Good evening!

This week should be the end of the legislative session, with expected votes on the budget – the final bill to pass, likely Friday. There is a veto session scheduled in June should the governor veto additional proposals and the legislative leaders decide to try to override. In addition, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski has just announced an investigation into two Franklin County law enforcers that could lead to impeachment.

Today the house took up S.100, the HOME Act, and provisions included by the house, including elements from the Rural Caucus amendment put forward by 30 members of the House and an important three year exemption to Act 250 for moving electric lines out of the woods and underground when possible. This was a provision that was surprisingly difficult to secure, but it is now in the bill.

There is hope that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will settle the budget tomorrow. It is still unclear what is in and what is out, or if the governor is on board with the negotiations, but these one time items appear to be settled.

H.230 An act relating to implementing mechanisms to reduce suicide has passed the House and Senate. The bill puts in place a 72 hour waiting period, requires gun storage in homes with children and expands extreme protection orders. The governor has indicated he has some concerns about the legislation.

The governor has vetoed S.5, the Affordable Heat Act, and the override votes will take place this week. In his veto message, the governor said: “It’s important to note despite significant concerns with the policy, I would not veto a bill that directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to design a potential clean heat standard – provided it’s returned to the Legislature, in bill form with all the details, and debated, amended, and voted on with the transparency Vermonters deserve.”

As one of the lead sponsors and of the bill, I believe this is exactly what the bill does.

If the legislature overrides the veto, Vermonters can be assured the next two years will involve a robust public process. Read my post: How Vermonters, legislators and Governor Scott will be able to track and influence the S.5 Clean Heat Standard

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Thank you for attending latest Carson v. Makin discussion

Recording available: Legal opinions on Carson v. Makin: On Monday, May 1st House Education Chair Rep. Peter Conlon and Falko Schilling from the Vermont ACLU met with dozens of residents from our district to discuss the Carson v. Makin decision and it’s impact on Vermont school choice policies. The hour long session can be viewed at this link with the pass code provided. https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/iiqUq-ladrnfcjf4CSCBpXn1kn6YAWlhylY_zFDtIAsX2EUch6XVGdan8MRwhNN6.bH1CjZZQ7Uz6uMV6
Passcode: xKd.8?3*

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Vermont Public: Vermont college grads can get $5,000 if they stay here

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S.3 An act relating to prohibiting paramilitary training camps

Today the governor signed a bill to ban paramilitary camps in Vermont, as 25 other states have done.

(a) A person shall not:

(1) teach, train, or demonstrate to any other person the use, application,or making of a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device capable of causing injury or death, or techniques capable of causing injury or death to persons, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the teaching, training, or demonstrating is intended to be used in or in furtherance of a civil disorder; or
(2) assemble with one or more other persons for the purpose of practicing or being taught, trained, or instructed in the use, application, or making of a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device capable of causing injury or death, or in techniques capable of causing injury or death to persons, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the practicing, teaching, training, or instruction is intended to be used in or in furtherance of a civil disorder

The law does not apply to official law enforcement activity or any educational institution where military science is taught or self-defense instruction or practice as long as the intent is not to cause a civil disorder..

Vermont bans owning, running paramilitary training camps

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The Speaker of the House is holding a public application process to fill open seats on the newly formed Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Vermont Climate Council

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Bills that have passed into law in the 2023 Session:

H.76	4/27/2023	An act relating to captive insurance
H.146	4/27/2023	An act relating to amendments to the charter of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District
H.418	4/26/2023	An act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the Town of Barre
H.41	4/20/2023	An act relating to referral of domestic and sexual violence cases to community justice centers
H.190	4/20/2023	An act relating to removing the residency requirement from Vermont’s patient choice at end of life laws	10
H.271	4/20/2023	An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Springfield
S.3	4/20/2023	An act relating to prohibiting paramilitary training camps
H.35	4/18/2023	An act relating to the Victims Assistance Program	9
H.148	4/11/2023	An act relating to raising the age of eligibility to marry	8
H.466	4/6/2023	An act relating to technical corrections for the 2023 legislative session	6
H.28	4/6/2023	An act relating to diversion and expungement	5
S.54	4/6/2023	An act relating to individual and small group insurance markets	7
H.411	3/23/2023	An act relating to extending COVID-19 health care regulatory flexibility	4
H.145	3/3/2023	An act relating to fiscal year 2023 budget adjustments	3
H.46	2/24/2023	An act relating to approval of the dissolution of Colchester Fire District No. 3	M-1
H.1	2/3/2023	An act relating to legislative oversight of payment reform and conflict-free case management for developmental disability services	2
H.42	1/19/2023	An act relating to temporary alternative procedures for annual municipal meetings and electronic meetings of public bodies	1

Monitor the bills I am sponsoring and recorded roll call votes.

As always, if you have suggestions, concerns or critiques please be in touch so we can schedule time to discuss. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance navigating government services at (802) 384-0233 or lsibilia@leg.state.vt.us. Follow my regular posts online at http://www.laurasibiliavt.com

Rep. Laura Sibilia – Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton, Wardsboro