Good evening,

Please join me tomorrow, Saturday June 1st at 11 am at the Dover Free Library for monthly office hours. Spending on political messaging is increasing related to expected Veto Session votes on Renewable Energy Modernization, Safe Injection Sites and the Yield Bill which funds locally approved budgets across the state. We are also seeing a major influx of big oil money coming in with misleading and even false information about the work going on at the Public Utility Commission to develop Rules for a Clean Heat Standard which legislators may vote on in 2025. Stop in and share your thoughts on these or other issues of interest.

The Governor has been signing a lot of bills (see the complete list at the end) – some are very consequential including a new ban on firearms at polling places and the state takeover on regulation of land use in river corridors.

§ 4027. POLLING PLACES; FIREARMS PROHIBITED
(a)(1) A person shall not knowingly possess a firearm at a polling place or
on the walks leading to a building in which a polling place is located on an
election day.
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to the
town clerk’s office during any period when a board of civil authority has voted
to permit early voting pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2546b(a)(1).
(b) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than
one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.

S.209 An act relating to prohibiting unserialized firearms and unserialized firearms frames and receivers

The governor also allowed S.259, An act related to climate change recovery, to go into law without his signature. I sponsored this bill – along with a number of other legislators – and it received bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House.

When the House voted, I offered this explanation regarding my support of the bill:

In 1965 remarks of American Petroleum Industry President Frank Ikard to his industry’s annual gathering acknowledged a Johnson Administration Report of the Environmental Pollution Panel of the President’s Science Advisory Committee which warned that fossil fuel combustion could cause significant climactic changes by the end of the 20th century. In his remarks, API President Ikard noted that 

“[o]ne of the most important predictions of the report [was] that carbon dioxide is being added to the earth’s atmosphere by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas,” which would lead to “marked changes in climate beyond local or even national efforts.” 

Madam Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for this legislation. Fossil fuel companies have known for decades about the damage their products cause to the climate. Despite this knowledge, they chose to do nothing to mitigate the harmful effects, prioritizing profit over a responsibility to protect our environment. As a result, Vermont communities, families, and taxpayers have experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of climate change, including events like Tropical Storm Irene, which caused massive damage to Vermont towns in my region like Wilmington and Jamaica in 2011 and the extended flooding events of last summer which caused massive damage to Vermont, including the town of Jamaica, again.

Vermonters have lost their lives and their homes in these events. The aftermath of these storms left many small towns reeling, facing immense financial challenges in rebuilding and recovery. Small business owners, who are the backbone of these communities have struggled to recover expenses for repairs, renovations, and replacements. The economic fallout from these storms has rippled effects throughout these communities, severely impacting their economic vitality. The experiences of Vermont’s people, businesses and communities – underscores the urgent need for policies that address the injustices faced by communities affected by natural disasters.

It is inequitable for these companies to evade accountability for their actions while Vermonters continue to pay the consequences

S.259 is a crucial step towards holding accountable those responsible for contributing to climate change and ensuring that affected communities receive the support they need to recover and rebuild. This is a measure that promotes fairness.

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Other bills that have been signed into law:

• H.233, An act relating to licensure and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers
• H.503, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of St. Johnsbury
• H.534, An act relating to retail theft
• H.563, An act relating to unlawful trespass in a motor vehicle and unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent
• H.585, An act relating to amending the pension system for sheriffs and certain deputy sheriffs
• S.25, An act relating to regulating consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or other chemicals
• S.30, An act relating to creating a Sister State Program
• S.55, An act relating to updating Vermont’s Open Meeting Law
• S.98, An act relating to Green Mountain Care Board authority over prescription drug costs and the Green Mountain Care Board nomination and appointment process
• S.184, An act relating to the temporary use of automated traffic law enforcement (ATLE) systems
• S.191, An act relating to New American educational grant opportunities
• S.192, An act relating to civil commitment procedures at a secure residential recovery facility and a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth and civil commitment procedures for individuals with an intellectual disability
• S.195, An act relating to how a defendant’s criminal record is considered in imposing conditions of release
• S.204, An act relating to supporting Vermont’s young readers through evidence-based literacy instruction
• S.206, An act relating to designating Juneteenth as a legal holiday
• S.301, An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
• S.305, An act relating to miscellaneous changes related to the Public Utility Commission
• S.310, An act relating to natural disaster government response, recovery, and resiliency
• H.862, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Barre
• H.869, An act relating to approval of the merger of Brandon Fire District No. 1 and Brandon Fire District No. 2
• H.872, An act relating to miscellaneous updates to the powers of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council and the duties of law enforcement officers
• H.881, An act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of Burlington
• H.885, An act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the Town of Berlin
• H.888, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Hartford
• S.58, An act relating to public safety
• S.114, An act relating to the establishment of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group
• S.159, An act relating to the County and Regional Governance Study Committee
• S.183, An act relating to reenvisioning the Agency of Human Services
• S.246, An act relating to amending the Vermont basic needs budget and livable wage
• H.883 An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government

Bills the Governor has allowed to go into law without his signature:

• H.649 An act relating to the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• S.102 An act relating to expanding employment protections and collective bargaining rights

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June Green Mountain Guard Newsletter

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Ongoing stress on our education and work force systems was in full view this week in Jamaica as residents, parents and board members wrestled with the future of the Jamaica school building. Thanks to all who are dedicating so much time to this important issue for students, taxpayers and the town.

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