House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

 

AGENDA

 

Room M106 and Zoom

May 5, 2026 - May 8, 2026

Last Updated 5/7/2026 11:55 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

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

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

9:35 AM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Draft 6.1 walk-through

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

 

10:00 AM                   House Floor

Followed by Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:35 PM                   S. 323 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Draft 7.1 walk-through and possible straw poll

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:00 PM                   S. 278 - An act relating to cannabis

Witness testimony

Shayla Livingston, MPH, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health

Tony Folland, Clinical Services Manager and State Opioid Treatment Authority, Department of Health - Zoom

Amy Turncliff, Founder and President, RockFern Scientific Consulting - Zoom

Sheriff Mark Anderson, Sheriff, Windham County, Past President, Vermont Sheriffs' Association - Zoom

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

 

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

9:30 AM                   S. 64 - An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

Introduction, walk-through, and testimony

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Sen. John Morley, Reporter of the Bill, Senate Committee on Health and Welfare

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office

Emily Carr, General Counsel, Office of Professional Regulation

Dr. Nate Lighthizer, Doctor of Optometry, Associate Professor, Director of Continuing Education, Oklahoma College of Optometry at Northeastern State University - Zoom

Delany Curran, Opthalmology Resident and Future Vermont Opthalmologist - Zoom

OD Alicia Feis, Fellow, American Academy of Optometry - Zoom

OD Amy Puerto, Fellow, American Academy of Optometry - Zoom

M.D. Jeff Young, Comprehensive Opthalmologist

M.D. Jessica McNally, M.D., President, Vermont Opthalmological Society - Zoom

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   House Floor

 

Thursday, May 7, 2026

9:30 AM                   H. 588 - An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

As passed by Senate Finance walk-through

Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Jen Colin, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

 

10:00 AM                   Break

 

10:15 AM                   S. 64 - An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

Witness testimony

Kelsie George, Senior Policy Specialist, Health Program, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Zoom

OD Tina Keshava, O.D., President, Vermont Optometric Association

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office

 

11:15 AM                   Break

 

11:35 AM                   H. 957 - An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Williston

Introduction, walk-through, and testimony

Rep. Bridget Burkhardt, Sponsor

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Erik Wells, Town Manager, Williston - Zoom

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   House Floor

 

Friday, May 8, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   Field Trip

Vermont Department of Public Safety Headquarters

This visit will not be livestreamed

 

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

 Nick Adams at Nick.Adams@vtleg.gov