House Committee on Human Services

 

AGENDA

 

Room 46 and Zoom

January 27, 2026 - January 30, 2026

Last Updated 1/23/2026 4:52 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-human-services.

 

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

 

After Floor                         Caucuses and Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Review 2025 Point-in-Time Count

Chad Simmons, Director, Housing and Homeless Alliance of Vermont

 

2:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Jonathan Farrell, Executive Director, Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)

Angus Chaney, Executive Director, Homeless Prevention Center, Rutland

Julie Bond, Co-Executive Director, Good Samaritan Haven, Barre - Invited

Roxanne Carelli, Executive Director of Operational Development and Shelter Services, Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless - Invited

Jeanne Montross, Executive Director, Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects (HOPE) - Invited

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

9:00 AM                   Governor’s Proposed FY2027 Budget

AHS Budget

Jenney Samuelson, Secretary, Agency of Human Services

Tracy O'Connell, Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Human Services

 

10:15 AM                   Break

 

10:30 AM                   Governor’s Proposed FY2027 Budget

DAIL Budget and Update on Age Smart Plan

Dr. Jill Bowen, Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living - Invited

Angela Smith-Dieng, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

Bill Kelly, Financial Director, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

Jennifer Garabedian, Director, Developmental Disabilities Services Division, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

AHS and Departments' response to bill

Sandi Hoffman, Interim Commissioner, Department for Children and Families

Kristin McClure, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Human Services

Renee Weeks, Director of Complex Care & Field Services, Agency of Human Services

Angie White, Nurse Case Manager, Vermont Chronic Care Initiative

 

1:30 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Dr. Rick Hildebrant, MD, Commissioner, Department of Health

Emily Trutor, Director of Substance Use Disorders, Department of Health

 

2:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Dr. Jill Bowen, Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

Angela Smith-Dieng, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

 

2:30 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Kristin Calver, Deputy Commissioner, Vermont Department of Corrections

Travis Denton, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections

 

3:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Samantha Sweet, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Mental Health

Kristen Briggs, Director of Mental Health Services, Department of Mental Health

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, January 29, 2026

9:00 AM                   Mental Health Advocacy Day

Witnesses TBD

 

9:30 AM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Witnesses TBD, Person with Lived Experience - Invited

 

10:45 AM                   Break

 

11:00 AM                   Security Training

This will not be livestreamed due to sensitive content.

Agatha Kessler, Sergeant at Arms, Vermont General Assembly

John Poleway, Chief of Capitol Police, Capitol Police Department

Sara Macera, Sergeant, Capitol Police Department

Joe Tremblay, Officer, Capitol Police Department

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Alex Karambelas, Policy Advocate, ACLU of Vermont

 

1:30 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Brenda Siegel, Executive Director, End Homelessness Vermont - Invited

 

2:15 PM                   H. 594 - An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

Erin Jacobson, Chief of Staff, City of Burlington Mayor's Office - Invited

Matt Lawless, Town Manager, Shelburne

 

2:45 PM                   H. 660 - An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund appropriations

Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee recommendations

Jess Kirby, Vice-Chair, Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, January 30, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

After Floor                         H. 660 - An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund appropriations

Witnesses TBD, Department of Health - Invited

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Governor’s Proposed FY2027 Budget

DCF Budget

Sandi Hoffman, Interim Commissioner, Department for Children and Families - Invited

Megan Smeaton, Financial Director, Department for Children and Families - Invited

 

-                                   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.

 

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

 Lori Morse at Lori.Morse@vtleg.gov