Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, and fellow lawmakers welcomed Anna Carpenter of Camden and her parents to the State House Thursday. Carpenter was awarded the 2023 Legislative Memorial Scholarship for Knox County.

Contact:

Brian Lee [Doudera, Rielly], c. 305-965-2744
John Bott [Javner], 207-287-2919

Front, left to right: Rep. Vicki Doudera, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, Anna Carpenter, Judith Carpenter and Jack Carpenter.

AUGUSTA - A majority of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted on Wednesday to move forward LD 701, An Act to Increase the Notice Period for Rent Increases. The vote was 9-3 in favor with two members absent. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee voted unanimously, of those present, on Wednesday to advance legislation that would expand Maine's health care workforce, sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Sue Salisbury, D-Westbrook, introduced legislation Wednesday before the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee that would establish a fund to support the purchase of badly needed school kitchen and cafeteria equipment.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted unanimously last week to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, that would require expert witnesses in child custody cases to have a certain level of training in domestic abuse and child resilience, safety and security.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Daniel J. Hobbs, D-Wells, that would direct the Maine Community College System to study providing more housing on its campuses.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to advance two pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, that would improve Maine's behavioral health programs for survivors and implement proactive steps to prevent sexual violence and exploitation.

The first measure would provide funding for Maine's sexual assault support centers, and the second measure would prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

AUGUSTA - At a public hearing Wednesday, conservation advocates and wildlife scientists urged the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee to advance a measure from Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that would protect endangered and threatened species from habitat loss.

AUGUSTA - Maine's population is aging, and the state's labor force participation rate has been shrinking. While businesses are struggling to find employees, Mainers are also struggling to pay for housing, groceries and child care all necessities that help keep workers in the labor market. House Democrats are committed to supporting our local industries and empowering a workforce that represents Maine today.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, rallied support from local leaders Tuesday at a public hearing on his legislation to develop a long-range plan for replacing aging infrastructure on the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, commonly known as Brunswick Landing.