By VDC staff

The Vermont State House is set for a week of intensive testimony and legislative action from January 13 to January 16. Committees in both the House and Senate will tackle a wide range of issues, from agriculture and education to budget adjustments and emerging technologies.

For complete list of this week’s committee schedules, click here.

The House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry will focus on Farm to School Awareness Day and receive updates on forest health. Stakeholders will also provide testimony regarding the municipal regulation of agriculture and the Vermont Food Security Roadmap.

The House Committee on Appropriations is prioritizing the FY26 Budget Adjustment Act, holding multiple public hearings and mark-up sessions. Additionally, the committee will discuss federal fund updates and participate in a joint hearing regarding the Emergency Board Consensus Revenue Forecast.

The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development will examine captive insurance companies (H.649) and data broker regulations (H.211). The committee also plans a joint hearing on employment options for newly released [from prison] people and will review reports from legislative interns.

The House Committee on Corrections and Institutions will receive updates on victim notification systems and recruitment within the Vermont State Employees Association. Legislative work will include walkthroughs of bills related to the Parole Board (H.559) and the identification of underutilized State buildings and land (H.50).

The House Committee on Education is scheduled to discuss the School District Redistricting Taskforce Report and receive updates on the status of PCBs in schools. The committee will also review H.542, an act relating to terminating the testing of schools for polychlorinated biphenyls.

The House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure will lead discussions on the 2025 Climate Action Plan and the Clean Energy Standard. Significant time is also allocated to H.527, which seeks to extend the sunset of statutes governing telecommunications and connectivity.

The House Committee on Environment will focus on permit modernization updates from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Members will also review a bill concerning dam removal and restoration permits.

The House Committee on General and Housing will address the state’s housing crisis with updates from various development and advocacy groups. The committee also has several introductions scheduled regarding labor and benefits, including overtime pay for firefighters (H.551) and security deposits (H.565).

The House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs will hold joint meetings to interview candidates for the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. They will also conduct walkthroughs on bills related to legislative accountability (H.67) and regulated professions (H.588).

The House Committee on Health Care is set to review immunization recommendations (H.545) and the recording of telehealth appointments (H.84). Further testimony will cover the establishment of a Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program (H.577) and hospital budget overviews.

The House Committee on Human Services will evaluate the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program (H.594) and the impact of homelessness on transportation and medical services. The committee also plans to mark up bills concerning community action agencies (H.534) and immunization standards.

The House Committee on Judiciary will focus on animal cruelty penalties (H.578) and interference with election officials (H.541). They will also take testimony on a proposed hearsay exception for children under 16 (H.5) and officer-involved shootings (H.613).

The House Committee on Transportation will receive updates on federal policy and highway safety data. The agenda includes discussions on e-bike roadway laws, the reorganization of Green Mountain Transit, and cycling safety outreach.

The House Committee on Ways and Means will review the Property Tax Classifications Implementation Report and the annual Yield Bill. Members will also deliberate on proposed tax changes, including an income tax surcharge (H.619) and a wealth tax commission (H.620).

The Senate Committee on Agriculture will participate in Farm to School Network Awareness Day and discuss agricultural zoning with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. The committee also intends to review USDA programs and issues related to farm inputs like limestone.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations will spend much of the week reviewing the FY26 Budget Adjustment Act across various departments, including Health, Corrections, and Taxes. They will also join the House for the consensus revenue forecast.

The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs will take up tobacco regulation (S.198) and collective bargaining (S.125). Updates are also expected on tourism, international trade, and the implementation of the Home Act.

The Senate Committee on Education will hold joint hearings on superintendent priorities and child nutrition. The committee will also discuss the reorganization of the Agency of Education and scholarship granting organizations (S.161).

The Senate Committee on Finance will analyze education spending for future fiscal years (S.220) and the Vermont Economic Growth Incentive Program. Additional topics include AI data centers (S.205) and grand list values for parcels with wetlands (S.165).

The Senate Committee on Government Operations will join the House to hear from Adjutant General candidates and review priorities for the Department of Public Safety. They will also discuss the use of synthetic media in elections (S.23) and property tax sales.

The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare will receive updates on state health transformation and the Rural Health Transformation Grant. The committee also plans to introduce bills regarding primary care payment reform (S.197) and recovery residence certification (S.157).

The Senate Committee on Institutions will receive an update on the Prison Research and Innovation Network and discuss concerns with the Vermont State Employees Association. They will also hold a joint hearing on information technology oversight.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary is scheduled for the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices and a walkthrough of the Equal Rights Amendment. Testimony will also be heard on bills relating to home improvement fraud (S.183) and standards for law enforcement identification.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy will discuss portable solar energy devices (S.202) and federal funding for emergency management. The committee also intends to review legislation aimed at reducing chloride contamination in state waters (S.218).

The Senate Committee on Transportation will study mileage-based road usage charges, drawing on data from Oregon, Utah, and Virginia. They will also receive updates on highway crash data and the state’s trucking industry