Committee schedules water‑quality and stakeholder testimony as it reviews miscellaneous agriculture bill

After discussing section 1 of a miscellaneous agriculture bill, committee members moved to schedule additional witnesses and to allocate time for other sections on the agenda.

Members asked the Agency to bring Laura DiPietro, director of the Water Quality Division, to explain how firm determinations under the required agricultural practices are made and enforced; DiPietro was scheduled for next Friday. Committee members also suggested inviting the Vermont Farm Bureau, Rural Vermont, VLCT and relevant department staff — the Tax Department, Department of Health (for farm‑kitchen designations), the Department of Public Service and ANR — to brief sections 4–20.

Committee leaders emphasized focused, section‑by‑section testimony to keep meetings efficient and requested concise, practical explanations from witnesses so the committee can refine statutory language and prepare a report for the floor.