Senate Committee on Health and Welfare

 

AGENDA

 

Room 17 and Zoom

April 14, 2026 - April 17, 2026

Last Updated 4/17/2026 11:11 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:30 AM                   H. 611 - An act relating to miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access

Mark-Up

Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid

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

Alex McCracken, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Jessica Schifano, Policy Director, Department of Health

Lucie Garand, Lobbyist, MMR

Gail Zatz, Advocate

 

11:20 AM                   H. 46 - An act relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council

Mark-Up

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Ilisa Stalberg, Family and Child Health Director, Department of Health

Jessica Schifano, Policy Director, Department of Health

 

11:45 AM                   Budget Request

Service-Supported Housing Funding

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

Kirsten Murphy, Executive Director, Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 938 - An act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum

Deanna Hartog, Poverty Law Fellow, Vermont Legal Aid

Kathleen Berk, Executive Director, Vermont State Housing Authority

Elizabeth Bacon, Director of Housing Program Administration, Vermont State Housing Authority

Alex Karambelas, Policy Advocate, ACLU of Vermont

Chad Simmons, Director, Housing and Homeless Alliance of Vermont

Brenda Siegel, Executive Director, End Homelessness Vermont

Jenna O'Farrell, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Community Action

 

10:00 AM                   Budget Memo Review

Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

10:20 AM                   H. 660 - An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund appropriations

Mark-Up and Committee Discussion

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:30 AM                   H. 657 - An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

Walk-Through and Fiscal Note

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Hannah Marble, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department for Children and Families

Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families

Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner, Economic Services Division, Department for Children and Families

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 577 - An act relating to establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

Charles Becker, Staff Attorney, Office of the Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid - Zoom

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

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

Colin Hilliard, Associate State Director - Advocacy and Outreach, AARP VT

 

9:30 AM                   H. 814 - An act relating to neurological rights and the use of artificial intelligence technology in health and human services

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

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

Jessa Barnard, Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society

 

10:00 AM                   Governor Appointments

 

11:20 AM                   H. 938 - An act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum

Committee Discussion

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Brenda Siegel, Executive Director, End Homelessness Vermont

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Friday, April 17, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 657 - An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

Lauren Higbee, Deputy Advocate, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate

Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Rafaela -, Vermont Youth Council

Fiona -, Youth Advocate

Kate Bailey, Senior Policy Advocate, Voices for Vermont's Children

Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Heather McLain, Revenue Enhancement Director, Department for Children and Families

Christina Brown, Chief Programs Officer, Spectrum Youth and Family Services

Rep. Jubilee McGill, Bill Sponsor

Rep. Daniel Noyes

Tyler Allen, High-End System of Care Director, Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division

 

10:45 AM                   H. 611 - An act relating to miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access

Alicia Cooper, Ph.D., Director of Managed Care Operations, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)

Alex McCracken, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)

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

 

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

 Calysta Koppenhaver at Calysta.Koppenhaver@vtleg.gov