Each week of the 2024 legislative session, Rural Vermont will select recordings that are of special importance and relevance to our membership and rural Vermont communities. You will find a summary of the weekly selection with the the recordings to follow.

2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Week 1: January 1
WEEk 2: JANUARY 8
WEEK 3: JANUARY 15
WEEK 4: JANUARY 22
WEEK 5: JANUARY 29
WEEK 6: February 5
WEEK 7: FEBRUARY 12
WEEK 8: February 19
WEEK 9: FEBRUARY 26
WEEK 10: March 11
WEEk 11: March 18
week 12: march 25
WEEk 13: April 1
WEEK 14: APRIL 8
Week 15: April 15

We chose 4 recordings to share with you from the first week of the 2024 legislative session - these recording descriptions are listed left to right.

Understanding Recent Flooding and Climate Change in Vermont
Joint Hearing House Committee Energy and Environment with the House Committee on Transportation
Slideshow by Dr. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, State Climatologist

2024 Priorities of Senate Agriculture
Senate Committee on Agriculture

2024 Priorities Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Senate Committee on Agriculture

VAAFM Business Emergency Gap Assistance Grant Program Overview
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

We chose 16 recordings to share with you from the second week of the 2024 legislative session - these recording descriptions are listed left to right. Special highlights include witness testimony for Act 603: An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection from member farm and Rural Vermont Board Members, Union Brook Farm. Please make sure to listen to both the introduction and witness testimony.

Agricultural Innovation Board
Senate Committee on Agriculture 

Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Sterling College
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agricultural Innovation
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agricultural Innovation Board
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Maple Grants Testimony
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.603 An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection - Bill Introduction **Special Interest to Rural Vermont Membership
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.603 An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection - *witness testimony provided by RV Board Members - Union Brook Farm
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Federal Farm Bill Discussion
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.550 An act relating to expanding eligibility under the local foods grant program - Bill Introduction
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.614 An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass -Bill Walk–through
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.614 An act relating to the land improvement fraud and timber trespass - Witness Testimony
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Organic Dairy Relief Grants
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Maple Industry Presentation
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, January 16th

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 549 - An act relating to the siting of outdoor cannabis cultivation
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 812 - An act relating to threatened and endangered species
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection *witness testimony
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry; including comment of Rural Vermont Legislative Director on New England Feeding New England presentation of Vermont State Brief on Local Self Reliance with an appeal for Land Access Policy Development for Farmers.

A Regional Approach to Food System Resilience, New England Feeding New England
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry
(same presentation offered to Senate Committee on Agriculture on the same day)

Wednesday January 17th

S. 213 - An act relating to the regulation of wetlands, river corridor development, and dam safety - ANR testimony
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

H.614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.550 - An act relating to expanding eligibility under the local food grants program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
part 1 & part 2
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Cannabis Control Board Report
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.81 An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment - Introduction
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Thursday January 18th

H.603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Composting Food Residuals
part 1 & part 2 (until 30:15)
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Farm Service Agency Vermont
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Friday January 19th

Land Conservation
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Tuesday January 23rd

Agricultural Entrepreneurship
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Wednesday January 24th

Housing and Regulatory
part 1 & part 2
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

Act 145 of 2022
part 1 & part 2
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Food Security Roadmap
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Thursday January 25th

Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets 2024 Budget review
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Pollinator Health
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.550 - An act relating to expanding eligibility under the local food grants program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Local Foods Incentive Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday January 26th

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agricultural Innovation Board
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, January 30th

Pollinator Health
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Vermont Food Bank and Hunger Free Vermont
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Wednesday, January 31st

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain's Future
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Walk-Through)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Farm to Plate Annual Report 
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, February 1st

Farm and Forest Viability
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 420 - An act relating to establishing a program to encourage the implementation of year-round agricultural practices (Introduction)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, February 2nd

PFAs (S.197 Sections 5 and 6)
Senate Committee on Agriculture

 H. 550 - An act relating to expanding eligibility under the local foods grant program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, February 6th

Flood Recovery/Relief
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 549 - An act relating to the siting of outdoor cannabis cultivation
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

H. 426 - An act relating to the creation of new types of cannabis establishment licenses and the provision of cannabis excise tax revenue to the Cannabis Business Development Fund, communities that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, and substance misuse treatment
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Wednesday, February 7th

Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry & Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, February 8th

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Cannabis Update
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Local Food Incentive and Farm to School Grants
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Flood Recovery/Relief
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, February 9th

Animal Control
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

PFAS
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, February 13th

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

Wednesday, February 14th

Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition Day
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Farmland Conservation and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, February 15th

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Miscellaneous Agriculture Bill
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.626 Animal Welfare
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

H. 687 - An act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use
House Committee on Environment and Energy

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, February 16th

H. 612 - An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis amendments
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, February 20th

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Wednesday, February 21st

Vermont Fairs and Field Days
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Cannabis Regulation
Senate Committee on Agriculture

S.197 PFAS
Senate Committee on Health and Welfare

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

FY25 Budget
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, February 22nd

S. 301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
Senate Committee on Agriculture

ARPA Discussion
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

ARPA Discussion
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, February 23rd

 H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses (Tentative Vote)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Committee Discussion and Mark-Up)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, February 27th

Natural Resources Conservation Districts
Senate Committee on Agriculture

S. 301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 128 - An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses (Tentative vote)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestr

Miscellaneous Agriculture Bill
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Tentative vote)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Natural Resources Conservation Districts
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy

Wednesday, February 28th

Committee Discussion on Agricultural Subjects
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Committee discussion)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Committee vote)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 626 - An act relating to animal welfare
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

Thursday, February 29th

S. 301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects (Committee vote)
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Miscellaneous Agriculture Bill
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, March 12th

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Wednesday, March 13th

 H. 813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

 H. 813 - An act relating to establishing the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, March 14th

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Rural Vermont & NOFA-VT Small Farm Action Day
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.550 - An act relating to expanding eligibility under the local foods grant program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Clean Water Report
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Rural Vermont & NOFA-VT Small Farm Action Day
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.624 - An act relating to providing financial assistance to the forest economy
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, March 15th

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Tuesday, March 19th

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Wednesday, March 20th

Review of Bills Moving Between House and Senate
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.626 - An act relating to animal welfare
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Thursday, March 21st

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Wednesday, March 27th

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Thursday, March 28th

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Best Management Practices for the Use of Insecticide Treated Article Seeds
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, March 29th

Department of Environmental Conservation
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Tuesday, April 2nd

H. 614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Wednesday, April 3rd

NOFA-VT Local food access
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.596 - An act relating to the eligibility of reserve forestland for use value appraisal
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H. 603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
Senate Committee on Agriculture

S.301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, April 4th

S.301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Friday, April 5th

H.603 - An act relating to the poultry slaughter exception to inspection
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Tuesday, April 9th

H. 81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Wednesday, April 10th

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agriculture and 30 X 30
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Farmworker Housing
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, April 11th

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agri-Mark 101
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Viticulture and Grape Growing in Vermont
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, April 12th

H.706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Dairy Update
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

S.301 - An act relating miscellaneous agricultural subjects
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Tuesday, April 16th

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agricultural property transfers (Committee Discussion)
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

S.102 - An act relating to expanding employment protections and collective bargaining rights
House Committee on General and Housing

Wednesday, April 17th

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 614 - An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Maple Update
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Reserved Forest Land Current Use Update
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Thursday, April 18th

H.81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H. 706 - An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Dairy Update
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

Friday, April 19th

H.81 - An act relating to fair repair of agricultural equipment
Senate Committee on Agriculture

H.81, H.877, and H.615
Senate Committee on Agriculture

Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Update
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry

S.301 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry