House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

AGENDA

Room 35 and Zoom

April 14, 2026 - April 17, 2026

Last Updated 6/9/2026 1:06 PM

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

9:05 AM                   S. 313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

Julia Richter, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

10:00 AM                   House Floor

After Floor                         Caucus of the Whole

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   S. 327 - An act relating to economic development

Rep. Kathleen James, Chair, House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

Michael Yaki, SVP, Senior Counsel, Petros PACE Finance - Zoom

Ellen Czajkowski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Chris Delia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Josh Hanford, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Vermont League of Cities and Towns

Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation

Amanda Samai, Castle Green Finance - Zoom

3:30 PM                   S. 218 - An act relating to reducing chloride contamination of State waters

Amendment Discussion

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

Philip Woodward, General Counsel, Vermont League of Cities & Towns

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 198 - An act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes

Mark Up and Vote

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Hannah Chauvin, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Liquor and Lottery

Rosemary Kennedy, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General

LT Brandon King, Executive Officer, Compliance and Enforcement, Department of Liquor and Lottery

10:00 AM                   S. 173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation

Mark Up

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

10:25 AM                   Break

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   House Floor

After Floor                         S. 327 - An act relating to economic development

Mark-up

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Joan Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority

Sam Buckley, Director of Energy and Broadband Lending, Vermont Economic Development Authority - Zoom

Peter Walke, Managing Director, Efficiency Vermont - Zoom

Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation

Thursday, April 16, 2026

9:00 AM                   Hospitality and Tourism Day

Joint Hearing with Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs. The meeting will be held in room 11 and streamed here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-economic-development-housing-and-general-affairs.

Amy Spear, Vermont Chamber President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Steve Wright, President & General Manager, Jay Peak Resort - Zoom

Brett McManus, Owner, Apres Inn

Eric Warnstedt, Owner, Hen of the Wood

Ted Lawson, ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

10:15 AM                   S. 313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Erik Remmers, M.Ed., Director, Green Mountain Tech - Zoom

Jay Ramsey, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor (10:15 AM) - Zoom

Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association

Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education

Michelle Faust, M.S., Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services

Meg Fuerst, Representative, Action Circles

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   House Floor

Friday, April 17, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 173 - An act relating to vocational rehabilitation

Mark-up review

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont

Dirk Anderson, Director of Workers' Compensation and Safety, Department of Labor

9:30 AM                   House Floor

After Floor                         Legislative Intern Report

Bailey Davis, Norwich Legislative Intern

Cabot Sayles, UVM Legislative Intern

12:00 PM                   Lunch

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

 Jonathan Pickarski at Jonathan.Pickarski@vtleg.gov