Representative Alyssa Black, chair of the House Health Care Committee, opened the committee’s first meeting on Jan. 10 with introductions, a review of committee procedures and assignments of liaison roles, and scheduled basic briefing sessions for new members on Medicaid and insurance.

The orientation laid out why those items matter: the committee will review bills that often carry budget or cross‑committee implications, and members must coordinate with appropriations, ways and means and other panels when legislation has fiscal or jurisdictional impacts.

The meeting began with roll-call style introductions from members representing Essex Junction, Winooski, Burlington’s Old North End, Colchester Bayside and other Vermont towns. The committee heard a brief introduction from Mike Fisher, the state Health Care Advocate, who said, “I work for Vermont Legal Aid.” Fisher explained his office’s role as an advocate and resource for constituents on health care issues.

Members discussed committee liaison assignments so the Health Care Committee can track work in other panels that affect health policy. Committee members volunteered to monitor other standing committees; the meeting record shows a liaison assignment to Appropriations (Woody) and members expressed interest in Ways and Means, Human Services, Commerce, Judiciary, Transportation, Natural Resources and Corrections depending on each member’s priorities and expertise. Chair Black asked members to consider which committee they would follow and to notify staff of their choices.

Black emphasized expectations for decorum and attendance: “I really want people to make an effort to be on time,” she said, adding that witnesses plan their schedules around committee sessions and deserve a respectful, organized hearing. She also encouraged respect for remote witnesses and advised members to angle attention to the meeting camera when questioning remote testifiers so they feel acknowledged.

The committee set an educational schedule: next week’s session will begin with “Health Care 101,” including a Medicaid overview and legislative‑counsel briefings; subsequent sessions will include insurance basics. Black asked new members to review the committee’s guiding principles from two years ago and to bring suggested amendments if needed; staff will post the materials on the committee website.

Other operational items covered: use of a committee messaging thread for scheduling and simple notices (not policy discussion), guidance on phone use during hearings (vibrate or off), minimal noise when eating during testimony, and continuity practices for handling presentation materials (members said they frequently use phones to read witness slides). The chair asked members to identify scheduling conflicts in advance and reminded the committee that a quorum is required to start business.

No formal motions or votes were recorded at the meeting. The session closed after the chair reiterated expectations and the plan to begin substantive briefings at the next meeting.

The committee’s next meeting agenda includes Health Care 101 and scheduled presentations from legislative counsel and health advocates.