AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted Wednesday to unanimously advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, aimed at better supporting individuals with traumatic brain injury.

LD 539 would expand the options available at Maine's neurorehabilitation clinics to include counseling for substance use disorder, making the services provided more comprehensive.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Ed Crockett, D-Portland, presented LD 974, An Act to Establish Minimum Pay for Educational Technicians and Other School Support Staff, before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on Thursday. The bill would increase pay for educational technicians up to 133% of the state minimum wage and for other school support staff up to 125% of the state minimum wage beginning on Oct. 1, 2023.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday in support of LD 1256, sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford. The bill would increase access to oral health care by expanding the Maine Dental Education Loan Program to include dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Housing voted unanimously, of those present, on Tuesday to advance LD 470 sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would appropriate $1 million for the Maine State Housing Authority's lead abatement program.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Housing Committee voted Tuesday to advance LD 1422, sponsored by Rep. Michael Brennan, which would establish a housing voucher program for students living with homelessness, administered by the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA).

AUGUSTA - Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, House leader of the Legislature's Gun Safety Caucus, has released a statement in response to the news that four people were shot to death in a Bowdoin home and three people were shot on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth on Tuesday morning.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Michael Brennan, D-Portland, introduced LD 1401 before the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, which would make directing abusive, profane, obscene or slanderous language at an official or participant of a sporting event a civil violation, resulting in a $100 fine.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, presented a measure Friday that would increase access to affordable housing in Maine. LD 226 would invest $200 million in affordable housing construction and programs over the next two years.

AUGUSTA - Today, Rep. Michael Brennan, D-Portland, introduced LD 599 before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, which would provide $1.2 million in ongoing funding to Elena's Way, a transitional housing program based in Portland that serves Mainers living with homelessness across the state.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee voted Friday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would change the Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Revolving Loan Program to a grant program and increase the maximum allowable distribution of funds to eligible immigrants from the current $700 to $1,000.