2025-2026 Session
Change SessionS.59 (Act 51)
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
- Sponsor(s)
- Last Recorded Action
- House 6/13/2025 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 9, 2025
Bill/Resolution Text
NOTE: to print information that appears on a tab within the bill page, use the Print link on that tab.
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Detailed Status
Regular Session 2025-2026
| Body | Date | Journal | Calendar | Location | Full Status |
|---|
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Roll Call History
Regular Session 2025-2026
| Body | Date | Journal | Location | Full Status |
|---|
Although procedurally bills and resolutions are assigned to only one committee at a time, other committees may review the bill or resolution. This page contains results from both the assigned committee as well as other committees.
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Committee Meetings
Regular Session 2025-2026
| Meeting Date | Committee |
|---|
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Meeting Full List
Regular Session 2025-2026
Thursday, February 20, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:15 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 3:05 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
John Potter, Town Manager, Brattleboro
Sen. Wendy Harrison, Sponsor, Windham District
Cassie Polhemus, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority
Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:30 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Thursday, March 13, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:55 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Vote
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:30 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 10:00 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Introduction and walk-through
Sen. Larry Hart, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 1:00 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Cassie Polhemus, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority
John Potter, Town Manager, Brattleboro
Jenny Prosser, General Counsel and Director, Municipal Services, Secretary of State's Office
Matt Cota, Director of Government Affairs, Meadow Hill Consulting, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association
Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:30 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
Natalie Kanner, Member, Charlotte Selectboard
Mike Donoghue, Executive Director, Vermont Press Association
John Flowers, Former President, Vermont Press Association
Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:30 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
Catherine Dimitruk, Executive Director, Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Matt Cota, Director of Government Affairs, Meadow Hill Consulting, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association
Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Public Policy Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy
- 9:50 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Overview of Open Meeting Law
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 10:55 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Overview of Open Meeting Law and witness language suggestions
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:30 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Walk-through of amendment requests
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 1:00 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Discussion and mark-up
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:40 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony and discussion
Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
Matt Cota, Director of Government Affairs,, Meadow Hill Consulting
Christa Shute, Executive Director, NEK Broadband
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 11:00 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Peter Gill, Executive Director, Land Use Review Board
Janet Hurley, Chair, Land Use Review Board
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, May 2, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 11:05 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Lisa Loomis, Board President, Vermont Press Association
Mike Donaghue, Exective Director, Vermont Press Association
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 2:00 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony, mark-up, and discussion
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chad Simmons, Housing Policy and Engagement Specialist, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
David Fox, Sheriff, Rutland County
Sarah Buxton, Select Board Member, Mendon
Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
Thursday, May 8, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:30 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony and discussion
Jenny Prosser, General Counsel and Director, Municipal Services, Secretary of State's Office
- 9:45 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Continued testimony
Cathi Feeley, Treasurer and Assistant Clerk, Town of Burke
Linda Hackett-Corey, Clerk and Assistant Treasurer, Town of Burke
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Peter Gill, Executive Director, Land Use Review Board
Janet Hurley, Chair, Land Use Review Board
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 1:05 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Glen Traverse, Select Board Chair, Town of Fair Haven
Joseph Gunter, Town Manager, Town of Fair Haven
Jim Hokenburg, Selectboard Member, Town of Alburgh
Josie Henry, Town Administrator, Town of Alburgh
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, May 15, 2025
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 11:30 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Discussion and possible vote
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:15 AM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Judiciary
- 2:45 PM
-
S.59 - An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Review
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Committee Documents
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Witnesses Who Testified
Regular Session 2025-2026
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
- Sarah Buxton, Select Board Member, Mendon
- Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
- Matt Cota, Director of Government Affairs,, Meadow Hill Consulting
- Matt Cota, Director of Government Affairs, Meadow Hill Consulting, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association
- Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
- Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Public Policy Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy
- Catherine Dimitruk, Executive Director, Northwest Regional Planning Commission
- Mike Donaghue, Exective Director, Vermont Press Association
- Mike Donoghue, Executive Director, Vermont Press Association
- Cathi Feeley, Treasurer and Assistant Clerk, Town of Burke
- John Flowers, Former President, Vermont Press Association
- David Fox, Sheriff, Rutland County
- Peter Gill, Executive Director, Land Use Review Board
- Joseph Gunter, Town Manager, Town of Fair Haven
- Linda Hackett-Corey, Clerk and Assistant Treasurer, Town of Burke
- Sen. Larry Hart, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations
- Josie Henry, Town Administrator, Town of Alburgh
- Jim Hokenburg, Selectboard Member, Town of Alburgh
- Janet Hurley, Chair, Land Use Review Board
- Natalie Kanner, Member, Charlotte Selectboard
- Lisa Loomis, Board President, Vermont Press Association
- Cassie Polhemus, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority
- John Potter, Town Manager, Brattleboro
- Jenny Prosser, General Counsel and Director, Municipal Services, Secretary of State's Office
- Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
- Christa Shute, Executive Director, NEK Broadband
- Chad Simmons, Housing Policy and Engagement Specialist, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
- Glen Traverse, Select Board Chair, Town of Fair Haven
Senate Committee on Government Operations
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
- Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
- Sen. Wendy Harrison, Sponsor, Windham District
- Cassie Polhemus, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority
- John Potter, Town Manager, Brattleboro
- Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Senate Committee on Judiciary
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Fiscal notes and materials available on this web page are provided for informational purposes only, and may not comprise all materials received by the Vermont Legislature or the final fiscal information related to a specific bill. The Legislature is not responsible for the accuracy of any information in these materials, and their posting does not constitute approval or endorsement by the Legislature.
No fiscal documents found for S.59 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
No committee of conference members found for S.59 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Committee of Conference Meetings
Regular Session 2025-2026
| Meeting Date | Committee |
|---|
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Committee of Conference Meeting Full List
Regular Session 2025-2026
No committee of conference meeting history found for S.59 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
No committee of conference report found for S.59 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
Act
- Signed into law 6/9/2025
- As Enacted (ACT 51)
- Act Summary
An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
Statutes Affected
Regular Session 2025-2026
| Statute |
|---|
| 1 V.S.A. § 310. Definitions |
| 1 V.S.A. § 312. Right to attend meetings of public agencies |
| 1 V.S.A. § 313. Executive sessions |
| 13 V.S.A. § 1026. Disorderly conduct |
