• Read more about Roberts introduces legislation to license residential contractors

AUGUSTA - Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, introduced legislation Tuesday before the Legislature's Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee that would protect Maine consumers by licensing residential contractors.

Maine already licenses plumbers, electricians, engineers, code enforcement officers and more but residential contractors have no licensing requirements.

• Read more about Salisbury speaks at ceremony honoring Maine Emergency Medical Services

On Thursday, Rep. Sue Salisbury, D-Westbrook, spoke at the annual Maine Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week Celebration and Remembrance Ceremony about her commitment to supporting Maine EMS and the essential services they provide to communities across the state.

Salisbury is the House chair of the Legislature's Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. In 2022, she served on the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Emergency Medical Services in the State.

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• Read more about Rielly introduces bill to provide financial relief to Maine's volunteer service members

AUGUSTA - Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, introduced legislation on Wednesday before the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Taxation to provide financial relief to volunteer service members.

LD 1573 would allow for the education awards received by members of AmeriCorps, the Maine Service Fellows and the Maine Climate Corps, which can be used to repay eligible student loans, to be tax exempt.

• Read more about Maine House advances Perry bill to give nursing homes flexibility in managing bed capacity

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, that would allow nursing homes more flexibility in managing occupancy at their facilities.

As amended, LD 938 would restore the ability for nursing homes to voluntarily reduce their number of licensed beds and then later increase the number of those beds to the prior level after obtaining state approval.

• Read more about Legislature enacts Mastraccio bill to improve access to oral health care

AUGUSTA - This week, the Legislature voted to enact LD 1256, a measure sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, which would increase access to oral health care by expanding the Maine Dental Education Loan Program.

• Read more about Committee advances Cloutier bill to provide menstrual products in public schools

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee advanced legislation on Monday sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would require public schools serving sixth through 12th grades to provide menstrual products to students in school bathrooms.

• Read more about Graham accepted to the NCSL Child Welfare Fellows Academy

AUGUSTA - Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, has been accepted into the National Conference of State Legislature's (NCSL) Child Welfare Fellows Academy for the June 2023 session.

The program provides legislators and legislative staff a rare opportunity to focus intensively on the prevention of child maltreatment in state child welfare systems. Fellows will engage in thoughtful policy discussions, learn from nationally recognized experts, connect with peers from other states and receive technical assistance from NCSL.

• Read more about Committee advances Lookner bill to ensure megayacht owners pay fair share

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Transportation advanced legislation sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland, that would require any vessel that meets the definition of megayacht to pay an impact fee of $10 per foot of length over 150 feet each day, up to 30 consecutive days, when docking in Maine. The funds generated will be invested into Maine's working waterfront and historic coastal communities.

• Read more about House advances Roeder bill to protect workers from employer surveillance

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, that would prohibit employer surveillance, unless the surveillance is strictly necessary for employee health and safety or necessary for security.

• Read more about House advances Sayre bill to study the role of water in the state

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Dan Sayre, D-Kennebunk, that would study water as a resource in Maine.