• Read more about Meyer presents measure to bolster direct care workforce by providing tuition vouchers

AUGUSTA - Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, presented a bill Tuesday to address Maine's essential care worker shortage by providing workers and their families with money for college.

LD 1718 creates the Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Program, which aims to attract and retain workers by providing tuition vouchers to one of the state's public universities or community colleges. The vouchers could be used by the worker or a member of their immediate family.

• Read more about Stover introduces legislation to temporarily restore SNAP benefits

AUGUSTA - Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, presented legislation Monday at a public hearing before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee that would temporarily provide more funding for Maine's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

• Read more about House advances measure to create a sales tax exemption for diapers

AUGUSTA - The Maine House unanimously voted Tuesday to advance LD 287, An Act to Support Parents by Providing a Sales Tax Exemption for Diapers. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Kelly Noonan Murphy, D-Scarborough.

The bill was amended in the House to include a sales tax exemption for adult diapers. Under the amended proposal, all diapers and diaper accessories, such as covers and pins, would receive the exemption.

• Read more about Stover introduces legislation to hold intoxicated drivers financially accountable for killing the parents of a minor

AUGUSTA - Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, presented LD 1512 Tuesday at a public hearing before the Judiciary Committee. This legislation, commonly known as "Bentley's Law," would require intoxicated drivers who kill the parent of a minor to pay a court-determined amount of restitution until the child is 18 years old.

• Read more about Committee advances Shaw bill to support outdoor experiential education programs

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted unanimously, of those present, Thursday to advance a measure from Rep. Kathy Shaw, D-Auburn, that would support Maine schools in establishing outdoor experiential education programs.

• Read more about House advances Doudera bill to strengthen the qualifications of evaluators in child custody cases

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, that would require expert witnesses in child custody cases to meet training standards and demonstrate knowledge of domestic abuse and child resilience, safety and security.

• Read more about Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics names Gramlich Legislator of the Year

AUGUSTA - The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics named Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, 2023 Legislator of the Year.

• Read more about Rielly introduces bill to better address sexual assault and harassment within Maine National Guard

AUGUSTA - Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, introduced LD 1783 before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Monday that would implement recommendations from the Governor's Advisory Council on Military Sexual Trauma and take additional steps to support survivors of sexual assault and harassment within the Maine National Guard.

• Read more about Hepler appointed to state advisory group monitoring toxic contamination in Maine's surface waters

AUGUSTA - Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, appointed Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich to serve on the Surface Water Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program (SWAT) as one of two legislators on the Technical Advisory Group.

• Read more about Montell supports efforts to raise awareness about dangers of distracted driving

AUGUSTA - Rep. Karen Montell, D-Gardiner, joined Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart and Pat Moody of AAA Northern New England last week to discuss the dangers of distracted driving.

Contact:

Brian Lee [Montell], c. 305-965-2744
Emily Cook [Bellows], c. 207-441-0405

Photo:Rep. Karen Montell speaks at a press conference on Thursday about the dangers of distracted driving.