Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

AGENDA

Room 27 and Zoom

January 6, 2026 - January 9, 2026

Last Updated 4/21/2026 11:05 AM

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-economic-development-housing-and-general-affairs.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

10:00 AM                   Senate Floor

11:00 AM                   Introduction

Session organization

11:45 AM                   Adjourn

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

9:00 AM                   Economic Development and Housing

Priorities for session 2026

Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Lyle Jepson, Commissioner, Agency of Economic Development

Alex Farrell, Commissioner, Department of Housing and Community Development

10:30 AM                   Break

10:45 AM                   Economic Development

Discussion and review of CHIP guidelines

Jessica Hartleben, Executive Director, Vermont Economic Progress Council

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

2:00 PM                   Governor's State of the State Address

Thursday, January 8, 2026

9:00 AM                   Department of Labor and Office of Workforce Strategy and Development

Updates

Sabina Haskell, Executive Director, Office of Workforce Strategy and Development

Kendal Smith, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor

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

Drake Turner, Deputy Director, Office of Workforce Strategy and Development

Chris Winters, Deputy Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor

10:30 AM                   Break

10:45 AM                   Data Trust Report

Updates and priorities for the session

Sabina Haskell, Executive Director, Office of Workforce Strategy and Development

Drake Turner, Deputy Director, Office of Workforce Development and Strategy

Josiah Raiche, Director, Artificial Intelligence Division, Agency of Digital Services

11:15 AM                   Act 69 Report on The Road Home

Kirsten Murphy, Executive Director, Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, Health Equity Advisory Commission

Esq. Susan Aranoff, J.D., Senior Planner and Policy Analyst, Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

Friday, January 9, 2026

9:00 AM                   Economic Development and General Affairs

Report on Convention Center Task Force

Nick Grimley, Director of Entrepreneurship & Tech Commercialization, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Jeff Lawson, Vice-Pres. Tourism & Marketing, Hello Vermont, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

9:30 AM                   Cannabis Control Board

Guidelines and priorities

James Pepper, Cannabis Control Board

Kyle Harris, Board Member, Cannabis Control Board

Julie Hulburd, Commissioner, Cannabis Control Board

10:30 AM                   Break

10:45 AM                   Liquor & Lottery

Priorities for session

Wendy Knight, Commissioner, Department of Liquor and Lottery

Hannah Chauvin, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Liquor and Lottery

11:25 AM                   Adjourn

11:30 AM                   Senate Floor

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.

Should you require accessibility services, please click here and note that requests should be made 48 hours in advance of testimony.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Ciara Mead at Ciara.Mead@vtleg.gov

11:20 AM                   Appointments