Rep. Sibilia: Week 17 of the 2025 Vermont Legislative Session

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I’ll be holding office hours tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Dover Free Library. I hope to see you there.

Tomorrow is also Green Up Day! You can find local meeting points and details for our towns here.

Following Education in the Senate: H.454 – A Bill to Transform Vermont’s Education System
The Senate is considering changes to the version of H.454 passed by the House—changes that cannot pass in the House. Some certain sticking points include:

Protections the Senate is seeking for Burr & Burton, St. Johnsbury Academy, and religious schools
Depoliticizing the State Board of Education
Proposals to reduce spending by adjusting and some student weights

That last item—changing the weights—is a political tactic that in the past resulted in the severe underfunding and overtaxing of rural, poor, and New American communities, for decades. Our district and many others fought for years to correct that injustice.

A recent Senate draft revises the House’s proposal on school district boundaries by replacing the planned nine-member subcommittee within the Commission on the Future of Public Education with an independent eight-member School District Boundary Task Force composed of equal House and Senate members. This task force is required to recommend at least one new school district map and an alternative process if boundaries are not adopted by January 31, 2026, with a final report due December 15, 2025. The Senate version removes several provisions from the House draft, including a voting ward task force, class size rules, and minimum district size goals. On independent school tuition, the Senate lowers the public enrollment threshold from 51% to 25% and expands eligibility to schools within 25 miles of Vermont’s border, including Canadian schools. It also retains the current Governor-appointed State Board of Education, rejecting the House’s proposed legislative appointments. The Commission on the Future of Public Education is still tasked with issuing its final report by September 30, 2025.

Two weeks ago I wrote about the detention of two individuals connected to Vermont. One, Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, was released from ICE detention this week after a federal judge in Vermont ordered his release. Detained on April 14 during his citizenship interview, he spent over two weeks in custody. He is now home and able to resume his studies, though his immigration case remains open.

Last week, nearly 20 Jamaica residents gathered and raise concerns about federal funding cuts, especially to disaster recovery, and the manner in which federal law enforcement have handled immigration enforcement in Vermont. I’ve spent this week following up on those concerns. More details are included later in this update.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Now Open to Self-Employed Vermonters
As of May 1, the final phase of Vermont’s voluntary Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program is open. Self-employed individuals and those without employer-provided coverage can now enroll.

Six weeks paid leave at 60% wage replacement
Benefits begin January 1, 2026
Enrollment open through May 31, 2025 www.thehartford.com/vermont

Salt Bill: H.86 – Chloride Contamination Reduction Program
H.86 establishes a voluntary program focused on reducing road salt pollution while keeping roads, sidewalks, and parking lots safe in winter. It targets commercial salt users like private plow operators, not municipalities.

Certified users who follow best practices gain liability protection in slip-and-fall cases
Municipalities are not required to participate, but updated Vermont Local Roads training would encourage smarter salt use
Town highway staff who complete the training and keep records would also receive liability protection
The state would track usage and study salt storage practices to inform future improvements

This model is similar to New Hampshire’s Green SnowPro program, which has operated for over a decade. Here is the fiscal note on the bill. The full House will consider this bill next week.

Sibilia: Know Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement

Protecting yourself when protesting, Know Your Rights: What to Do if You or a Loved One is Detained

Federal Funds under the Trump Administration

This is a live webpage from the Joint Fiscal Office dedicated to tracking the impact of federal policy on states. The current presidential administration has issued executive orders freezing federal funds, discussed the elimination of federal programs, and has proposed significant changes to tax policy. Congressional budgetary actions could further impact states.

Recent Reports to the Legislature

Self-Managed Energy Efficiency Programs The Self-Managed Energy Efficiency Program (SMEEP), established in 2010, allows eligible industrial and transmission ratepayers who paid significant energy efficiency charges in 2008 or 2017 to opt out of Vermont’s standard Energy Efficiency Utility charge by investing in their own energy efficiency projects. To remain in the program, participants must meet minimum annual investment thresholds. As of 2024, the two approved participants are GlobalFoundries and Omya. GlobalFoundries reported investing $541,347 and expects annual electricity savings of over 5.3 million kWh, while Omya invested $558,122 with expected annual electricity savings of 862,617 kWh and substantial fuel savings. The Public Utility Commission has not excluded any entities from SMEEP, as only GlobalFoundries and Omya meet the eligibility criteria and have applied.

Bills That Have Passed Into Law and Signed by Governor

S.3 An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust
H.80 An act relating to the Office of the Health Care Advocate
H.154 An act relating to designating November as the Vermont Month of the VeteranH.2 An act relating to increasing the minimum age for delinquency proceedings
H.31 An act relating to claim edit standards and prior authorization requirements
H.35 An act relating to unmerging the individual and small group health insurance markets
H.78 An act relating to the use of the Australian ballot system in local elections

During the 2025 legislative session from January through May I will continue to meet on the 1st Saturday of the month at the Dover Free Library from 11-noon and at your group’s invitation as schedules allow.

Monitor my votes and the bills I am sponsoring at: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2026/24023

As always, if you have suggestions, concerns or critiques please be in touch so we can schedule one on one 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