Sen. Allison Clarkson, the new chair of the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee, opened a committee organizational meeting and introduced members, shared staff and legislative counsel who will support the committee’s work this session.

The session focused on committee composition, the assignment of a new committee assistant and a legislative counsel team, and logistical details for scheduling, contact information and office locations. Clarkson described the committee’s jurisdiction as broad — including consumer protection, housing, economic development and labor — and said she values the “depth and breadth” of the panel’s work. “I love the mission of this committee,” Sen. Allison Clarkson said.

Committee members introduced themselves. Sen. Randy Brock was identified as the committee vice chair and noted his long tenure in the Senate, including an initial election in 2008 and a return in 2017. Sen. Dave Weeks introduced himself as a new member of the committee representing Rutland County and briefly described his military and program-management background. The committee also welcomed Heidi Parker as the new committee assistant; Parker said she was making a career transition from education and higher-education student services and is “brand new to this position.”

Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, described the legislative council team assigned to the committee and said he will lead a small team of attorneys serving the committee and government operations. Anderson listed attorneys on the team and their likely subject-area assignments: Rick Sagal (consumer protection, child welfare and economic development issues), Sophie Stadney (labor and employment portfolio) and Cameron Wood (housing and portions of consumer protection). Anderson also said Tim Devlin is on leave and likely will not appear frequently before the committee this session.

Anderson and other staff discussed internal logistics: attorneys’ direct phone lines are held on an internal directory for security reasons, and most legislative counsel attorneys assigned to the committee have been relocated to offices in 2 Aiken, where members and staff can reach them. The committee agreed to coordinate agenda timing and communications primarily by email; Clarkson asked that the new committee assistant be included in scheduling emails.

Also present were staff who said they would support committee operations in session: Nick Adams (legislative assistant), Emma Regan (staff member for the Nick Raskin group), and Erin (director for the Senate Democrats; last name not specified in the meeting). Several committee members and staff described prior work experience and local ties relevant to the committee’s jurisdiction, including county representation and backgrounds in finance, higher education and labor law.

No formal motions or votes were taken during the introductory meeting. The committee spent the session on introductions, staffing assignments, and planning logistics to support upcoming hearings and bill work.

The committee is scheduled to begin substantive business in upcoming meetings; staff and committee members said they will coordinate on agendas and contacts before the next session.