House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room M106 and Zoom

February 3, 2026 - February 6, 2026

Last Updated 2/19/2026 9:06 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

Followed by Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:30 PM                   Ethics Commission

Priorities

Paul Erlbaum, Commissioner, Vermont State Ethics Commission

Will Stevens, Legislative Appointee, Vermont State Ethics Commission

T.J. Jones, Consultant, Vermont State Ethics Commission - Zoom

Pat McDonald, Board President, Campaign for Vermont

 

2:40 PM                   Public Records Act

Witness testimony

Lisa Loomis, Board President, Vermont Press Association - Zoom

Bridgit Higdon, Board Vice President, Vermont Journalism Coalition - Zoom

Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters

 

2:55 PM                   Break

 

3:05 PM                   H. 762 - An act relating to the County and Regional Governance Study Committee

Witness testimony

Austin Davis, Director, Government Affairs, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission - Zoom

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

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

 

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Witness testimony

Detective Michael Studin, Lieutenant, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Vermont State Police

Steven Brown, State's Attorney, Windham County

 

9:50 AM                   Break

 

10:10 AM                   H. 841 - An act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures

Witness testimony

Erika Holm, Co-Executive Director, Central Vermont Humane Society

Era MacDonald, Founder and Executive Director, Merrymac Farm Sanctuary - Zoom

Pamela Krausz, Board Member, Vermont Humane Federation

Joanne Bourbeau, Northeastern Regional Director, Humane World for Animals - Zoom

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 669 - An act relating to internet lottery sales

Introduction, walk-through, and witness testimony

Rep. Michael Marcotte, Sponsor

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wendy Knight, Commissioner, Department of Liquor and Lottery

 

1:40 PM                   Break

 

2:30 PM                   H. 811 - An act relating to election of Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Matthew Birong, Sponsor

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

BetsyAnn Wrask, Clerk, Vermont House of Representatives

 

2:45 PM                   Break

 

2:50 PM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Committee discussion

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, February 5, 2026

9:20 AM                   Emergency Management and Disaster Response Omnibus Bill

Witness testimony

Dean Gilmore, Chair, Government Affairs Committee, Vermont State Firefighters' Association - Zoom

David DiBiase, Chief, Vergennes Fire Department - Zoom

Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Public Policy Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy

 

9:50 AM                   Break

 

10:00 AM                   Emergency Management and Disaster Response Omnibus Bill

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:30 AM                   Break

 

10:40 AM                   Alcohol Omnibus Bill

Moving forward, testimony listed under Alcohol Omnibus Bill may include discussion of other alcohol bills H.647, H.655, H.672, H.832

Ryan Chaffin, Director of Operations, Farrell Distributing Corporation

Nicholas Sherman, Lobbyist, Vermont Wholesale Beverage Association

Stuart Timmons, Director of Business Development, Farrell Distributing Corporation

Marielle Matthews, Resident, Vermont

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:05 PM                   Federal Funding

3Squares Awareness Day and update to funding changes

John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank

Stella James, Director, Hardwick Area Food Pantry

Denise Walton, Community Member, Concord

 

1:25 PM                   H. 679 - An act relating to emergency management in flood-prone municipalities

Witness Testimony

Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Vermont Emergency Management

Neil Kamman, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation

 

1:55 PM                   Break

 

2:00 PM                   H. 531 - An act relating to creating a preference for military spouses in hiring into State employment

Walk-through

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:20 PM                   Break

 

2:30 PM                   H. 567 - An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

Committee discussion and vote

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, February 6, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

10:40 AM                   H. 67 - An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

Witness testimony

Tim Ashe, Deputy State Auditor, State Auditor's Office

 

11:00 AM                   State Grant Processes

Nick Kramer, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Administration

Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission - Zoom

Emma Paradis, Common Good Vermont Co-Director, United Way of Northwest Vermont

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:15 PM                   H. 578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Review of Draft 2.1 and straw poll

Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

1:40 PM                   H. 686 - An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements

Witness testimony

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office

Sean Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Secretary of State's Office

Ben Edgerly Walsh, Climate & Energy Program Director, VPIRG

Lauren Hierl, Executive Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council

 

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