House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 

AGENDA

 

Room 35 and Zoom

February 17, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Last Updated 2/13/2026 4:39 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-commerce-and-economic-development.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

9:00 AM                   FY27 Budget

Community Action, Microbusiness lending, Weatherization

Liz Scharf, Director of Community Economic Development and Food Security, Capstone Community Action - Invited

Rosie Gray, Financial Securities Specialist and Business Coach, Capstone Community Action - Invited

 

10:00 AM                   House Floor and Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   FY27 Budget

Kelly Ault, Executive Director, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance

Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Founder, Maidstone Public Relations - Invited

Sharon Plumb, Program Manager, Vermont Trails and Greenways Council

 

1:30 PM                   FY27 Budget

Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA-VT

Johanna Doren, Direct Markets and Local Food Access Program Director, NOFA-VT

 

1:45 PM                   FY27 Budget

Denise Smith, Executive  Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development - Zoom

Jake Claro, Farm to Plate Network Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

 

2:30 PM                   FY27 Budget

Advance Vermont

Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont

 

3:00 PM                   FY27 Budget

Gus Seelig, Executive Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - Invited

Pollaidh Major, Director of Policy and Special Projects, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - Invited

 

3:15 PM                   Break

 

3:30 PM                   FY27 Budget

Vermont Professionals of Color

Weiwei Wang, Co Founder and Executive Director, Vermont Professionals of Color Network

Nik Khosla, Board Chair, Vermont Professionals of Color Network

 

4:15 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

9:00 AM                   FY27 Budget

Serve Learn Earn

Breck Knauft, Executive Director, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

Rhoni Basden, Executive Director, VT Works for Women

Kate Gluckman, Director, Serve Learn Earn

Thomas Longstreth, Executive Director, ReSOURCE

Jamey Fidel, Vice President, Vermont, National Audubon Society/Audubon Vermont

 

-                                   FY27 Budget

Department of Forest, Parks, Recreation Update

Danielle Fitzko, Commissioner, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

Claire Polfus, Recreation Program Manager, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

 

10:15 AM                   FY27 Budget

Regional Development Corporations

Andy Julow, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation

 

11:00 AM                   FY27 Budget

Regional Planning Commissions

Devon Neary, Executive Director, Rutland Regional Planning Commission - Invited

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   FY27 Budget

Also includes an update on grants

Heather Pelham, Commissioner, Department of Tourism and Marketing

Lyle Jepson, Commissioner, Agency of Economic Development

Dan Dickerson, Administrative Services Director, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

 

2:30 PM                   H. 512 - An act relating to the regulation of the event ticketing market

Mark-up, possible vote

Cameron Wood, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Susan Evans McClure, Executive Director, Vermont Arts Council

Chris Rice, Lobbyist, MMR - Invited

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

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 AM                   House Floor

 

-                                   Caucus of the Whole

State of the Guard Presentation

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of VSC Trustees and Adjutant and Inspector General

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 205 - An act relating to agreements not to compete

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Rowan Hawthorne, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Vermont Department of Labor - Invited

Mike Kennedy, Bar Counsel, Vermont Bar Counsel

Michael Zahner, Vermont Chamber of Commerce - Invited

Justin McCabe, OnLogic

Jessica Oski, Lobbyist, University of Vermont Health Network - Invited

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

Jay Barton, WCAX - Invited

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions

 

2:00 PM                   FY27 Budget

Dr. Marlene Tromp, Dr, President, University of Vermont - Invited

Patrick Leduc, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Dr, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges System

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

10 mins after Floor                   H. 639 - An act relating to genetic data privacy

Mark up, possible vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel - Invited

Bridget Morris, Lobbyist, Morris Strategies - Invited

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:05 AM                   Legislative Intern Report

Bailey Davis, Norwich Legislative Intern - Invited

Cabot Sayles, UVM Legislative Intern - Invited

 

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

10 mins after Floor                   Early College and Free Degree Promise Day

Rebecca Copans - Invited

Katie Mobley, Dean of Enrollment and Community Relations, Community College of Vermont

Ruby Hall, STEM Studies, Free Degree Promise

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Budget Letter

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:00 PM                   H. 385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Mark up, vote

Grace Pazdan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association - Invited

Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions - Invited

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

Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation

Matt Cota, Lobbyist, Vermont Automotive Distributors Association

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

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

 Megan Cannella at Megan.Cannella@vtleg.gov