S.173

An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Sponsors: Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Last Recorded Action: 5/22/2026 - Signed by Governor on May 21, 2026

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

9:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Introduction and Walk Through

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor, Sponsor
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Judith Dillon, Executive Director, Labor Relations Board
Kelly Massicotte, Attorney, Vermont Association for Justice
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Vermont Association for Justice

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Kelly Massicotte, Attorney, Vermont Association for Justice
Jamie Feehan, Government Relations Director, Primmer
Dirk Anderson, Director of Workers' Compensation and Safety, Department of Labor
Karina Dunigan, Vocational Counselor, Catamount Case Management LLC

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

9:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

New draft committee discussion

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Dirk Anderson, Director of Workers' Compensation and Safety, Department of Labor
Kelly Massicotte, Attorney, Vermont Association for Justice
Jamie Feehan, Government Relations Director, Primmer

Friday, February 20, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

9:45 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Appropriations

1:00 PM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor, Sponsor

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

9:30 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Sen. David Weeks, Reporter
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rowan Hawthorne, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Vermont Department of Labor
Kelly Massicotte, Attorney, Vermont Association for Justice
James Feehan, Government Relations Director, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont

11:10 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Continued Discussion

Amy Spear, Vermont Chamber President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

9:05 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Witness Testimony

Nat Piper, Business, Legislative and Community Outreach Manager, HireAbility
Amanda Arnold, Deputy Director, HireAbility
Bill Driscoll, Vice President, Associated Industries of Vermont

10:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Witness Testimony (Continued)

Dirk Anderson, Director of Workers' Compensation and Safety, Department of Labor

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

9:10 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Kelly Massicotte, Attorney, Vermont Association for Justice

2:30 PM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Committee Discussion

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rowan Hawthorne, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Vermont Department of Labor

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

10:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Mark Up

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Friday, April 17, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

9:00 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Mark-up review

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont
Dirk Anderson, Director of Workers' Compensation and Safety, Department of Labor

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

3:30 PM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Mark up and vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Appropriations

10:30 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Walk through and possible vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
Rep. Jonathan Cooper, Reporter, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

11:45 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Amendment walk-through

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Vermont Association for Justice

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

9:40 AM

S.173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

Committee discussion and straw poll vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rowan Hawthorne, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Vermont Department of Labor