Senate Committee on Judiciary (Room 1)

The Senate Committee on Judiciary has jurisdiction over matters relating to judicial and legal affairs; and motor vehicle and homeowner liability insurance.

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Joint Assembly

Receive report of Canvassing Committee

2:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Governor's Inaugural Address

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Committee Discussion

Introduction and overview

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Senate Chamber

11:10 AM

Introductions

• Tim Lueders-Dumont, Executive Director, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Introductions

• Jennifer Poehlmann, Executive Director, Center for Crime Victim Services
  

10:00 AM

S.5 - An act relating to guardianship proceedings

Introduction

• Terry Williams, Rutland District
  

10:15 AM

S.7 - An act relating to automobile insurance

Walk-through and testimony

• Jamie Feehan, Government Relations Director, Primmer
  
• Adam Necrason, Vermont Association for Justice, Necrason Group
  
• Kristin Ross, President, Vermont Association for Justice
  
• Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Introductions

• Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  
• Sarah Robinson, Deputy Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  

9:20 AM

Introductions

Presentation from the Governor's Office

• Jaye Johnson, General Counsel, Governor's Office
  

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Break

10:00 AM

Introductions

• Daniel Batsie, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  
• Tucker Jones, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Public Safety
  

11:15 AM

Committee Discussion

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 17, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Election of the Clerk

9:05 AM

Confirmation Hearing

Judicial Appointments

• Bonnie Badgewick, Superior Court Judge, Vermont Superior Court
  
• Dana DiSano, Superior Court Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Timothy Doherty, Superior Court Judge, Vermont Superior Court
  
• Joseph McLean, Superior Court Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Laura Rowntree, Superior Court Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Jessica Seman, Family Magistrate, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

Followed by Discrimination Prevention Training

11:00 AM

Introductions

• Teri Corsones, Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Court Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:30 AM

Introductions

• Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Vermont
  
• Jordan Souder, Policy Advocate, ACLU of Vermont
  

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Introductions

• Xusana Davis, Executive Director, Office of Racial Equity
  
• Joshua Diamond, President, Vermont Bar Association
  
• Angela Lasso-Jimenez, Policy & Research Analyst, Office of Racial Equity
  
• Robert Paolini, Executive Director, Vermont Bar Association
  

9:45 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Walk-through

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

10:30 AM

Introductions

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  

11:45 AM

S.9 - An act relating to after-hours access to orders against sexual assault

Introduction

• Sen. Ruth Hardy, Addison District
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:45 PM

Legislative Briefing

House Chamber

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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Public Safety and Access to Justice

Joint hearing with the House Committee on Judiciary
Hearing will be held in Room 270 in the Pavilion and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@VTHouseJudiciary

• Teri Corsones, Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Tim Lueders-Dumont, Executive Director, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Jennifer Morrison, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  
• Ian Sullivan, State's Attorney, Rutland County
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Court Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 24, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Security Briefing

This meeting will not be live streamed due to the sensitive content

• Agatha Kessler, Sergeant at Arms, Vermont General Assembly
  
• Sara Macera, Sergeant, Capitol Police Department
  
• John Poleway, Chief of Capitol Police, Capitol Police Department
  
• Joe Tremblay, Officer, Capitol Police Department
  

10:10 AM

Testimony

Concerned citizen

• Winnie Wilkinson
  

10:15 AM

Vote on Judicial Nominations

Judge Confirmations

10:30 AM

Pretrial Release: Bail and Conditions of Release

Presentation

• Ben Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:30 AM

Governor's Proposed Omnibus Bill

Testimony

• Jaye Johnson, General Counsel, Governor's Office
  
• Tucker Jones, General Counsel, Department of Public Safety
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Break

11:40 AM

Governor's Proposed Omnibus Bill

Testimony continued followed by committee discussion

• Tucker Jones, General Counsel, Department of Public Safety
  

1:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Joint assembly to receive budget address

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:05 AM

S.9 - An act relating to after-hours access to orders against sexual assault

Walk-through

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

9:30 AM

S.9 - An act relating to after-hours access to orders against sexual assault

Testimony

• Laura Bierley, VRP Project Director, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

10:05 AM

S.7 - An act relating to automobile insurance

Mark-up and vote

• Adam Necrason, Vermont Association for Justice, Necrason Group
  

10:15 AM

Committee Discussion

Governor's Proposed Omnibus Bill and Public Safety

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Tim Lueders-Dumont, Executive Director, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  

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Break

10:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Teri Corsones, Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:15 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Brief introduction followed by testimony

• Charity Clark, Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 31, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:15 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Mark-up and committee discussion

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

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Break

10:35 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Mark-up and committee discussion

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

11:15 AM

S.11 - An act relating to stewardship trusts

Introduction and walk-through

• Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Sponsor, Chittenden-Southeast District
  
• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

S.9 - An act relating to after-hours access to orders against sexual assault

Testimony, mark-up and vote

• Michele Childs, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Michael Filipek, Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety
  
• Marshall Pahl, Deputy Defender General and Chief Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  

11:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission

Review of 2024 Report

• Charity Clark, Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  
• Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  
• Carolyn Hanson, Assistant Attorney General, Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission
  

10:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Tucker Jones, General Counsel, Department of Public Safety
  
• Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Jeffrey Wallin, Director, Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC)
  

11:15 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Committee Discussion

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Laura Carter, Racial Justice Data Analyst, Division of Racial Justice Statistics
  
• Catherine Clark, Director, Commissioner's Registry Review Unit, Department for Children and Families
  
• Xusana Davis, Executive Director, Office of Racial Equity
  
• Brenda Gooley, Operations Director, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• John Gordon, Director, Adult Protective Services Division, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Disabilities
  
• Jennifer Myka, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
  
• Stuart Schurr, General Counsel, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  

11:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony continued

• Michele Childs, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Matthew Rousseau, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, February 7, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Access to Civil Justice

• Samuel Abel-Palmer, Executive Director, Legal Services Vermont
  
• Karen Carroll, Associate Justice, Vermont Supreme Court
  
• Yasmin Dwedar, Executive Director, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Hannah King, Executive Director, Vermont Bar Foundation
  
• Jill Martin Diaz, Executive Director, Vermont Asylum Assistance Program
  

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Break

10:00 AM

Access to Civil Justice

• Big Hartman, Executive Director & General Counsel, Vermont Human Rights Commission
  
• Hannah King, Executive Director, Vermont Bar Foundation
  
• Robert Paolini, Executive Director, Vermont Bar Association
  

10:30 AM

S.3 - An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust

Walk-through

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:45 AM

S.3 - An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust

Testimony

• Mark Langan, Chair, VBA Probate and Trust Law Section
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

S.13 - An act relating to termination of parental rights in an adoption proceeding

Walk-through

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

10:15 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Introduction, walk-through, testimony

• Jill Martin Diaz, Executive Director, Vermont Asylum Assistance Program
  
• Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White, Sponsor
  

11:15 AM

Committee Discussion

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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:05 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Mark Anderson, President, Vermont Sheriffs' Association
  
• Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
  
• Tim Lueders-Dumont, Executive Director, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  

10:10 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Draft No. 1.1 Mark-up

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

11:30 AM

Vermont Creative Sector Day

Writers for Recovery

• Christopher Kaufman Ilstrop, Executive Director, Vermont Humanities
  
• Bess O'Brien, Writers for Recovery
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.3 - An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust

Draft No. 1.1 Mark-up

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:15 AM

S.61 - An act relating to automatic opening knives

Introduction and walk-through

• Sen. Patrick "Pat" Brennan, Senator, Grand Isle District
  
• Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:35 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Committee discussion

• Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Break

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Introduction, testimony

• Sen. Samuel Douglass, Senator, Orleans District
  
• Adam Necrason, Vermont Association for Justice, Necrason Group
  

10:45 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Walk-through

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

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, February 14, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony, mark-up

• Michele Childs, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Tim Lueders-Dumont, Executive Director, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Robin Joy, Director of Research, Crime Research Group
  
• Monica Weeber, Executive Director, Crime Research Group
  

11:15 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Committee discussion

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Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Testimony

• Christopher Brickell, Executive Director, Vermont Criminal Justice Council
  
• Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  
• Jaye Pershing Johnson, Governor's Counsel, Governor's Office
  
• Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Vermont
  

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Break

10:05 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Testimony continued

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

11:15 AM

S.3 - An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust

Vote

11:20 AM

S.22 - An act relating to prohibiting discharge of firearms within 500 feet of a child care facility or school

Introduction and walk-through

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Sponsor
  

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

• Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  
• Leon Corse, Partner, Corse Farm Dairy LLC
  
• Oliver Manning, Manning Dairy LLC
  
• Josh Poulin, Poulin Grain
  
• Bradley St. Pierre, Pleasant Valley Farm, Richford
  

10:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony, committee discussion

• Marshall Pahl, Deputy Defender General and Chief Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  

10:30 AM

Joint Assembly

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Friday, February 21, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Community Justice Centers of Vermont

Restorative justice services in Vermont

• Josef Lavanway, Director, South Burlington Community Justice Center
  
• Kaci Viado, Co-Director of Restorative Justice Programs, Interaction Vermont
  

10:15 AM

S.54 - An act relating to voluntary engagement in sex work

Introduction

• Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor
  

10:30 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Committee discussion

10:45 AM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.22 - An act relating to prohibiting discharge of firearms within 500 feet of a child care facility or school

Testimony

• Chris Bradley, President and Executive Director, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
  
• Shawn Loan, Criminal Division Commander, Vermont State Police
  

9:30 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Committee discussion, mark-up

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

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Break

10:15 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Testimony

• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

10:45 AM

Raise the Age

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Rep. Martin LaLonde, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, February 27, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

• Merrill Bent, Attorney, Green Mountain Law
  
• Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
  
• Claudine Safar, Lawyer, Monaghan Safar PLLC
  
• Scott Sanderson, Manager of Farm and Food, Conservation Law Foundation
  
• Gerard Vorsteveld, Owner, Vorsteveld Farm
  

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Break

10:35 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

• Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, February 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.12 - An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Mark-up, possible vote

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

9:15 AM

S.109 - An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

Walk-through

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:20 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Walk-through of committee amendment

• Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:35 AM

Adjourn

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:05 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Mark-up, testimony

• Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  
• Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Vermont
  
• Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion, mark-up

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

10:50 AM

S.44 - An act relating to requiring legislative approval prior to entering into certain immigration agreements

Vote

11:15 AM

S.87 - An act relating to extradition procedures

Walk-through, testimony

• Michele Childs, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  
• Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Jaye Pershing Johnson, Governor's Counsel, Governor's Office
  
• Sophie Stratton, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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