House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Agenda

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

AGENDA

Room 35 and Zoom

January 9, 2024 - January 12, 2024

Last Updated 1/16/2024 8:17 AM

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-commerce-and-economic-development.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

9:00 AM Adult Basic Education

BAA request

Brian Kravitz, Development and Outreach Director, Adult Education and Literacy Network

Joe Przyperhart, Director of Programs, Adult Education and Literacy Network

10:00 AM House Floor

Followed by Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Members

- Lunch and Caucuses

1:00 PM Green Mountain Jobs Retention Program and U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Funding

Wendy Koenig, Federal and State Relations and Legislative Liaison, University of Vermont

Kirk Dombrowski , Vice President for Research, University of Vermont

Doug Merrill, Consultant, University of Vermont

2:00 PM Act 76 of 2023

Update on the rollout of childcare spending

Aly Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Let's Grow Kids

Morgan Crossman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Building Bright Futures

3:00 PM Vermont Treasurer

BAA request

Jennifer Carbee, Director and Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Gavin Boyles, Deputy Treasurer, Office of the State Treasurer

Ashlynn Doyon, Director of Policy, Office of the State Treasurer

3:30 PM United Way of Northwest Vermont

BAA request

Clarissa French, Executive Director, United Way of Lamoille County

Liz Gamache, Chief Development Officer, United Way of Northwest Vermont

- Adjourn

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

9:00 AM S. 30 - An act relating to creating a Sister State Program

Introduction and walk-through

Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor of Bill

Sen. Wendy Harrison, Reporter of Bill

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

General Gregory C. Knight, Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard

10:00 AM H. 667 - An act relating to the creation of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Conor Casey, Sponsor

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Mark Daly, Senator, Republic of Ireland

- Break

10:45 AM Committee Discussion

Drafting BAA recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

12:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM H. 659 - An act relating to captive insurance

Introduction and walk-through

Sandy Bigglestone, Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance, Department of Financial Regulation

Brittany Nevins, Captive Insurance Economic Development Director, Vermont Department of Economic Development

Kevin Mead, President, Vermont Captive Insurance Association

2:30 PM Break

2:40 PM H. 659 - An act relating to captive insurance

Committee discussion

Vote

3:00 PM House Floor

- Adjourn

Thursday, January 11, 2024

9:00 AM H. 560 - An act relating to making technical corrections to workers’ compensation rulemaking requirements

Walk-through

Damien Leonard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

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

- H. 560 - An act relating to making technical corrections to workers’ compensation rulemaking requirements

Committee discussion

Mark-up and vote

- Break

10:15 AM Workforce Development Governance Report Overview

Alysia Ordway, Senior Consultant, Public Consulting Group

Michael Harrington, Commissioner, Department of Labor

Cameron Wood, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Labor

Jay Ramsey, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor

Kendal Smith, Director of Policy Development and Legislative Affairs, Governor's Office

Adam Grinold, Chair, State Workforce Development Board

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

12:00 PM Lunch

1:15 PM Overview of Government Accountability Committee Report

Rep. Jessica Brumsted, Co-Chair, Summer Government Accountability Committee

2:00 PM Committee Discussion

Drafting BAA recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

2:30 PM H. 659 - An act relating to captive insurance

Committee amendment

Walk-through and vote

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

3:00 PM House Floor

- Adjourn

Friday, January 12, 2024

9:00 AM Committee Discussion

Discussion with intern

Wiley Barzelay, Intern, University of Vermont

9:30 AM House Floor

10 Mins After Floor Business Emergency Gap Assistance Grant Program Overview

Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Department of Economic Development

12:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM ARPA Technical Assistance

Douglas Farnham, Chief Recovery Officer, Agency of Administration

2:00 PM H. 666 - An act relating to escrow deposit bonds

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. James Harrison, Sponsor

Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Aaron Ferenc, Interim Deputy Commissioner of Banking, Department of Financial Regulation

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Peter Tucker, Advocacy & Public Policy Director, Vermont Association of Realtors

Michael Sneyd, President of Resort Residential Development Division, Great Gulf Group

- Adjourn

ATTENTION WITNESSES

Please email handouts to the committee assistant at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting time. With few exceptions, any documents you send to a committee assistant are open to the public and may be posted to the committee’s web page.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

Andrew Hegarty at ahegarty@leg.state.vt.us