The Legislature has completed its work for the 2020-2022 term, and, while there is much to report, there is one item I want to be sure Waldo County residents know about.

Recognizing that Mainers are struggling with rising prices and the lingering strain from the pandemic, my colleagues and I passed legislation to send revenue dollars directly to you. This will come in the form of $850 checks, which will be mailed to over 850,000 tax filers starting in June.

AUGUSTA - On Friday, all three Democratic leaders in the Maine House of Representatives shared supportive statements at the news of Starbucks workers in Biddeford Maine filing a petition for a union election. The Biddeford store's letter to the President and CEO of Starbucks is available here. Starbucks workers signed their letter 'In Solidarity, Partners of store #48490. Today's announcement makes Maine the 35th state where Starbucks workers are unionizing.

AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Lydia Blume, D-York, to create a climate change education pilot program in Maine public schools is now law. Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill May 3.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills ceremonially signed a bill Monday sponsored by Rep. Colleen Madigan, D-Waterville, that will require health care providers to cover fertility treatment.

On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a measure by Rep. Jan Dodge, D-Belfast, that will increase the availability of intranasal naloxone in community and corrections settings. The bill will go into effect on August 8, 2022.

Contact:

Jackie Merrill [Dodge] c. 812-1111

Pictured from left to right: Rep. Jan Dodge of Belfast, Gov. Janet Mills and Gordon Smith, Director of Opioid Response.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill sponsored by Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, that will expand the current sales tax exemption for nonprofit housing developers.

LD 1732 will amend the exemption to allow nonprofit developers to serve households with incomes up to 120% of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an increase from the current threshold of 80%.

AUGUSTA - A bill to clarify new rulemaking parameters for the Office of Marijuana Policy, sponsored by Rep. Lynne Williams, D-Bar Harbor, is now law.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills held a ceremonial bill signing Monday for LD 1974, a measure to fund the Maine Climate Corps and the Maine Service Fellows, programs created through legislation sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill introduced by Rep. Art Bell, D-Yarmouth, that will review the safety of Maine's dams.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill sponsored by Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, that will provide direct funds to communities to support their efforts to reduce the presence of browntail moths.