Friends and Neighbors,
This update includes an invitation to join us locally for the Vermont Wine & Harvest Festival, my recent statewide op-ed on political violence, new drought reporting resources, updates on vaccines and healthcare affordability, wood heat incentives for Windham County, a Brattleboro town hall with Attorney General Clark, federal climate decisions that matter here at home, and details about applying for the Vermont Legislative Page Program before the September 30 deadline. These are serious issues, and they remind us why it matters that we keep showing up for one another in our towns and across Vermont. I’ll be holding office hours this Thursday, September 18, from 6–7 pm at the Wardsboro Library, and I hope to see some of you there.
Last week, I joined Republican, Democratic, and Independent colleagues from across the country through the Rodel Fellowship in signing this statement condemning the recent assassinations and attempted murders of Charlie Kirk and Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband. Our fellowship brings leaders together across party lines to study, debate, and practice listening and working honestly without giving up our principles.
Help Vermont Respond To Drought
With drought conditions across Vermont, officials are asking residents to report dry wells, water shortages, crop losses, low rivers and lakes, and health impacts. Reports help the state assess needs and trigger USDA and IRS programs.
Learn more at drought.vermont.gov and ANR’s Drought Resources page, or use Conditions Monitoring Observer Reports.
Private well and spring issues can be reported through the Drought Reporter. Farmers can contact the Agency of Agriculture at 802-828-2430 or AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov. Public water systems can call 802-828-1535, wastewater treatment impacts should be reported to 802-828-1115, and homeowners can find guidance and testing through the Health Department’s Drought and Your Well page or by calling 802-489-7339.
The Drought Task Force also urges simple conservation: avoid lawn watering or car washing, repair leaks quickly, run only full loads of laundry or dishes, and consider low-cost water-saving tools.
Can I Get My Flu and COVID Vaccines in Vermont?
As we head into another cold and flu season, I’ve had questions from constituents about whether or not they can still get a COVID booster and their annual flu shot here in Vermont. The answer is yes, but there are important details to know.
Where to get vaccinated:
- Walgreens also has the updated COVID vaccine. It is available for all adults 65 and older and for those under 65 with qualifying health conditions. You can schedule your flu shot or other vaccines such as RSV or pneumonia in the same visit.
- The annual flu vaccine is widely available at primary care offices, pharmacies, and local health clinics. Call ahead to confirm availability.
- Kinney Drugs and CVS have the updated COVID vaccine. They are giving shots to people 65 and older and to those 12–64 who say they have an underlying health condition. A doctor’s prescription is not required.
What insurance covers:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP will continue to cover COVID vaccines at no cost for their members.
- Medicare and some other federally tied insurance plans may still present challenges until CDC guidance stabilizes.
- VTDigger: Vermont works to maintain access
The U.S. Centers For Disease Control, or CDC, is in turmoil after the firing and resignation of top scientists. This reporting from the New York Times describes the growing influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic now reshaping federal guidance. This has raised serious questions about whether science will continue to guide national vaccine policy. To protect Vermonters from confusion, our state has joined a coalition of eight Northeast states to coordinate public health decisions, preparing to act if federal recommendations further restrict vaccine access or undermine public confidence. The coalition includes Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, along with New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Additional resources from the Vermont Department of Health
Healthcare Budgets and Costs
The Green Mountain Care Board voted to cut $88 million from the University of Vermont Medical Center’s proposed $2.4 billion budget, directing the hospital to reduce charges to commercial insurers. Regulators said the cuts are needed to ease Vermont’s high premium rates and raised concerns that the UVM Health Network has been using inflated Vermont rates to subsidize losses in its New York hospitals. The board also cut $465,000 in operating expenses tied to planned raises for health network executives.
Read more from Seven Days and VTDigger.
New Wood Heat Incentives Available for Income-Qualified Windham County Households
The Clean Energy Development Fund at the Public Service Department has announced new wood heat incentives for income-qualified households in Windham County. Homeowners can receive $800 for cord wood stoves, $1,200 for pellet stoves, and up to $15,000 for central pellet boilers or furnaces, with additional statewide incentives available from Efficiency Vermont. A total of $208,095 has been allocated for Windham County, and eligibility is limited to households at or below 120% of area median income. Income limits are available here: www.efficiencyvermont.com/income-limit. More information is available at www.rerc-vt.org.
Town Hall with Attorney General Clark – Brattleboro, September 21
Windham County Senator Nader Hashim asked me to share this invitation with you. Attorney General Charity Clark will hold a Town Hall on Sunday, September 21, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at Brattleboro Union High School.
Attorney General Clark will talk about her recent work to protect the rule of law and Vermont’s sovereignty, including filing twenty-seven lawsuits against the Trump administration since President Trump took office. These lawsuits have blocked unconstitutional or illegal acts and executive orders. She is also eager to hear directly from Vermonters about how changing federal policies are affecting your lives.
When: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 2:00–3:30 PM
Where: Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd, Brattleboro, VT
Who: All are welcome
More information is available at ago.vermont.gov/ago-actions.
National Data Decisions Have Local Consequences in Vermont
The federal government just put out a new climate report that scientists say is full of errors and misleading claims. Days later, the EPA proposed ending the 2009 rule that says greenhouse gases are dangerous to people’s health and must be tracked and reduced. Without that rule, car and engine makers would no longer have to measure or cut the pollution that causes climate change.
This matters in Vermont. We are already dealing with stronger storms and flooding that damage roads, homes, and downtowns. Insurance bills are rising, and some small businesses have lost coverage because of high costs. Researchers at UVM estimate flood damage here could top $5 billion over the next century if nothing changes. When Washington denies science, it puts Vermonters at risk and makes it harder to get the resources we need to prepare and protect our communities.
Read more from Inside Climate News
Other Federal–State Issues to Watch
- Public health data. The Vermont Medical Society has called on the federal government to restore strong public health data protections. Vermont must make sure residents’ privacy and trust are not undermined. Read more.
- Surveillance. ICE has spent millions on facial recognition tools. Vermonters want both safety and clear limits on government data use.
“Yet what the country needs at this moment is leaders who understand that they represent everyone once they are elected, not merely a political faction.” A Politician Rises to the Charlie Kirk Occasion
Page Program – Apply by September 30
8th Grade students in the 2025/26 school year can apply now for the Vermont Legislative Page Program. Pages spend six weeks at the Statehouse, helping legislators, learning how laws are made, and exploring careers in public service.
Housing and transportation: not provided, but help is available if needed. Apply now, before September 30, and details can be worked out later if you are chosen.
Program info: legislature.vermont.gov/the-state-house/civic-education/become-a-legislative-page
My son served in this program and I’d be happy to share what it’s like for the students.
Office Hours
Wardsboro: third Thursday, 6–7 pm, Wardsboro Library
Dover: first Saturday, 11–noon, Dover Free Library
Contact: lsibilia@leg.state.vt.us • (802) 384-0233
Rep. Laura Sibilia — Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton, Wardsboro
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Vermont State Representative Laura Sibilia 