Rep. Sibilia: December 16th, 2025

Friends and neighbors,

As we make our way through December, I know many of you are balancing year-end obligations with preparations for the holidays. The past week’s headlines have been heavy. Gun violence in Rhode Island, ongoing fights in Washington over healthcare costs and accountability, and the attack in Australia as Hanukkah began are hard to read and harder to absorb.

In moments like this, it helps me to stay focused on what we can see and influence here at home. At the state and local level, connection, clear information, and participation still make a difference. This update focuses on what is happening here in Vermont and where your voice and engagement continue to matter.

I’ve also created a short survey if you’d like to share what’s on your mind and to help me understand with more detail what is happening in our district and neighboring towns.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the news that members of the Vermont Air National Guard will be deploying over the holidays. For many families, this means time apart from a parent, child, sibling, or partner during a season when togetherness is especially felt. I hope you will hold these service members and their families in your thoughts in the days ahead.

Here are two photos from my drive in to work this morning – the light was beautiful and very different in Dover and Brattleboro!

Office hours

At office hours in Dover last week, constituents wanted to focus on a few issues:

Property tax rates and uncertainty heading into next year
Concerns about ICE activity and its impact on Vermont communities
The real and rising costs of adapting to climate change
How small towns can realistically manage overlapping state and federal requirements

Thank you to everyone who attends office hours and those who share their perspectives through emails, calls, and conversations. This input is informing my work heading into the 2026 legislative session. I have office hours this week in Wardsboro at the Library from 6-7 pm – please stop in. These are the last in person office hours in Wardsboro until June as I am in Montpelier on Thursday evenings. Office hours in Dover will continue on the 1st Saturday of the month at 11 am.

Connecting State Climate Planning With Local Needs

As we head toward the start of the 2026 session, Vermonters may be interested in what practical steps the state is taking to prepare for stronger storms, rising costs, and the fast-moving global energy transition. The Climate Action Office has several opportunities this month for residents and local officials to learn more about the new Climate Action Plan, the Resilience Implementation Strategy, and tools that can help towns plan ahead. I encourage you to take part if you can. These conversations help shape state policy, and they help keep our communities connected to the work and the work connected to our communities.

Meet Vermont’s 2025 Climate Action Plan
January 6, 6:00–7:15 PM
January 12, 12:00–1:15 PM

The Vermont Climate Council will preview the new Climate Action Plan and its priority actions. These meetings will focus on what comes next and how we turn the plan into practical steps in our communities. For questions or accessibility requests: anr.cao@vermont.gov or (802) 404-2729.

Strategy for a Resilient Vermont: Videos and Summary The Resilience Implementation Strategy was introduced at public meetings this fall. It outlines steps state government and partners can take to strengthen Vermont communities as flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and other climate pressures increase. View videos and materials: Resilience Implementation Strategy videos and summary

Municipal Climate Planning Pilot Program This pilot program will help towns use the new Municipal Climate Planning Guides. Each participating community will receive tailored technical assistance, peer support, and planning help. If your town is considering applying, you can learn more at an upcoming information session on December 16 at 12:00 PM. Register for the informational meeting: Register here

Vermont Voices on Climate Climate Action Office staff have been meeting with Vermonters across the state to gather feedback on the Resilience Implementation Strategy. You can read the latest report to see what your neighbors are saying and where engagement has taken place. Read the latest report:
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Act 181 and regional planning

A recent legislative briefing and follow-up conversations with Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions helped clarify how Act 181 is being put into practice. Right now, regional planners are focused on creating new future land use maps, especially in Tier 1 areas, and on identifying exemptions in the law that are meant to support housing and local economic development.

Planners were also clear about what they are not focused on. Tier 2 and Tier 3 designations are not a central part of their current work, and questions about how landowners are notified, how land is valued, and how these changes affect people’s property are largely outside the scope of the mapping effort. Those unanswered questions continue to matter deeply in rural communities and remain a concern as Act 181 moves from policy to practice.

Why this matters to you: Decisions about land use maps and exemptions will shape where housing can be built, how towns plan for growth, and how Act 250 permitting is applied in different parts of the state. Clear notice, fair process, and predictable rules matter, especially for rural communities and property owners who need to understand how these changes affect their land and future plans.

Resources provided to legislators:
• Meeting Recording:Vermont’s Regional Plan Maps – Legislative Briefing – December 9, 2025 – YouTube
• Presentation Slides: VAPDA Presentation – Legislative Briefing – December 9 2025 – Final.pdf
• 1-Page Summary: VAPDA Act 181 Summary_20251201.pdf

Related to Act 181, the Rural Caucus leadership bill requiring notice, ensuring process and appropriate valuation has now been endorsed by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. We have a large and growing group of bipartisan sponsors in the house signing on to this bill reflecting broad agreement that implementation of Act 181 must be transparent, fair, and workable for towns and landowners.

Wardsboro and Jamaica Community Food Pantry

During the month of December 2025, the Wardsboro Methodist Church and the Jamaica Community Church are again holding a “Fill the Pews” Challenge to benefit the Food Pantry. Please bring non-perishable canned or boxed food items, paper goods, pet food, bar soap, or similar items to church each Sunday throughout December. Thank you.

The next Wardsboro and Jamaica Food Pantry distribution will be Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM, at the Vestry next to the Methodist Church in Wardsboro. Donations may also be left in the Food Pantry basket or offering plate.
Questions can be directed to Diane Allen at 802-874-4175 or deea3mzda@gmail.com.

Deerfield Valley Food Pantry
The Deerfield Valley Food Pantry’s December distribution dates are Thursday, 12/18 1-3 PM and Saturday, 12/20 9-11 AM. Please bring your reusable shopping bags!

The food pantry is located at 7 Church Street in Wilmington, and is an equal opportunity provider. Questions? Call 802 464 0148 and leave a message.

If you need help with state services, please reach out. I do not have staff and I work year-round, so if you do not hear back in a day or two, please follow up or send a text. If you find my work useful and are able to support it, you can do that here.

Thank you for staying engaged and looking out for one another. Wishing you peaceful holidays.

Rep. Laura Sibilia
Windham-2 District (Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton, Wardsboro)
Email: lsibilia@leg.state.vt.us
Phone: (802) 384-0233