AUGUSTA - On Friday, Gov. Janet Mills unveiled her budget change package, which proposes to create a new fund to support the purchase of mobile home parks by their residents.
AUGUSTA - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, that would increase funding for homeless shelters in Maine, received unanimous approval from the Maine Legislature on Thursday.
The bill would allocate $10 million for ongoing funding for all shelters across the state and an additional $2.5 million for ongoing funding to increase the nightly rate the state pays to low-barrier shelters.
Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, and fellow lawmakers welcomed Natalie Emmerson of Woolwich and her family to the State House on Wednesday. Emmerson was awarded the 2024 Legislative Memorial Scholarship for Sagadahoc County.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Hepler], c. 305-965-2744
Front, left to right: Tamas Weisz, Bianca Hare, Rep. Allison Hepler, Natalie Emmerson, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, and Dean Emmerson.
AUGUSTA - Anna Carpenter of Camden was recently awarded the 2024 Legislative Memorial Scholarship for Knox County. The scholarship annually recognizes one student from each county attending a Maine college or technical school and is awarded based on excellence, contributions to the community and more.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval on Thursday to LD 1779, sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland. The bill would give law enforcement the option to refer youth who are believed to have committed a low-level juvenile crime to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for a needs assessment.
Children in foster care are some of Maine's most vulnerable. As of October 2023, approximately 2,500 of Maine's children remain in state custody, many of whom are living with significant developmental, emotional and medical needs.
In our two House districts alone, multiple foster children have been deprived of survivors benefits that could make a profound difference in the quality and trajectory of their lives. Ultimately, under state law, these young people are made to pay for their own care using the benefits due to them as the children of deceased parents.
AUGUSTA - Today, Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, welcomed Sgt. Colleen Adams of Sanford and her colleagues to the State House. Sgt. Adams was named Maine's winner for the USA Today's 2024 Women of the Year list, an honor given to women who make a difference in their communities every day in every state.
We are just weeks away from the Legislature adjourning for the year, but there is still much work to be done. I anticipate my next update to you will highlight much of the good work that was accomplished this year. For now, I'd like to focus on two important, timely matters for Islesboro.
President Biden has approved the State of Maine's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help eight counties, including Waldo and Knox, recover from the January storms that caused severe flooding and devastated coastal communities.
AUGUSTA - Legislation from the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs that would provide ongoing funding for two military sexual trauma liaisons at community-based organizations received initial approval in the Maine House on Thursday.
AUGUSTA - On March 12, the Maine Department of Transportation held a public hearing on a proposed rule that would result in an increase in some ferry ticket prices for all routes operated by the Maine State Ferry Service, including service to Islesboro, Swans Island, Frenchboro, North Haven, Vinalhaven and Matinicus.