Senate Committee on Health and Welfare

 

AGENDA

 

Room 17 and Zoom

February 17, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Last Updated 2/20/2026 7:09 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-health-and-welfare.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:30 AM                   S. 26 - An act relating to prohibiting certain artificial dyes in foods and beverages served or sold at school

Scott Fay, Child Nutrition Director, Essex Westford School District

Laura La Vacca, Director of Food Services, Burlington School District

 

11:30 AM                   S. 206 - An act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 64 - An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

M.D. Christopher Brady, Ophthalmologist - Zoom

M.D. Libby Houle, Ophthalmologist

OD Alicia Feis, Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

OD Amy Puerto, Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Dr. Daniel Phillips, Vice President, Vermont Optometric Association

OD Tina Keshava, President, Vermont Optometric Association

 

10:15 AM                   Break

 

10:30 AM                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Elliott Fisher, Professor of Medicine and Health Policy, The Dartmouth Institute

 

11:15 AM                   S. 206 - An act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation

Fiscal Note

Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

11:25 AM                   S. 206 - An act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation

Vote

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:30 AM                   S. 243 - An act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project

Vote

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:45 AM                   S. 210 - An act relating to access to autopsy reports

Vote

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:50 AM                   Compass Pathways

Tess Bettler, Compass Pathways

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 157 - An act relating to recovery residence certification

Mark-Up

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Emily Trutor, Director of Substance Use Disorders, Department of Health

Candace Gale, Director of Community Relations, Vermont Foundation of Recovery

 

9:30 AM                   S. 249 - An act relating to hospital collaboration and state action immunity

Walk-Through

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:00 AM                   Rare Diseases Day

Carolyn Sheridan, National Organization for Rare Disorders

 

10:15 AM                   Adjourn

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Elect VSC Trustees and Adjutant and Inspector General

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 190 - An act relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and hospital outsourcing of clinical care

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Owen Foster, J.D., Chair, Green Mountain Care Board

Alena Berube, Director of Policy, Green Mountain Care Board

Courtney Harrness, Director of Legislative and Government Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Jessa Barnard, Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society

Devon Green, Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

 

10:00 AM                   Department of Mental Health

Emily Hawes, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health

 

10:30 AM                   S. 157 - An act relating to recovery residence certification

Possible Vote

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:00 AM                   S. 239 - An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group

Walk-Through

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

 

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

 Calysta Koppenhaver at Calysta.Koppenhaver@vtleg.gov