AUGUSTA - Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, wraps up the first half of the 130th Legislature having passed eight bills into law. Among them are efforts to prohibit the use of dangerous pesticides, restrict child access to firearms and ban the sale of cosmetics that are tested on animals.
"It's very satisfying to know that many of the bills I have worked hard to advance in my first and second terms have now become law," said Doudera. "Protecting our children and the environment, promoting equity and helping Mainers better do their jobs are not just abstract concepts to me they are areas where those of us in public service can really make a difference. Many of these bills started with constituent suggestions, so I hope you'll continue reaching out with ideas and concerns, because Im here to listen."
A full list of successful legislation sponsored by Doudera includes:
LD 256, An Act To Adjust Sewer and Wastewater Lien Fees, was submitted at the request of Rockport's town manager. Many Maine towns must manually process liens, a resource-intensive operation that has not kept pace with rising inflation. LD 256 increases the flat fee in the sewer and wastewater lien statutes, which helps offset costs for taxpayers.
LD 316, An Act To Prohibit the Use of Chlorpyrifos, prohibits the use of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide that is dangerous to the environment, human health and food systems beginning in 2022, allowing limited exemptions for one year to assist in the gradual phasing out of the pesticide.
LD 759, An Act To Amend the Child Endangerment Laws To Include Certain Unauthorized Access to a Loaded Firearm, alters the Maine Criminal Code to specify that, if a firearm is stored, accessed and used by a child under 16, the owner of the firearm is considered to have endangered the welfare of a child.
LD 790, An Act Clarifying Patient Consent for Certain Medical Examinations, further defines that written consent is required for unconscious patients prior to a medical examination.
LD 1399, An Act To Continue Temporary Modification of Certain In-person Notarization and Acknowledgement Requirements and Developing Permanent Implementation of Remote and Online Notarization, authorizes remote notarization with appropriate safeguards during state of emergencies declared by Maine's acting governor.
LD 1522, An Act To Update and Eliminate References in Statute to Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor, removes and replaces antiquated terminology from Maines laws with gender-neutral language.
LD 1551, An Act To Ban the Sale of Cosmetics That Have Been Tested on Animals, holds manufacturers accountable and prohibits the sale of animal-tested cosmetic products in Maine.
LD 1682, An Act To Require Consideration of Climate Impacts by the Public Utilities Commission and To Incorporate Equity Considerations in Decision Making by State Agencies, develops methods of incorporating equity considerations at the Department of Environmental Protection and the Public Utilities Commission, further defines equity terms and requires the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to submit a report to the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology with additional equity-related recommendations.
Doudera, a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives. She chairs the Legislatures Gun Safety Caucus and serves the towns of Camden, Islesboro and Rockport.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Doudera], c. 812-1111