AUGUSTA - Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, introduced a bill to address Maine's housing shortage before the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business on Thursday. LD 1694, An Act To Create the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, establishes the Community Redevelopment Land Bank to facilitate the redevelopment of abandoned and environmentally hazardous properties, and convert them into productive use.

AUGUSTA - On Thursday, Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford unveiled a bill aimed at cleaning up Maine's tax code and rewarding frontline workers with direct payments. LD 1677 "An Act To Support Frontline Workers by Adding a Temporary Tax Bracket Affecting High Earners" would invest in Maine frontline workers who continued serving our state throughout the pandemic.

AUGUSTA - Following the Mills administration's announcement on Wednesday of plans to make historic investments in Maine schools, including a proposal for the state to reach 55% funding for K-12 local education costs, House Democrats serving on the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee released statements in support of the plan.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's bipartisan Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to advance a package of bills sponsored by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that aim to protect the public from adverse health effects caused by toxic PFAS, known as "forever chemicals."

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance a bill from Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in Maine. The vote was 7-4.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, introduced a bill to create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, also known as a "green bank," before the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Wednesday.

AUGUSTA- Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, presented LD 1656, An Act To Promote Energy-efficient Affordable Housing, before the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing on Monday.

AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, to authorize a local option sales tax on prepared food and lodging and provide funding to the Maine State Housing Authority was advanced by the Taxation Committee on Tuesday.

AUGUSTA - Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford presented a bill to support Maine's child care workforce before the Committee On Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business on Tuesday. The bill, LD 1652 "An Act to Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce" is aimed at addressing Maines child care workforce crisis.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, introduced legislation to support and improve municipal recycling programs before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday.

LD 1541 establishes an extended producer responsibility program, also known as an "EPR for Packaging" program, to be operated by a stewardship organization contracted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).