AUGUSTA -The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave unanimous approval Monday to a bill to provide state funding to Maine's Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) that rewards firefighters and EMS personnel for service to their communities with contributions to a retirement program. The vote on LD 1316 came immediately following the bill's public hearing earlier the same day.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business unanimously passed LD 1551, An Act To Ban the Sale of Cosmetics That Have Been Tested on Animals, on Thursday.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee voted to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, on Friday that would update the classification of service employees in order to address issues of wage theft.

AUGUSTA - A bill from Rep. Ann Matlack, D-St. George, to provide additional support to municipalities and regional shellfish management organizations was signed into law on Wednesday by Gov. Janet Mills.

LD 454, as amended, raises shellfish depuration fees. This would be the first increase in the fee in 24 years.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, introduced a bill to strengthen law enforcement education and training standards before the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Friday.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing voted to advance LD 553, a bill to end at-will employment, sponsored by the committee's House chair, Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, on Friday.

AUGUSTA - The Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill Wednesday from Rep. Lynn Copeland, D-Saco, to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' shore damage mitigation project at Camp Ellis.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave strong support last Friday to a bill that would decriminalize possession of hypodermic syringes, improving public health and ensuring more Mainers with substance use disorder can access treatment rather than enter the criminal justice system. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, earned an 11-1 vote with one member absent.

AUGUSTA - A bill from Rep. Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, to increase the membership of the Lincolnville Sewer District Board of Trustees from three members to five received unanimous support from the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Thursday.

"I want to thank my colleagues on the committee for their support of this bill," said Zeigler. "The board does a lot of work on behalf of their residents, and it is my hope that they will have a couple more hands to lighten the load and conduct business should this bill become law."

AUGUSTA - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, to address Maine's essential support workforce, also known as the direct care workforce, received bipartisan approval from the Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. All members present voted in favor of the measure.