AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted to advance LD 1162 Tuesday, sponsored by Rep. Michael Brennan, D-Portland, which would provide funding to help towns meet their ash tree conservation needs and create a permanent entomologist position to provide statewide technical and educational assistance.
Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, and Rep. Steve Moriarty, D-Cumberland, welcomed the Greely High School Madrigals and director Sarah Hanson Bailey to the State House on Tuesday. The group performed the national anthem in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the start of the day's session.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Graham, Moriarty], 305-965-2744
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics named Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, 2023 Legislator of the Year.
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.