House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

AGENDA

 

Room 35 and Zoom

January 20, 2026 - January 23, 2026

Last Updated 1/23/2026 1:06 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

9:00 AM                   Office of Workforce Strategy and Development

Board and Office Updates

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

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

 

10:00 AM                   House Floor and Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Governor's 2027 Budget Address

 

15 Mins After the Governor's Budget Address                   H. 639 - An act relating to genetic data privacy

Walk-through

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

9:05 AM                   H. 520 - An act relating to the right of users to control their social media data

Introduction

Rep. Monique Priestley, Sponsor, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

9:20 AM                   H. 525 - An act relating to insurance coverage for motor vehicle glass

Introduction

Rep. Anthony "Tony" Micklus, Sponsor, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

9:30 AM                   H. 526 - An act relating to driver safety courses and discounts for motor vehicle insurance

Introduction

Rep. Anne B. Donahue, Sponsor, House Committee on Human Services

 

9:40 AM                   H. 699 - An act relating to consumer protection from abusive acts or practices

Introduction

Rep. Monique Priestley, Sponsor, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

9:45 AM                   H. 706 - An act relating to internet browsers and data selling

Introduction

Rep. Monique Priestley, Sponsor, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

9:55 AM                   Break

 

10:15 AM                   H. 650 - An act relating to educational technology products

Introduction

Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor, House Committee on Judiciary

Rep. Edye Graning, Co-sponsor, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

10:45 AM                   H. 668 - An act relating to automatic renewal contracts

Introduction

Rep. Gregory "Greg" Burtt, Sponsor, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

 

11:00 AM                   H. 639 - An act relating to genetic data privacy

Introduction

Rep. Robin Scheu, Sponsor, House Committee on Appropriations

 

11:10 AM                   Break

 

11:15 AM                   H. 630 - An act relating to adopting minimum security standards for connected devices

Introduction

Rep. Barbara Rachelson, Sponsor, House Committee on Judiciary

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:20 PM                   Human Rights Commission

Discussion on Report

Big Hartman, Executive Director & General Counsel, Vermont Human Rights Commission

 

2:15 PM                   Break

 

2:20 PM                   Vermont Captive Insurance Association

Ian Davis, President, Vermont Captive Insurance Association

Julie Bordo, Vice-Chair, PCH Mutual Insurance

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

 

3:00 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, January 22, 2026

9:00 AM                   Northeast Kingdom Day

Rick Ufford-Chase, Mayor, Newport

Peggy Clay, Human Resources Manager, VT Aero Space

Asha Marshall, HR Business Partner, Weidmann Electrical Technology

Bill Stimpson, General Manager, Weidmann Electrical Technology

Kayla Veilleux, Chair, NEK Young Professionals Network

Burton Hinton, President, Burke Area Chamber

 

9:30 AM                   Vermont Foodbank

John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank

Bob Chappelle, Farmer, Chappelle's Vermont Potatoes

Hilary Martin, Farmer, Digger's Mirth Collective Farm

 

10:00 AM                   Career Technical Education Concept Overview

This will be a virtual Joint Hearing with the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs from 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. This will take place in Room 35 of the State House and livestreamed from the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development's YouTube channel.

Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education

Ruth  Durkee, State Director of Career Technical Education, Agency of Education

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

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:05 PM                   Adult Education and Literacy Funding Report

Nick Kramer, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Administration

Catherine Kalkstein, Executive Director, Central Vermont Adult Education

Tara Brooks, Executive Director, Vermont Adult Learning

Michelle Faust, M.S., Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services

 

2:00 PM                   Security Briefing

This will be an Executive Session.

Agatha Kessler, Sergeant at Arms, Vermont General Assembly

John Poleway, Chief of Capitol Police, Capitol Police Department

Sara Macera, Capitol Police Department

Joe Trombley, Capitol Police Department

 

3:00 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, January 23, 2026

9:00 AM                   Legislative Interns Report

Report from Committee's Legislative Interns

Cabot Sayles, UVM Legislative Intern

Bailey Davis, Norwich Legislative Intern

 

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

15 Minutes After the Floor                   Vermont Training Report

Randall Szott, Vermont Training Program Director, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

 

-                                   Committee Discussion

Continued Discussion on Committee Liaison Reports

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:05 PM                   Executive Order on AI

Walk-through and Testimony on the Federal Executive Order on AI Usage.

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Travis Hall, Director for State Engagement, Center for Democracy and Technology - Zoom

Rob Eleveld, CEO & Co-Founder, Transparency Coalition - Zoom

 

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

 Annagrace Oblak at Annagrace.Oblak@vtleg.gov