House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room M106 and Zoom

January 27, 2026 - January 30, 2026

Last Updated 2/19/2026 9:16 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

Followed by Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   S. 23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

1:30 PM                   Break

 

1:50 PM                   Vermont Veterans' Home

Update

Melissa Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Veterans' Home - Zoom

Steve McClafferty, Finance Director, Vermont Veterans' Home - Zoom

 

2:25 PM                   H. 531 - An act relating to creating a preference for military spouses in hiring into State employment

Witness testimony

Melissa Willette, New England Region Liaison, Defense-State Liason Office, Department of War - Zoom

Michelle Richart, Policy Priority Lead for Military Spouse Hiring Preference, Defense-State Liaison Office, Department of War - Zoom

Kristen LaJeunesse, Military Spouse (Retired) - Zoom

Bob Burke, Director, Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs

 

2:50 PM                   H. 555 - An act relating to permitting disabled veterans to park in metered spaces without charge

Witness testimony

Bob Burke, Director, Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

9:15 AM                   H. 647 - An act relating to vinous beverage manufacturers and fourth-class licenses

Witness testimony

David Keck, Legislative Chair, Vermont Grape & Wine Council - Zoom

Rob Knapik, President, Vermont Grape & Wine Council

 

9:40 AM                   Break

 

10:00 AM                   H. 655 - An act relating to alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery

Witness testimony

Wendy Knight, Commissioner, Department of Liquor and Lottery

 

10:10 AM                   Break

 

10:15 AM                   H. 672 - An act relating to distribution of malt beverages by licensed manufacturers

Witness testimony

Jesse Cronin, Member, Vermont Brewers Association

Daren Orr, Member, Vermont Brewers Association

Emma Arian, Executive Director, Vermont Brewers Association

 

10:50 AM                   Break

 

11:00 AM                   H. 832 - An act relating to fourth-class licenses and retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

Witness testimony

Mimi Buttenheim, President, Distilled Spirits Council of Vermont

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Vermont Retired State Employees Association (VRSEA)

VRSEA Legislative Day, Request to amend the make-up of the Retired Employee Committee on Insurance (RECI)

 

Shelley Martin, President, Vermont Retired State Employees Association

 

1:20 PM                   Break

 

1:30 PM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Henri Bynx, Co-founder / Co-director, Ishtar Collective - Zoom

Sadie Fischesser, Executive Director, Vermont Society of CPA's

Alex Smith, Senior Accountant, Fothergill, Segale and Valley Accountants

Heather Chadwick, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association

Laura Morley, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association - Zoom

Laura Lynn Giubardo, Massage Therapist, Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association

 

2:15 PM                   FY27 Budget

Budget buddies

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, January 29, 2026

9:05 AM                   H. 567 - An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

Witness testimony

Josh Hanford, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Vermont League of Cities and Towns

Timothy Leuders-Dumont, Executive  Director, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs

Jennifer Harlow, President, Vermont Sheriffs' Association

Sergeant Mike O'Neil, Director, Vermont State Troopers Association

Sergeant Dan Trottier, President, Vermont State Troopers Association

Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association

Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association

Tim Duggan, Director of Vermont Retirement Systems, Office of the State Treasurer

Nick Kramer, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Administration

 

9:45 AM                   Break

 

11:00 AM                   H. 541 - An act relating to interference with voters and election officials

Review of Draft 2.1 and straw poll

Rep. Ian Goodnow, Sponsor

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 679 - An act relating to emergency management in flood-prone municipalities

Witness testimony

Meghan Wayland, Lead Organizer, Northeast Kingdom Organizing - Zoom

Theresa Perron, Town Administrator, Glover - Zoom

Anne Brody, State Government Relations Director, American Flood Coalition Action - Zoom

 

2:00 PM                   H. 762 - An act relating to the County and Regional Governance Study Committee

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Matthew Birong, Sponsor

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:15 PM                   Break

 

2:30 PM                   H. 510 - An act relating to repealing the charter of the Town of Danville

Committee discussion

 

2:50 PM                   Break

 

3:05 PM                   H. 686 - An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Laura Sibilia, Sponsor

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, January 30, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

10:40 AM                   Secretary of State Division of Animal Welfare

Comprehensive Plan

Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 841 - An act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Chea Waters Evans, Sponsor

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

 

2:00 PM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Proposed amendment

Sierra Downs, President, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

Miya Wilson, Legislative Chair, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

Nicole Lord, Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Liaison, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

Gail Zatz, Advocate, Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association

 

Please note that witnesses may not be called in the order in which they are listed.

 

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Nick Adams at Nick.Adams@vtleg.gov