Newsroom

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today upon the historic Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: 

“Along with millions of Americans, I was moved by the historic Inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris this afternoon. Among other things, for the first time, children across our nation can look upon a woman of color serving her country in the second highest office in the land and know that their futures are limitless. 

Governor Janet Mills today extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) through February 17, 2021. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation which have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

Governor Janet Mills announced today that she has activated the Maine National Guard and placed them on standby status to support law enforcement, if needed, in advance of potential events at the State Capitol heading into this weekend and next week. The Governor activated the Guard out of an abundance of caution to ensure that Guard members are ready and available to assist law enforcement, if it is determined their support is needed.

Governor Janet Mills released the following today on the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) issuance of its latest request for proposals for renewable energy:

Governor Janet Mills today received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor was vaccinated on the recommendation of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention as part of Phase 1a as a person critical to Maine’s COVID-19 response. The Governor leads Maine’s COVID-19 response.

In conjunction with DHHS & Maine CDC, Governor Mills focuses limited vaccine supply on older Mainers and those with high-risk medical conditions who are more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19

Governor Janet Mills today announced updates to Maine’s strategy for distributing its limited allocation of COVID-19 vaccines targeted toward preventing serious illness and saving the lives of Maine people.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations today to prioritize vaccinations for those 65 and older and those with preexisting conditions:

“My fundamental goal throughout this pandemic has been, and continues to be, to save lives. With the introduction of vaccines last month, we were given a critical new tool in this effort.

Governor Janet Mills, Director of Opioid Response Gordon Smith, and Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services Jeanne Lambrew issued the following statements in response to the report released today by the Maine Attorney General’s Office on drug overdose deaths in the third quarter of 2020:

Today, Governor Janet Mills unveiled her Fiscal Year 2021 supplemental budget proposal and Fiscal Year 2022-2022 biennial budget proposal. Lawmakers, leaders, advocates, and other issued-based experts are praising the proposals for covering pandemic-created budget shortfalls while maintaining critical services that support Maine people:

Here’s what they are saying:

Governor’s proposals focused on critical investments that bolster the State’s COVID-19 response while expanding savings

Governor Janet Mills today submitted to the Legislature a supplemental budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021 and a biennial budget proposal for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 that focus on maintaining vital services and increasing savings without creating new programs.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in response to the violence and destruction at the U.S. Capitol today:

Governor Janet Mills today issued a video statement urging Maine people to be safe tonight heading into the New Year. The video can be viewed HERE and a transcript is below:

“Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills. Like you, I am so looking forward to putting this year behind us completely and stepping into a better, more hopeful New Year. But to do so safely, we’ve got to ring in the New Year differently tonight.

Please note that Maine’s COVID-19 Prevention Checklist for Community Sports already prohibits competition between sports teams from different states until further notice. The joint announcement below is consistent with this policy.

Amid an increase in Maine’s COVID-19 positivity rate and a continued high rate of hospitalizations, the Mills Administration today announced that it will extend the requirement for certain businesses statewide to close by 9:00 p.m. in order to limit activities that could contribute to the transmission of COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills today extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) through January 20, 2021. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation which have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association.

Governor Janet Mills released the following statement in response to news that the FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine:

Governor Janet Mills released the following statement Monday in response to the arrival of the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Maine: 

Governor Janet Mills released the following statement in response to news that the FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine:

With widespread community transmission and increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Maine, Governor Janet Mills today signed an Executive Order (PDF) that simplifies and strengthens the enforcement of the State’s face covering requirement.

Nearly half supported Maine’s businesses with significant funding dedicated to health and safety initiatives to combat COVID-19

Joins with national campaign to encourage uninsured people in Maine and across the country to stay healthy and apply for coverage before December 15

Governor Mills joined with governors across the country today in declaring December 10, 2020 as Get Covered Day (PDF) in an unprecedented national push to promote health insurance coverage in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Governor Janet Mills today announced that the Blaine House’s holiday display of decorated trees will be dedicated to the resiliency of Maine people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's theme, “A Celebration of Resilience,” pays tribute to Maine people, including Maine’s frontline workers and those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic. It also pays tribute to Maine's commercial fishing fleet, which recently lost four members of its community. Members of the public interested in viewing the display can see it by walking or driving along Capitol Street.

Today Governor Janet Mills of Maine and the United Kingdom’s Minister of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the RT Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, announced the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) (PDF) to enhance cooperation between the State of Maine and the UK to pursue ambitious advancement in clea

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in response to Pixelle’s announcement today that it will permanently idle the third paper machine and will not rebuild the digester at the paper mill in Jay following the explosion earlier this year: