Senate Committee on Agriculture

 

AGENDA

 

Room 28 and Zoom

February 10, 2026 - February 13, 2026

Last Updated 2/13/2026 10:36 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-agriculture.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

following the Floor                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Sections 14, 15-20

Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

 

10:00 AM                   Break

 

10:30 AM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Sections 1-3

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Abbey Willard, Director, Agricultural Development Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

 

-                                   Adjourn

 

4:30 AM                   Agriculture Producers Association Reception

4:30-5:45 in State House Cafeteria

 

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

9:00 AM                   Working Lands Program Overview

Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Elizabeth Sipple, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Program Staff, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Clare Salerno, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Program Staff, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Abbey Willard, Director, Agricultural Development Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Katharine Servidio, Forest Economy Program Manager, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

 

10:30 AM                   Break

 

10:45 AM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Sections 1-3

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

 

-                                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, February 12, 2026

9:00 AM                   Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Grantees

Elizabeth Sipple, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Program Staff, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Claire Georges, Founder & CEO, Butterfly Bakery of Vermont

Mischa Johnson, Co-owner, Free Verse Farm & Apothecary

Miles Jenness, Owner, Vermont Heavy Timber LLC

David Keck, Owner, Keck Wine Enterprises LLC

 

10:30 AM                   Break

 

10:45 AM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Section 10

Rep. Gregory "Greg" Burtt,  , House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

Annette Smith, Executive  Director, Vermonters for a Clean Environment

Greg Cox, Boardman Hill Farm, West Rutland, VT

Jesse McDougall, Regenerative Farmer, Studio Hill Farm

Peter Sterling, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Vermont

 

-                                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Friday, February 13, 2026

9:00 AM                   Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition

Guy Goulet, Owner and Operator, Goulet Farm

Kathleen Swanson, Resident of South Hero - Zoom

Mark Gutel, Owner and Operator, A Kinder Way Berry Farm, West Pawlet

Sam Smith, Farm Business Director, Intervale Center

Rosalie Williams, Lifelong Farmer, Diversified Ag, Bakersfield

 

10:00 AM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Hemp

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

Sam Bellavance, Chief Executive Officer, Sunset Lake CBD

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Kyle Harris, Board Member, Cannabis Control Board

Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association

 

11:15 AM                   Adjourn

 

11:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

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

 Linda Leehman at Linda.Leehman@vtleg.gov