By Rep. Ellie Sato
We recently concluded this year’s legislative session, where we passed laws intended to make life better for families and working people. In Maine, we did the hard work of governing, passing policies I believe will help ensure our state is a place where families can live and work, where young people can put down roots and where we take care of our aging neighbors.
When I first ran for office six years ago, I promised to focus on the issues affecting people’s daily lives: affordability, accountability and building a future where Maine families can thrive.
Over the past six years serving my hometown of Scarborough in the Maine House of Representatives, I’ve delivered on lowering energy costs, supporting workers, improving transparency in government and providing practical results for Maine people.
Lowering Energy Costs for Maine Families
AUGUSTA – A bill from Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, to address high electricity costs and give residents more local control over their power is now law. Gov. Janet Mills recently signed the measure.
On April 29, the Legislature officially wrapped up its work for this legislative session. Over the last few months, we passed hundreds of new laws to address the real issues facing Mainers.
As the rising cost of living makes it harder for families to make ends meet, my priority in Augusta has been to pass policies that lower expenses and support a stronger community for the people of Gorham.
AUGUSTA – Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, recently earned the 2026 Legacy of Leadership Award from the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
AUGUSTA – Assistant House Majority Leader Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, recently earned the 2026 Legacy of Leadership Award from the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
AUGUSTA – Today, Gov. Janet Mills announced that she will veto LD 307, a bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would have instituted a temporary pause on the construction of data centers and created the Maine Data Center Coordination Council to assist towns with future implementation.
Following the announcement, Rep. Sachs issued the following statement:
AUGUSTA – On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a bill sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D- Westbrook, that establishes a limited-purpose aquaculture license that allows for nursery and husbandry activities in coastal waters. It also streamlines and modernizes the process for amending aquaculture leases via recommendations from the Department of Marine Resources’ Aquaculture Advisory Council.
AUGUSTA – A measure by Assistant House Majority Leader Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that creates a state advocate for children is now law. Gov. Janet Mills signed the measure Thursday.
LD 1893 establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate in state government. Once operational, the office will receive and investigate complaints, share information with the public, and advise the governor and state lawmakers on how to improve services and protections for children.
After many long days and nights at the State House, I’m proud to report that at the beginning of April we accomplished one of our biggest goals: passing a supplemental budget that delivers for Maine’s working families.
It’s often said that budgets are a reflection of our values. We heard from Mainers across the state, including right here in Gorham, who told us what this budget should look like – protecting access to critical services, providing property tax relief, and offsetting the rising costs of gas, electricity and groceries.