House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

AGENDA

Room 10 and Zoom

February 27, 2024 - March 1, 2024

Last Updated 5/2/2024 3:41 PM

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-government-operations-and-military-affairs.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

9:00 AM                   An act relating to changes to property tax abatement and tax sales

Review of H.629

Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Rep. Carl Demrow, Reporter, House Committee on Ways and Means

Tina Labeau, Treasurer, Town of Londonderry, VT

Doug Spates, Owner, Spates Family LLC

Janet Long, Collector of Delinquent Taxes, Greensboro, VT

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Wendy Morgan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid

Kevin O'Toole, Attorney, Dorset, VT

10:00 AM                   House Floor

-                                   Caucuses and Lunch

1:00 PM                   H. 140 - An act relating to requirements for State-funded grants

Testimony

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Sarah Clark, Deputy Secretary of Administration, Agency of Administration

1:45 PM                   An act relating to changes to property tax abatement and tax sales

Committee discussion of H.629

Wendy Morgan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid

2:00 PM                   15 Minute Break

2:15 PM                   H. 702 - An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

Testimony

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Doug Hoffer, State Auditor, State Auditor's Office

William Clark, Program Principal, Center for Legislative Strengthening, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

Xusana Davis, Executive Director, Office of Racial Equity

Anna Brouillette, Policy and Program Director, Building Bright Futures

Charles Sallee, Director, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Chair, House Ways & Means Committee

4:15 PM                   An act relating to changes to property tax abatement and tax sales

Review of H.629

Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

4:34 PM                   Adjourn

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

9:00 AM                   H. 867 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery

Possible vote

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Rep. Anne B. Donahue, Sponsor of amendment

Erin Sigrist, President, Vermont Retail & Grocers Association

Charles Martin, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Liquor and Lottery

10:10 AM                   H. 606 - An act relating to professional licensure and immigration status

Testimony

Cecilia Esterline, Immigration Research Analyst, Niskanen Center

Ian Hefele, Community Engagement and Communications Manager, Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC)

Rep. Esme Cole, Sponsor

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

10:50 AM                   15 Minute Break

11:12 AM                   H. 702 - An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

Discussion

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

11:41 AM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   H. 867 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery

Possible vote

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

1:05 PM                   H. 626 - An act relating to animal welfare

Testimony and committee discussion

Michael O'Grady, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Mike Covey, Executive Director, Vermont Traditions Coalition

Christopher Brickell, Deputy Director, Vermont Criminal Justice Council

2:24 PM                   H. 867 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery

Vote

2:35 PM                   Constituent Service Time

3:00 PM                   House Floor

Thursday, February 29, 2024

9:00 AM                   H. 622 - An act relating to emergency medical services

Testimony

Nolan Langweil, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Drew Hazelton, Chair, Vermont EMS Advisory Committee

Karl Stein, AEMT/Educator, Northern Emergency Medical Services (NEMS)

Jim Finger , President, Vermont Ambulance Association

Adam Heuslein, Chief, Glover, E.M.S.

10:30 AM                   15 Minute Break

10:45 AM                   H. 875 - An act relating to the State Ethics Commission and the State Code of Ethics

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Pam Loranger, Selectboard Chair, Town of Colchester

Aaron Frank, Town Manager, Town of Colchester

Inge Schaefer, Acting Chair, Colchester Board of Ethics, Town of Colchester

Christina Sivret, Executive Director, Vermont State Ethics Commission

Maureen Dakin, Selectboard Member, Town of Colchester

Gary Briggs, Selectboard Member, Lunenburg

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:10 PM                   H. 667 - An act relating to the creation of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission

Vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

1:20 PM                   24-0680 - An act relating to miscellaneous updates to the powers of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council and the duties of law enforcement officers

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

1:45 PM                   H. 612 - An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis amendments

Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

Michael O'Grady, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

3:00 PM                   House Floor

Friday, March 1, 2024

9:30 AM                   House Floor

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of Sergeant at Arms

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   H. 612 - An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis amendments

Vote

Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

1:27 PM                   Break

1:42 PM                   H. 870 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Vote

Lauren Layman, General Counsel, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

2:00 PM                   Break

2:30 PM                   H. 644 - An act relating to access to records by individuals who were in foster care

Introduction, walk-through, testimony

Rep. Sarah "Sarita" Austin, Sponsor

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tanya Marshall, State Archivist and Director, VT State Archives & Records Administration, Secretary of State's Office

Gillie Hopkins, Permanency Planning Manager, Department for Children and Family Services

3:06 PM                   Adjourn

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Andrea Hussey at ahussey@leg.state.vt.us