AUGUSTA - On Thursday, the Maine Legislature enacted a continuing services budget. The budget measure - LD 424, "An Act Making Certain Appropriations and Allocations and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government" goes into law on July 1, 2023.
Reps. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, and Poppy Arford, D-Brunswick, welcomed several student groups from Bowdoin College to the State House Thursday, including Bowdoin's Citizens Climate Lobby, the Bowdoin Chapter of the Sunrise Movement, Bowdoin's Reproductive Justice Coalition, Bowdoin Democrats, Bowdoin Alliance for Immigrant Rights and the Voting Rights for All Program.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Ankeles, Arford] c. 305-965-2744
AUGUSTA - Rep. Art Bell, D-Yarmouth, introduced legislation Tuesday that would help to address the state's teacher shortage by allowing the Commissioner of Education, in certain circumstances, to waive or grant an extension for teaching requirements.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill from Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, which would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to streamline access to certain nonprescription drugs and vaccines to MaineCare members by issuing standing orders for those treatments.
Reps. Holly Eaton, D-Deer Isle, Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, Ron Russell, D-Verona Island, and Mark Worth, D-Ellsworth, welcomed staff from The Jackson Laboratory to the State House Thursday.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Eaton, Milliken, Russell, Worth], c. 305-965-2744
Left to Right: Rep. Russell, Rep. Worth, Rep. Milliken, Rep. Eaton and Michael McKernan.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, introduced legislation Tuesday before the Legislature's Taxation Committee that would provide support to Maine's agriculture and aquaculture producers while offering an additional pathway to meet Maine's goal of ending hunger by 2030.
AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted Wednesday to advance a measure from Rep. Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco, that would enshrine in Maine's constitution the right to a clean and healthy environment. The vote was 6-4 with three members absent.
If approved by lawmakers, LD 928 would send the proposed amendment to Maine voters in November.
AUGUSTA - Today, a majority of the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to advance LD 1036, An Act to Require All Police Officers to Carry Naloxone Hydrochloride When on Duty. The vote was 7-4 in favor, with two absent. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill.
AUGUSTA - The Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety voted unanimously Wednesday to advance a bill to support Maine's emergency responders and their loved ones by formally recognizing death by suicide within these professions as a death while in the line of duty.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, introduced legislation on Tuesday before the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee that would help Maine address its youth mental health crisis.
LD 829, following an amendment offered by Rep. Crafts at the public hearing, would take three important steps towards improving behavioral health support in public schools.