As expected, the beginning of the 2025/2026 legislative biennium got off to a slow start, but by design. The first few days of the session organize legislative members to their respective committees, organize leadership, and behind the scenes, they are organizing their priorities. As of Friday, January 17, only 60 bills have been introduced out of a likely 1,000 bills between both the Senate and the House over the next 30 days.

The House of Representatives, unlike the Senate, elected their leader, “Speaker of the House,” prior to the beginning of the session in a member caucus, with Representative Jill Krowinski from Burlington holding on to her seat for another term. The three-person Senate “Committee on Committees,” which assigns members to committees, is composed of the Senate Pro Tem, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor. Because the Lieutenant Governor is not officially installed until the session begins, the Senate waits to appoint their committees and their chairs. Both chambers appoint their committees within the first week of the session.

Due to Republicans picking up seats in both the House and the Senate, it changed the composition of leadership. With no official formula, it has been precedent that there is parity between the parties’ members at large and who chairs committees. This means that Republicans picked up chair positions in both chambers.

For the first time in three bienniums, a Republican, Rep. Matt Walker of Swanton, has taken control of the House Transportation Committee as chair. Senator Brian Collamore of Rutland has taken control of the powerful Senate Government Ops Committee, which directs state employees, state contracting laws, and other governmental directives. Senator Russ Ingalls of Essex County was moved as chair from the Institutions Committee to the Agriculture Committee, which is of interest because it’s a committee that will reengage the “right to repair” bill that impacts Vermont’s heavy equipment dealers.

There were not a lot of other surprise changes to committee chairs, although it’s notable that Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, who became Senate Majority Leader, ceded her chair position of Economic Development to Senator Alison Clarkson, the previous majority leader.

The House created, or recreated, the Energy and Technology Committee, which moved some members around, including Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who had been helpful with contractor needs in his prior position as chair of House General and Housing, which deals with employer/employee bills. His replacement, Representative March Mihaly, had been on the committee previously and has a moderate approach that should benefit ABC priorities.

Governor Scott gave his inaugural address and coined a term, “Legalize Housing,” which, although humorous, also sheds light on what some consider to be a moratorium on affordable housing in Vermont. Between the needs of the housing sector, emerging healthcare issues, and public safety, this session will be one to pay attention to. Your team at ABC NH/VT will be in your corner!

To participate in ABC NH/VT’s government affairs committee, please contact matt@abcnhvt.org.