House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room M106 and Zoom

February 17, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Last Updated 2/19/2026 4:14 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-government-operations-and-military-affairs.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

Followed by Caucus

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:10 PM                   H. 632 - An act relating to miscellaneous environmental amendments

Review

Neil Kamman, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

1:55 PM                   H. 907 - An act relating to legislative review of reporting requirements

Formerly known as the Reports Repeal Bill, vote

 

2:15 PM                   Budget Letter

Committee discussion

 

3:00 PM                   H. 93 - An act relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of veterans in Vermont

Witness testimony

Bob Burke, Director, Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs

Josiah Raiche, Director, Artificial Intelligence Division, Agency of Digital Services

 

3:35 PM                   Break

 

3:50 PM                   Budget Letter

Committee discussion and witness testimony

Denise Smith, Executive  Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development

 

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. The meeting will be live-streamed from Senate Economic Development's YouTube.

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

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

Ethan Kramer, Co-owner, Tilia Hills Farm

Chris Lillie, Executive  Director, Green Mountain Sativa

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, Commissioner, Department of Health

 

11:00 AM                   H. 841 - An act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures

Witness testimony

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

Sara White, Veterinarian and Executive Director, Spay ASAP Inc. - Zoom

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 632 - An act relating to miscellaneous environmental amendments

Straw poll

 

1:05 PM                   H. 831 - An act relating to requiring the Secretary of State to include the year of passage in the number assigned to acts of the General Assembly

Witness testimony

Tanya Marshall, State Archivist and Chief Records Officer, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Vermont Secretary of State

 

1:30 PM                   Budget Letter

Committee discussion and witness testimony

Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission

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

 

1:55 PM                   Break

 

2:10 PM                   H. 693 - An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Bennington concerning the Town police department

Witness testimony

Paul Doucette, Chief of Police, Town of Bennington - Zoom

 

2:35 PM                   H. 694 - An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Bennington concerning the Town Manager

Witness testimony

Tom Haley, Chair, Bennington Selectboard - Zoom

 

2:40 PM                   H. 693 - An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Bennington concerning the Town police department

Witness testimony

Tom Haley, Chair, Bennington Selectboard - Zoom

 

2:45 PM                   Break

 

3:00 PM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

Committee discussion, mark-up, and vote

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 AM                   Caucus of the Whole

State of the Guard Presentation

 

9:45 AM                   House Floor

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of  VSC Trustees and Adjutant and Inspector General

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   H. 67 - An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

Witness testimony

Dora Levinson, Research and Data Director, Building Bright Futures - Zoom

Xusana Davis, Executive Director, Office of Racial Equity - Zoom

Tim Ashe, Deputy State Auditor, State Auditor's Office

 

1:35 PM                   Break

 

1:45 PM                   26-0551 - An act relating to alcoholic beverages

Witness testimony

Justin Hyjek, Co-owner, Main and Mountain Bar and Motel - Zoom

Amy Spear, Vermont Chamber President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce - Zoom

Mary Block, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Department of Financial Regulation

Wendy Knight, Commissioner, Department of Liquor and Lottery

Adam Necrason, Lobbyist, Vermont Association for Justice

 

2:50 PM                   H. 694 - An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Bennington concerning the Town Manager

Vote

 

2:55 PM                   Break

 

3:00 PM                   Budget Letter

Vermont Language Justice Project budget request

Alison Segar, Director, Vermont Language Justice Project - Zoom

 

3:30 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

10:30 AM                   H. 519 - An act relating to authorizing officers of the Town of Randolph Police Department to enroll in Group C of the Vermont State Employees’ Retirement System

Walk-through, witness testimony, and Rep. Satcowitz proposal of amendment

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Justin St. James, General Counsel, Office of the State Treasurer - Zoom

Cameron Wood, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:30 AM                   Budget Letter

Committee discussion and straw poll

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Committee Bill

Military omnibus bill, committee discussion

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

Please note that witnesses may not be called in the order in which they are listed.

 

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Nick Adams at Nick.Adams@vtleg.gov