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Photos: The 2026 legislative session kicks off in Montpelier
Lawmakers convened at the state capitol to begin work for the year on Jan. 6, 2026.
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Gov. Phil Scott shakes hands with legislators before delivering his annual State of the State address at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, Jan. 7. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Gov. Phil Scott delivers his State of the State address to lawmakers at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public )
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Sen. Seth Bongartz, chair of the Senate Committee of Education, listens to Gov. Phil Scott's State of the State speech focused on education reform on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Members of the Vermont Senate listen to Gov. Phil Scott deliver his State of the State address focused on education reform at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and House Speaker Jill Krowinski wait for Gov. Phil Scott's State of the State speech in the House chamber on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public )
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Legislators mingle in the Vermont House of Representatives ahead of Gov. Phil Scott's State of the State address on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Winter boots rest in a committee room at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks to the House Committee on Education on the first day of the new legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 6. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders speaks to members of the House Committee on Education on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Members of the House Committee on Health Care meet on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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A lawmaker gestures behind the door to the committee room for the House Committee on Judiciary on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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A group of lawmakers and Vermont GOP Chair Paul Dame have a discussion in the House chamber on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Rep. Theresa Wood, chair of the House Committee of Human Services, speaks during the committee's first meeting of the 2026 legislative session. Vice Chair Rep. Rey Garofano sits on the right, and Ranking Member Rep. Anne Donahue sits on the left. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Rep. Mary Howard takes a photo with Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public )
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Sen. Becca White speaks to Vermont Public reporter Peter Hirschfeld on the first day of the 2026 Vermont legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Rep. Alyssa Black, chair of the House Committee on Health Care, speaks during the first committee meeting of the 2026 legislative session on Tuesday. Committee Vice Chair Rep. Francis McFaun sits on the left, and Ranking Member Rep. Daisy Berbeco sits on the right. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Rep. Pattie McCoy speaks to other lawmakers in the House chamber on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth speaks on the Senate floor on the opening day of the legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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Senate president pro tem Phil Baruth, left, and Sen. Brian Collamore speak with colleagues in the Senate chamber on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public)
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The Statehouse in Montpelier on the day of Gov. Phil Scott's State of the State address, Jan. 7, 2026. (Brian Stevenson / Vermont Public )
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