Thursday of last week Governor Scott vetoed the budget proposed in H.13. This budget was virtually the same budget that a tri-partisan majority of senators and representatives approved during the regular session in H.911, but removed the items under contention between Governor Scott and the Vermont Legislature - namely how to spend unanticipated revenues from …
Author: Rep. Laura Sibilia
Six-term independent Vermont State Representative representing the citizens, students, towns and businesses of Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton and Wardsboro.
2018 special session continues
At the end of this year's regular legislative session both education finance/tax and state budget bills passed by large tri-partisan majorities. The Governor vetoed both - citing the property tax increases that the bills allow to go into place. This update will focus almost exclusively on the education finance aspects of the bills that are …
Agency of Education releases statewide plan
Today, the Agency of Education released its proposed statewide plan as required by Section 10 of Act 46. Today the Agency of Education submitted the draft to the State Board of Education. The statewide plan is a recommendation from the Agency on what the Board should consider for each of the 43 “section 9” proposals …
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Memorial Day – reflecting on the cost
Today is Memorial Day. As my grieving veterans remind me, it is not military appreciation day, it is not thank a veteran day, and it is not the official kick off summer. Today is the one day on the calendar where we are meant to reflect on what it coststo be an American and to …
Sibilia to run for re-election to Vermont House
Good evening, Over the past four years, I have provided a consistent voice for our district, our businesses, towns, taxpayers and our schools, our students and the need to reform our education finance system. My work on telecommunications is linked to several internet and cell expansions in our district. As an independent I have consistently worked to find …
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Time for a Special Session
The Vermont legislature adjourned on May 12th around midnight. As of the writing of this update, several bills have been vetoed and several more including the budget and school finance bills are promised vetoes. Though the Governor had threatened to veto these bills, the legislature did not schedule a veto session but rather adjourned “sine …
Important progress overcoming CoverageCo vulnerabilities
Please see the important announcement from the Governor's office about Grace Cottage Hospital - one of a number of critical community facilities facing public safety issues as a result of the cell vulnerabilities of the CoverageCo project. Thank you to Speaker Johnson, Governor Scott and AT&T for their preliminary response to the impending public safety …
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2018 Session – Acts to reduce violence in our schools and communities
During the Legislative Session there are typically three different groups of eighth grade pages that rotate in for six-week terms to the statehouse. The pages are a group of students from all backgrounds and areas of our state who carry messages back and forth to legislators from their constituents and other legislators. This year’s second …
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Current status of S.55
Here is the current status of the bill: The bill is on the Senate Calendar for tomorrow (Thursday). The Senate can concur, concur with further amendment or ask for a conference committee with the House to settle the differences. Here is what the bill currently does: Expanding background check requirements to unlicensed (or private) firearm …
School safety and gun regulations votes
Thank you to all who attended the hearing Rep. Gannon and I held in Whitingham last week. Thank you also to the law enforcement, school administrators, civic leaders, sportsman and gun regulation advocates who helped us plan an event we hoped all would feel comfortable sharing their views at. Read more about the event here. …
Vermont State Representative Laura Sibilia 