House Committee on Judiciary

 

AGENDA

 

Room 30 and Zoom

February 10, 2026 - February 13, 2026

Last Updated 2/6/2026 3:24 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-judiciary.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Budget Presentation

Rep. Trevor Squirrell, Representative, House Committee on Appropriations

 

1:30 PM                   Budget Presentation

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary

Teri Corsones, State Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary

 

2:00 PM                   Budget Presentation

Christopher Brickell, Executive Director, Vermont Criminal Justice Council - Invited

 

2:30 PM                   Break

 

2:45 PM                   Budget Presentation

Jennifer Poehlmann, J.D., Executive Director, Center for Crime Victim Services - Invited

 

3:15 PM                   Budget Presentation

Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office - Invited

 

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

9:00 AM                   Public Safety and Chittenden County Pilot

Joint Hearing with Senate Judiciary

Hearing will be Held in Room 267 of the Pavilion Building

Zach Weight, Deputy State's Attorney, Washington County

Sarah George, State's Attorney, Chittenden County

Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs

 

10:00 AM                   Break

 

10:15 AM                   Public Safety and Chittenden County Pilot

Continued Testimony

Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office - Invited

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary

Teri Corsones, State Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary - Invited

Witnesses TBD, Department of Corrections - TBD

Witnesses TBD, Agency of Human Services - TBD

Jaye Johnson, General Counsel, Governor's Office - TBD

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Disability Advocacy Day

Lindsey St.Amour, Exective Director, Disability Rights Vermont - Invited

Wilda White, Founder, MadFreedom - Invited

 

1:45 PM                   Break

 

2:00 PM                   Budget Presentation

Andrea Smith, Legislative Specialist, Vermont Legal Aid - Invited

Bessie Weiss, Interim Executive Director, Vermont Legal Aid - Invited

 

2:30 PM                   Budget Presentation

Sarah Robinson, MSW, Co-Executive Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

 

3:00 PM                   Budget Presentation

Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office - Invited

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, February 12, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 529 - An act relating to enforcing violations of court-imposed pretrial supervision conditions

Walk-Through and Witness Testimony

Hillary Chutter-Ames, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, Deputy Division Director, State Impacts, Council of State Governments Justice Center - Invited

Witnesses TBD, Department of Corrections - Invited

 

10:15 AM                   Break

 

10:30 AM                   H. 529 - An act relating to enforcing violations of court-imposed pretrial supervision conditions

Witness Testimony Continued

Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs - Invited

Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office - Invited

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary - Invited

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 741 - An act relating to requiring the court to issue an arrest warrant when a criminal defendant fails to appear in court

Walk-Through and Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel - Invited

Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs - Invited

Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office - Invited

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary - Invited

 

2:30 PM                   Break

 

2:45 PM                   H. 578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel - Invited

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary - Invited

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

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, February 13, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

After Floor                         H. 578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Discussion and Vote

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Budget Presentation

Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs - Invited

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

 

2:00 PM                   TBD

 

3:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

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

 Nate Biscotti at Nate.Biscotti@vtleg.gov