House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room M106 and Zoom

February 3, 2026 - February 6, 2026

Last Updated 2/3/2026 4:23 PM

 

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

Steven Brown, State's Attorney, Windham County

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

 

10:00 AM                   H. 841 - An act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures

Witness testimony

Trevor Whipple, Designee, Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board

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

 

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

 

2:00 PM                   Reports Repeal Bill

Walk-through

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

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

 

2:45 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

9:00 AM                   Emergency Management and Disaster Response Omnibus Bill

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:30 AM                   Alcohol Omnibus Bill

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Federal Funding

3Squares Awareness Day and update to funding changes

John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank

Denise Walton, Community Member, Concord

Stella James, Director, Hardwick Area Food Pantry

 

1:15 PM                   H. 567 - An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

Committee discussion and possible vote

 

1:30 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

 

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

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, February 6, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

After Floor                         H. 67 - An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

Witness testimony

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

Witnesses TBD, Joint Fiscal Office

 

11:00 AM                   State Grant Processes

Nick Kramer, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Administration

Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission

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

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Fly-by

Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

1:30 PM                   H. 686 - An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements

Witness testimony

Witnesses TBD, Secretary of State's Office

Ben Edgerly Walsh, Climate & Energy Program Director, VPIRG

Ross Connolly, Lobbyist, Americans for Prosperity

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