AUGUSTA - Rep. Ann Matlack, D-St. George, presented a bill before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday to update the fees paid to Maine sheriffs and their deputies when serving legal documents to residents on behalf of the state.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, introduced a bill to update Maine's sales tax exemption list for grocery staples on Thursday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, introduced a bill to add crisis response to the list of emergency services dispatched under Maine's E-911 system during a public hearing before the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Thursday.

Under the current system, dispatchers direct emergency fire or medical services in response to 911 calls as appropriate. All other emergency calls go to law enforcement, even when they involve a mental health or substance use emergency.br /

AUGUSTA - The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government voted to advance LD 1010, An Act To Establish the Maine Service Fellows Program, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, on Wednesday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, has introduced a bill to advance health equity in Maine by closing gaps in MaineCare and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The measure, LD 718, was heard before the Legislature's Committee on Health and Human Services on Thursday. If passed into law, the bill would ensure that all Maine residents have access to affordable health care, regardless of immigration status.

SCARBOROUGH - Speaker Fecteau visited volunteer vaccinators and MaineHealth clinicians for a tour of the Scarborough Downs vaccination site Wednesday morning. As of Monday evening, MaineHealth had administered 58,000 doses at Scarborough Downs.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted last week to advance a bill by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that would help victims access justice. The vote was 7-5.

"As a kid, I knew I couldnt change what happened to me, but I also knew that, when I was a grown-up, I would do my best to make things better for others. As a social worker, I have worked my entire professional life to effect systemic change and to give voice to fellow survivors," said Gramlich.

AUGUSTA - Measures introduced this week by Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, aim to address Maine's housing crisis.

"The need for housing in our state is greater than we have ever seen it," said Morales, who leads a working group of lawmakers focused on housing policy. "Before the pandemic, 19,000 households were on the waiting list for Section 8 housing vouchers. Today, that number has increased by 27%. We must act with urgency to provide both short-term and longer-term solutions."

AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, spoke in favor of LD 1129, An Act Relating to the Valuation of Retail Sales Facilities, sponsored by Rep. Ann Matlack, D-St. George. The bill was heard before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on Wednesday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Lynn Copeland, D-Saco, has introduced a bill that, if passed into law, would sign Maine onto the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' shore damage mitigation project. The measure had its public hearing before the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday.