By Rep. Kristi Mathieson
As a member of the Maine House of Representatives serving my third term, I am deeply honored to be the voice of the people of Kittery in Augusta. I’ve lived here for over 20 years and raised my family here, and I know our community represents the best of Maine.
This is the first column of my new regular series where I’ll share State House updates, bill information and helpful resources for constituents.
Two key bills I’ve sponsored this session are LD 82, which would support first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and LD 874, which would aid essential state and federal workers who are furloughed in the event of a government shutdown.
LD 82 would make permanent a temporary law that allows first responders to receive workers’ compensation for work-related PTSD. Emergency personnel like firefighters may face multiple separate traumatic events in just one call—matching what the average civilian might experience in a lifetime in only a single shift. Police officers face similar daily trauma. With many first responders serving for 20+ years, this can lead to a significant accumulation of traumatic experiences.
We heard from many brave first responders that these programs have made it possible for them to seek treatment, increase peer-to-peer counseling groups and create better awareness and acceptance of PTSD in a community that sometimes has a hard time admitting weakness or asking for help. This important, bipartisan bill will continue to support a proven program benefiting law enforcement, corrections officers, dispatchers, firefighters and EMS personnel. By enabling early treatment, we can improve first responders' lives and reduce costly long-term absences.
LD 874 would help Maine’s state and federal workers who are furloughed or have to work without pay during government shutdowns. These essential employees are often the backbone supporting key infrastructure that our state relies on to maintain the safety and security of Mainers.
The bill would create a loan guarantee program offering interest-free loans up to $6,000 to help cover lost income during shutdowns lasting more than seven days. Workers can receive up to three individual loans per shutdown, with repayment delayed until the shutdown ends or 90 days later, and no interest charged for 180 days after that.
State and federal employees in Maine are vital to essential services—from maintaining public safety, transportation and education, to national defense and border security. Yet during government shutdowns, they may be forced to temporarily stop working or to work without pay, making it hard to afford basics like heat, food, and utility bills. These workers aren’t responsible for the shutdowns—they’re dedicated professionals who keep our state running. When their pay stops, their bills don’t. We can and should ensure they can stay afloat without going into debt.
LD 82 and LD 874 have both received unanimous, bipartisan approval in their respective committees, and initial support in both the House and Senate, but face further votes in each chamber in the coming weeks. LD 874 will head to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee to await a decision on potential funding.
As these bills move through the legislative process and we begin to wrap up this legislative session, I look forward to hearing your feedback. Please feel free to contact me via email at Kristi.Mathieson@legislature.maine.gov or by phone at (603) 969-7496 with questions and concerns, or if you need assistance navigating state services. I can best represent our community by hearing your thoughts on legislation and issues both in our district and across the state.
Mathieson is serving her third term in the Maine House representing Kittery and is House chair of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.