House Judiciary Committee opens session, previews H.28, H.409 and other criminal-justice bills

The House Judiciary Committee convened on Jan. 6 to begin the 2026 biennial session, welcomed new legislative council staff and previewed a slate of criminal-justice and procedure bills it plans to consider in the coming days.

The committee’s chair, opening the session, introduced Hillary Chudar Ames as a new member of the legislative council staff and said the panel would fold her into existing portfolios while Michelle Child and Eric continue to staff legislation. “We’ll just be folding her into, you know, a variety of things depending on what’s moving,” staff said as members welcomed Ames.

The chair then outlined the committee’s early agenda, naming several bills the panel expects to prioritize. She identified H.28 (the affirmation bill) and H.409 (a bail-revocation bill) as items she hoped the committee could vote out the following day, saying, “I really am hoping to vote out H.28 and H.409 tomorrow since we’ve already had lots of testimony on that.” The chair also previewed work on H.410 (recidivism), H.5 (an under‑age hearsay exception the committee has been developing), an image‑based‑abuse (voyeurism) bill awaiting final sponsor sign‑off, a newly introduced voter‑intimidation bill that was routed to Government Operations, and proposals concerning animal cruelty and expungement/sealing tied to diversion courts.

Hillary Chudar Ames, the new legislative council member, summarized her background to the committee, noting Peace Corps service and later legal work in Chicago on policing and civil‑rights issues. Michelle Child of the Office of Legislative Council and Eric (identified as a longtime council copilot) said Ames will be onboarded gradually and initially will assist on matters the two currently staff.

Committee members used the introductions to offer brief personal and professional backgrounds; members who identified themselves included Representative Barbara Rachelson (Burlington), Tom Birnick (West Rutland), Angela Arsenault (Williston), Sharon Dolan, Tom Oliver, and freshman Zach Harvey (Castleton). Several members described interests in restorative justice, juvenile justice, domestic‑violence and gun‑violence prevention work, and public‑safety matters.

Looking slightly further ahead, the chair said the committee is planning an early‑February joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee on lessons learned from the accountability court pilot project and related public‑safety issues such as failures to appear at arraignments. The chair cautioned that schedules can change quickly but emphasized the panel’s early priorities.

The committee moved to consideration of H.409 and paused for a short break so staff could retrieve updated bill language and materials.

Next steps: the committee signaled intent to take testimony and consider votes on H.28 and H.409 in the near term and to schedule the accountability‑court review with the Senate Judiciary Committee in February.