AUGUSTA - On Monday, the Legislature completed voting on over 1700 bills. These bills have now had public hearings, work sessions, and votes in the House and Senate since December 2020. The Legislature completed allocating $983 million in federal relief funds before adjourning.

House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford released the following statement:

The last 16 months have been a whirlwind. The pandemic has taken over 880 lives in Maine, caused thousands of layoffs and brought immeasurable instability and uncertainty into our lives. It was a legislative session like no other, and while COVID-19 brought to light the cracks in our systems, it also brought about widespread, bipartisan agreement that big problems can't be solved with piecemeal solutions. In both D.C.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature voted Monday to fund the Family Caregiver Pilot Program, a program that will provide $2,000 tax credit payments to eligible Mainers who care for older family members or family members with disabilities. The funding measure was included in LD 1733, the bill to allocate the federal relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

AUGUSTA - A bill by Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, that decriminalizes the possession of hypodermic syringes, was signed into law last week. The measure, which received unanimous support in the Legislature, will improve public health and ensure more Mainers affected by drug use and substance use disorder can access sterile supplies, support services and treatment. This will prevent the spread of dangerous infections from used syringes, reduce overdose deaths and divert people away from the criminal justice system.

AUGUSTA - A bill by Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, that gives law enforcement additional tools to combat child sex trafficking has been signed into law last week.

LD 1486 changes the Maine Criminal Code to specify that a person who attempts to patronize prostitution of a minor still commits the crime even when the person they attempt to patronize is posing as a minor for the purpose of a law enforcement investigation. It also upgrades the crime of patronizing underage prostitution from a Class D crime to a Class C crime.

AUGUSTA - On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted on a once-in-a-lifetime investment in Maine children, workers, families, businesses and communities, using unallocated federal funds directed to Maine through the American Rescue Plan Act. The vote was 8-4. 

AUGUSTA - In response to the decision by the Maine Public Utilities Commission to approve a two-year 25% rate hike for Central Maine Power customers, starting with 10% on Aug. 1, 2021, Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, House chair of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, issued the following statement:

AUGUSTA - In response to Gov. Janet Mills vetoing LD 1708, a bill to create the Pine Tree Power Company sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, Berry has released the following statement:

"I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed in the veto. After winning bipartisan majority support in the committee, House and Senate, we had hoped the governor too would trust Maine voters to weigh in this fall. I want to thank all of the legislators in both chambers who supported LD 1708.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill to enhance municipal recycling programs and decrease property taxes into law Monday. The measure, LD 1541, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, establishes an extended producer responsibility program, known as "EPR for Packaging," for municipal recycling and waste disposal costs.

AUGUSTA - A bill from Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, providing for the safe disposal of expired marine flares was signed into law Thursday.