AUGUSTA - Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, was recognized Thursday as a Maine Business Champion by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce for her work on the Maine Dirigo Business Incentive Program and her continued commitment to strengthening Maine's small businesses.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, that would improve access to social work services in Maine by enacting an interstate social work licensure compact.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature advanced a bill this week from Rep. Scott Landry, D-Farmington, to expand moose hunting opportunities for Maine kids experiencing a critical or terminal illness.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Housing unanimously advanced legislation on Tuesday sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, that would establish a stakeholder group to examine systematic difficulties in obtaining and utilizing low-income affordable housing vouchers and provide further support for Section 8 housing voucher recipients.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Taxation voted unanimously of those present Wednesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, that would help protect fishermen's access to Maine's working waterfront.

AUGUSTA - Forty-seven Maine legislators have signed on to two letters calling on Cabela's and the Kittery Trading Post to stop selling military-style, semi-automatic weapons, commonly referred to as assault rifles. The letters, which were spearheaded by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, were sent to leadership at each organization.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee voted Tuesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, that would protect Maine consumers by licensing residential general contractors.

Maine already licenses plumbers, electricians, architects, interior designers and more but residential contractors, who often work on projects with these professionals, have no licensing requirements.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services unanimously advanced legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would add Maine to the Compact for Licensing Physician Assistants (PAs).

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would appropriate $15 million from the General Fund to fully cover the state's reimbursement to municipalities for costs associated with the now-repealed Property Tax Stabilization Program. The bill would also appropriate $50,000 to reimburse municipalities for administrative costs associated with the implementation of the program.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House advanced a bill this week from Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, that would name a portion of Route 127 in Arrowsic the Private Merwin A. Delano, Jr. Memorial Highway.