House Committee on Ways and Means

 

AGENDA

 

Room 45 and Zoom

February 17, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Last Updated 2/20/2026 11:58 AM

 

Livestream

 

 

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

 

1:15 PM                   School Budgets Update

Kelly Murphy, Director of Education Finance, Agency of Education

Ted Gates, Education Finance Manager, Agency of Education

 

1:30 AM                   Education Finance

Julia Richter, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

2:30 PM                   School District Debt Service

Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Michael Gaughan, Executive Director, Vermont Bond Bank

 

3:15 PM                   H. 567 - An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

possible vote

David Scherr, Deputy Treasurer, Office of the State Treasurer

Al LaPerle, Director of Unclaimed Property, Office of the State Treasurer

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

Cameron Wood, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

9:00 AM                   26-0727 - An act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws

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

Robb Kidd, Vermont Chapter Director, Sierra Club (10:00 AM)

Thomas Little, Vice President, General Counsel, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency

Jeffrey Dooley, Taxpayer Advocate, Department of Taxes

Rebecca Sameroff, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Taxes

 

10:30 AM                   Break

 

10:45 AM                   H. 567 - An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

vote

 

11:00 AM                   School District Reserve Guidance

Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Cassandra Ryan, Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education

Kelly Murphy, Director of Education Finance, Agency of Education

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:15 PM                   Regional Assessment Districts

Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Robert Vickery, Committee Chair, Vermont Assessors and Listers Association

Mimi Burstein, Education and Training Coordinator, Vermont Assessors and Listers Association

Peter Tucker, Advocacy & Public Policy Director, Vermont Association of Realtors

Jill Remick, Director of Property Valuation and Review, Department of Taxes

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

4:40 PM                   H. 578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

vote

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 AM                   House Floor

State of the Guard presentation

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of VSC trustee and Adjutant General

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:15 PM                   26-0758 - An act relating to creating a nonhomestead residential tax classification

Jake Feldman, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Department of Taxes

Abby Shepard, Executive Policy Advisor, Department of Taxes

Robert Vickery, Committee Chair, Vermont Assessors and Listers Association

Peter Tucker, Advocacy & Public Policy Director, Vermont Association of Realtors

Julie Marks, Founder and Director, VT Short Term Rental Alliance

 

2:55 PM                   Governor's Recommended Budget Language

Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

 

3:15 PM                   Regional Assessment Districts

Samantha Sheehan, Municipal Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Vermont League of Cities and Towns - Zoom

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:00 AM                   26-0727 - An act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws

Jason Batchelder, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Wildlife

Hannah Smith, General Counsel, Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

after the floor                     H. 566 - An act relating to sealing post-charge court diversion records upon successful completion

vote

Michele Childs, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

 

10:15 AM                   H. 886 - An act relating to creating a cost of competing adjustment

Rep. Erin Brady, Co-Chair, Bill Sponsor

Rep. Bridget Burkhardt, Representative, House Committee on Ways and Means

 

10:35 AM                   H. 635 - An act relating to eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees

vote

Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office

Kristin Calver, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections

 

11:00 AM                   Break

 

11:30 AM                   H. 632 - An act relating to miscellaneous environmental amendments

vote

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

Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Logan Mooberry, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn