Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room 27 and Zoom

February 17, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Last Updated 2/17/2026 11:46 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-economic-development-housing-and-general-affairs.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:30 AM                   S. 328 - An act relating to housing and common interest communities

Section 12

Richard Wobby, Executive Vice President, Director of Safety Training and Member Services, Associated General Contractors of Vermont

Larry Moquin, Representative, Vermont Building & Construction Trades Council, Laborers' Local Union 668

Matt Glavin, President, Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council

 

11:05 AM                   By Right Housing/ 802 Homes

Joint hearing with the Senate on Natural Resources and Energy in room 8 of the State House. The meeting will be live streamed here:<<https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-natural-resources-and-energy>>

Jacob Hemmerick, Community Planning & Policy Manager, Department of Housing and Community Development

Jennifer Murray, Director of Planning, Zoning, and Codes, Hanover

Chris Brimmer, Zoning Administrator, Fairlee

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 278 - An act relating to cannabis

Joint Hearing with House Government Operations in Room 11.

Testimony will be heard from growers, advertisers, doctors, retailers, and events licensees.

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

Damian Fagon, Policy Director, Parabola Center for Law and Policy - Zoom

Nathan Davidson, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Timothy Egan, Vermont NORML

Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board

Ornella Matta-Figueroa, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Land Access and Opportunity Board

Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund

Miriam El Guemri, Owner, Tea House Dispensary

Sara Farnsworth, Owner, Full Circle Farm

Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association

Kalev Freeman, Emergency Room Physician, UVM Medical Center - TBD

Sam Bellavance, Chief Executive Officer, Sunset Lake Cannabis

Josh MacDuff, Co-owner, Mountain Girl Cannabis - Zoom

Glauke Cooijmans, Prevention Coordinator, Mount Anthony Union Middle and High School - Zoom

Janet Potter, Student Assistance Provider, Hartford Middle School - Zoom

James Trimarchi, Director of Planning, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

Dr. Rick Hildebrant, MD, Commissioner, Department of Health

 

10:30 AM                   Break

 

10:45 AM                   S. 327 - An act relating to economic development

Section 13

Linda Rossi, State Director, Vermont Small Business Development Center - Invited

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

 

11:30 AM                   S. 327 - An act relating to economic development

Section 7 and 8 Re-Drafted

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 173 - An act relating to workers’ compensation and the Vermont Labor Relations Board

Possible Vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel - Invited

 

9:45 AM                   S. 230 - An act relating to flexible working arrangements

Possible Vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of VSC Trustees and Adjutant and Inspector General

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

10:25 AM                   Adjourn

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 328 - An act relating to housing and common interest communities

Sections 4 and 5

Cameron Wood, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Witnesses TBD

 

10:30 AM                   S. 207 - An act relating to prohibiting surveillance pricing

Marc Paquette, Chief, Weights and Measures, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets - Invited

Scott Dolan, Agriculture Weights & Measures Specialist, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

 

11:00 AM                   Accelerated Degree Pathways

Rebecca Copans, McClure Foundation

Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont

Aidan Hall, Information Technology and Network Administration, Free Degree Promise

Aunika Higbee, Free Degree Promise

 

11:25 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

 Ciara Mead at Ciara.Mead@vtleg.gov