Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs (Room 27)

The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs has jurisdiction over matters relating to economic development, commerce, and community development, including tourism and marketing, promotion of the arts, and film activities; matters relating to labor; matters relating to housing; matters relating to liquor and tobacco control; matters relating to lotteries; and all matters relating to subjects for which there is no other appropriate committee.

Print

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

10:00 AM

Legislative Council

introductions

10:45 AM

Joint Fiscal Office

introductions

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 Chambers

11:00 AM

Break

11:15 AM

Committee Discussion

Further Introductions

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Introductions and Discussion

Office of the Vermont Attorney General

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

9:30 AM

Basic Needs Budget

• Patrick Titterton, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

10:15 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Vermont Chamber of Commerce

• Jeremy Little, Policy and Outreach Associate, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  
• Amy Spear, Vermont Chamber President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  
• Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

9:30 AM

Introductions and Discussion

Department of Labor

• Michael Harrington, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor
  
• Kendal Smith, Deputy Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor
  

10:00 AM

Introductions and Discussion

Department of Labor - Workforce Development

• Sabina Haskell, Executive Director, Office of Workforce Strategy and Development
  
• Jay Ramsey, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor
  

10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Introductions and Discussion

Department of Liquor and Lottery

• Wendy Knight, Commissioner, Department of Liquor and Lottery
  

11:30 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

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Friday, January 17, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Agency of Commerce and Community Development

• Alex Farrell, Commissioner, Department of Housing and Community Development
  
• Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Department of Economic Development
  
• Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
  
• Heather Pelham, Commissioner, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
  

10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Housing Issues

• Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
  
• Chris Donnelly, Director of Community Relations, Champlain Housing Trust
  

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

10:45 AM

Housing Issues

• Pollaidh Major, Director of Policy and Special Projects, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  
• Gus Seelig, Executive Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Agricultural Worker Labor and Employment Laws

Update on Study

• Rep. David Durfee, Sponsor, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
  
• Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:45 AM

Evictions-Landlords Report

This is a joint hearing with House General and Housing (Room 31).
The meeting will be streamed on their YouTube channel: <https://www.youtube.com/@VTHouseGenAndHousing>

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Chair, Landlord Tenant Law Study Committee
  
• Cameron Wood, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Update

Vermont Baby Bonds
Vermont Saves Program
Medical Debt Initiative

• Michael Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer, Office of the State Treasurer
  

11:30 AM

Special Oversight Committee on Workforce Expansion and Development

• Rep. Michael Marcotte, Sponsor, Sponsor of Amendment
  
• Jay Ramsey, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor
  

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

Revenue Forecast, Governor's Office

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

Joint Fiscal Office

Basic Needs Budget, Finish Reporting

• Patrick Titterton, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

9:45 AM

Joint Fiscal Office

Overview of Vermont Demographics

• Patrick Titterton, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Department of Labor

Labor Market Updates

• Mat Barewicz, Economic & Labor Market Information Director, Department of Labor
  

12:00 PM

Committee Adjourns

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Friday, January 24, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Homelessness and Housing Solutions

• Frank Knaack, Executive Director, Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont
  

10:00 AM

Break

10:15 AM

Housing Production

• Jim Bradley, Project Developer/Manager, Hayward Design Build, LLC
  
• Collin Frisbie, Vice President, Sterling Homes
  
• Jason Webster, Co-President, Owner, Huntington Homes, Inc.
  

11:30 PM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Tourism and Marketing

Finish-up Report

• Heather Pelham, Commissioner, Department of Tourism and Marketing
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Outdoor Recreation Industry

Introductions and Overview

• Kelly Ault, Executive Director, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance
  
• Dave Beckwith, Director of Mountain Sports, Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners
  
• Jonas Cole, Owner, Vermont Bike and Brew
  
• Emily Foster, Director of People and Planet Impact, Burton Snowboards
  

11:30 AM

Consumer Assistance Program Report

• Christopher Curtis, Director, Consumer Assistance Program, Vermont Attorney General's Office
  
• Lisa Jensen, Assistant Director, Consumer Assistance Program, Vermont Attorney General's Office
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Governor's 2026 Budget Address

Joint Assembly to Receive Budget Address

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Small Business Day

Data, Approaches, and Stories


This is a joint hearing with Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. It will be held in Room 267 of The Pavilion and live streamed from House Commerce and Economic Development's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@VTHouseCommEcoDev

9:00 am to 12 noon (break at approximately 10:30 am)

• Whitney Aldrich, Owner, Axels Gallery and Frame Shop
  
• Maya Carlet, Nurse Practitioner, Partners in Integrative Healing
  
• Rep. Abbey Duke, Owner, SugarSnap Catering
  
• Andy Julow, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation
  
• Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
  
• Jada Khosla, Psychiatrist, Partners in Integrative Healing
  
• Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
  
• Linda Rossi, State Director, Vermont Small Business Development Center
  
• Ruth Steinmetz, Co Founder and Creative Director, Steinmetz LLC
  
• Weiwei Wang, Co Founder and Executive Director, Vermont Professionals of Color Network
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Housing Production

• Peter Tucker, Advocacy & Public Policy Director, Vermont Association of Realtors
  

9:45 AM

Break

10:00 AM

Governor's Omnibus Housing Proposal

This is a joint hearing with House General and Housing. It will be hosted in Room 31 and live streamed to the House General and Housing Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRAFDbOEqAfBf8YSoy1E5hA/featured

• Alex Farrell, Commissioner, Department of Housing and Community Development
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, January 31, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Building Cost Drivers

• Kathy Beyer, Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development, Evernorth
  
• Erik Hoekstra, Managing Partner, Redstone Property Management
  
• Jeanne Morrissey, President, JAM General Contracting and Construction Management
  
• Kurt Naser, Member, PC Construction
  

10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Housing Financing 101

• Kathy Beyer, Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development, Evernorth
  
• Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
  
• Jenny Hyslop, Housing Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  
• Gus Seelig, Executive Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  

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

The HOME Act and Act 181

An Overview

• Kati Gallagher, Sustainable Communities Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
  
• Peter Gill, Executive Director, Land Use Review Board
  
• Janet Hurley, Chair, Land Use Review Board
  

10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

The HOME Act and Act 181

• Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
  
• Catherine Dimitruk, Chair, Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Economic Development

• Zeke Davisson, Chief Operating Officer, Summit Properties
  

9:45 AM

Overview & Updates

• Kevin Chu, Executive Director, Vermont Futures Project
  

10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Rural Economic Development

• Liz Gleason, Farm and Forest Viability Program Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  

11:30 AM

Banking and Housing

• Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Security Briefing by Capitol Police

This meeting will not be live-streamed due to its sensitive nature.

• Agatha Kessler, Sergeant-At-Arms, Vermont State House
  
• Sara Macera, Sergeant, Capitol Police Department
  
• John Poleway, Chief, Capitol Police Department
  
• Joe Tremblay, Officer, Capitol Police Department
  

10:00 AM

3SquaresVT Awareness Day

• Ivy Enoch, SNAP Policy and Training Lead, Hunger Free Vermont
  
• Allan Reetz, Director of Public and Government Affairs, Hanover Co-op Food Stores of VT & NH
  
• Georgie Rubens, Director, Burlington Farmers' Market
  
• Trevor Sullivan, Co-owner, Pingala Restaurant
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

S.37 - An act relating to unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits

• Robert Depper, General Counsel, Department of Labor
  
• Michael Harrington, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor
  
• Rebecca McBroom, General Council, Vermont National Education Association
  
• Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
  
• Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Labor and Education

• Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee
  
• Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, February 7, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Economic Development

Challenges and Opportunities

• Frank Cioffi, President, Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation
  

9:45 AM

Overview & Updates

Construction Updates
Training and Apprenticeship Programs

• Matt Musgrave, Vermont Regional Director, Associated Builders and Contractors NH/VT
  
• Jon Pizzagalli, Chair, Vermont Academy for Construction Excellence
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

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

PR. 3 Right to Collectively Bargain

• Elena Bender, Vice President, United Nurses and Professionals (UNAP)
  
• Aimee Berterand, President, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Larry Moquin, Representative, Vermont Building & Construction Trades Council, Laborers' Local Union 668
  
• Bridget Quinn, Teamsters Joint Council 10
  
• Sean Stott, Director of Government Affairs, Laborers' International Union of N.A. Midwest Region
  

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Break as needed

11:00 AM

Housing Construction

Updates and Recommendations

• Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
  
• Nate Formalarie, Deputy Commissioner, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
  
• Jeff Lubell, Housing Policy Consultant
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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