

2:50 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Committee discussion

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

10:50 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony and committee discussion

Michael Warren, Chief Investigator, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

3:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Committee discussion, mark-up, and vote

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Ways and Means

11:00 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Hercules Liotard, American Massage Therapy Association - Vermont Chapter

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Ways and Means

11:15 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

vote

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Health Care

3:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Pharmacist test to treat amendment
Straw poll

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health
Jill Mazza Olson, Medicaid and Health Systems Director, Agency of Human Services
Stephanie Winters, Deputy Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society & Vermont Psychiatric Association

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Appropriations

9:20 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Walk through

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Rep. Kate Nugent, Reporter, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:31 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Vote

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Pharmacist test to treat amendment witness testimony and possible straw poll

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
Rep. Alyssa Black, Sponsor
Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health
Lauren Bode, Legislative Liaison, Vermont Pharmacists Association (VPA)
Stephanie Winters, Deputy Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

2:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Walk-through

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

1:15 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Kate Nugent, Sponsor
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

1:15 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Testimony on Accountant Amendments, sections 8-10

Sadie Fischesser, Executive Director, Vermont Society of CPAs
Jin Breault, CPA, Gallagher, Flynn & Company

1:45 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Testimony on the limited academic dental license, sections 11 and 12

Patrick Gallivan, Executive Director, Vermont State Dental Society
Mert Aksu, Dean, Detroit Mercy Dental School

2:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Massage Therapy licensure request

Heather Chadwick, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association
Laura Morley, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association
Christine Hoober, Massage Therapist, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
Hercules Liotard, Massage Therapist, American Massage Therapy Association - Vermont Chapter

2:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Testimony on Sunrise Report

Nicole Lord, Speech Language Pathologist Assistant, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association
Miya Wilson, Speech Language Pathologist, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

3:15 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

2:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

1:15 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Kim McManus, Legislative, Policy and Records Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
Christine Hoober, Massage Therapist, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)

Friday, April 10, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

1:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation
Emma Shouldice, Lobbyist, Vermont Association of Chain Drug Stores

Friday, April 17, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

1:30 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lauren Bode, Legislative Liaison, Vermont Pharmacists Association (VPA)
Stephanie Winters, Deputy Director, Vermont Medical Society

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Government Operations

3:00 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Vote

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Jennifer Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation

Friday, May 1, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Finance

1:20 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Walk-through

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

2:50 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

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H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Vote

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

9:30 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

As passed by Senate Finance walk-through

Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Appropriations

1:40 PM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Walk-through and Vote

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

9:30 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health
Lauren Bode, Legislative Liaison, Vermont Pharmacists Association (VPA)
Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

Friday, May 15, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

10:30 AM

H.588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Senate proposal of amendment committee discussion and possible straw poll