Senate Committee on Judiciary

 

AGENDA

 

Room 1 and Zoom

March 10, 2026 - March 13, 2026

Last Updated 3/18/2026 2:54 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:00 AM                   S. 181 - An act relating to eliminating the requirement for a presentence investigation for imposition of a deferred sentence

Walk-through and Witness Testimony

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

Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary

Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office

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

 

11:10 AM                   S. 186 - An act relating to jurisdiction of the Criminal Division over plea agreements in proceedings related to juvenile offenders

Discussion and Possible Vote

 

11:15 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

9:00 AM                   Disability Rights

Laura Cushman, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Vermont

Neilah Rovinsky, Advocacy and Education Coordinator, MadFreedom Advocates

Esme Knoke, Patient Representative, MadFreedom Advocates

 

9:30 AM                   Break

 

9:50 AM                   S. 203 - An act relating to penalties for second or subsequent violations of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Discussion and Vote

 

10:00 AM                   S. 193 - An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

Mark-up

Laura Cushman, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Vermont

Neilah Rovinsky, Advocacy and Education Coordinator, MadFreedom Advocates

Esme Knoke, Patient Representative, MadFreedom Advocates

Karen Barber, General Counsel, Department of Mental Health

 

11:00 AM                   S. 181 - An act relating to eliminating the requirement for a presentence investigation for imposition of a deferred sentence

Witness Testimony

Cassidy Renfrew, Field Operations Manager, Department of Corrections

 

11:15 AM                   Review of S.298, An act relating to creating the Vermont Voting Rights Act

Walk-through

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:50 AM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, March 12, 2026

10:00 AM                   S. 322 - An act relating to removing the power of Vermont corporations to spend money on election activities

Walk-through and Witness Testimony

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Esq. Anthony Iarrapino, Attorney, VPIRG

 

11:05 AM                   S. 193 - An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

Walk-through and Vote

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:20 AM                   Break

 

11:30 AM                   S. 322 - An act relating to removing the power of Vermont corporations to spend money on election activities

Witness Testimony

Tom Moore, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

 

11:50 AM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Friday, March 13, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 140 - An act relating to implementing second look sentencing and compassionate release

Witness Testimony

Jordan Souder, Policy Advocate, ACLU of Vermont

Dr. Brashani Reece, Executive Director, Drop LWOP New England

Timothy Burgess, VT Cure

Meg McCarthy, Loved One of Incarcerated Person

Heidi Piette, Community Advocate

Bryan Widenhouse, State Legislative Affairs Manager, FAMM

Marta Nelson, VERA Institute of Justice

Sarah Anderson, Director of Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties Policy, R Street Institute

 

10:00 AM                   S. 193 - An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

Review and Discussion on S.193. This is a joint hearing with Senate Judiciary. This meeting will be live streamed here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-health-and-welfare.

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Karen Barber, General Counsel, Department of Mental Health

Robyn Hodges, Senior Vice President, Wellpath

 

10:45 AM                   Break

 

11:00 AM                   S. 181 - An act relating to eliminating the requirement for a presentence investigation for imposition of a deferred sentence

Discussion and Vote

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

 

11:10 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

 Emery Mattheis at Emery.Mattheis@vtleg.gov