AUGUSTA - Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, presented LD 691, An Act to Reduce Barriers to Housing by Prohibiting Tenant Application Fees, before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, introduced legislation Thursday before the Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee that would prohibit an employer from requiring or permitting a veterinarian to enter into a noncompete agreement, unless they have an ownership interest in the practice. The bill would also prohibit a court from enforcing a noncompete agreement that was signed prior to the date the bill would become law.

AUGUSTA - For decades, natural resources have been vital to Maine's economy and identity. To protect the state's natural resources and the industries and communities that rely on them, House Democrats have recently introduced several pieces of legislation that foster rural economic development opportunities, expand access to agricultural education in public schools and support our heritage industries.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Jan Dodge, D-Belfast, introduced legislation Wednesday to require school administrative units to provide a 30-minute lunch period for Maine students.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, introduced legislation Tuesday to require that pay ranges be included in job postings.

LD 936 would require an employer with 10 or more employees to include the pay range that will be offered to a successful applicant for an open position. For employers with fewer than 10 employees, they must disclose, on request, the salary range that will be offered to a successful applicant.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, introduced legislation Tuesday that would require health care facilities to collect patient data related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Sexual orientation and gender identity are fundamental parts of who we are, and sharing this information in health care settings helps build trust with providers," said Rana. "When providers are trusted, their services are utilized and more people get the care they need."

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted unanimously to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, that would expand the language of working waterfront covenants to include nonprofit corporations and charitable trusts that are authorized to hold conservation easements.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted Wednesday to advance a measure by Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that will strengthen efforts to restore sand dunes on Maine beaches. The vote was unanimous among those present.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, introduced legislation Tuesday that would expand Maine's health care workforce by studying ways to integrate foreign-trained physicians into Maine's health care system.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, introduced LD 807, An Act to Create the Small Communities Tourism Fund, before the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business on Tuesday. The measure would establish a fund within the Department of Economic and Community Development's Office of Tourism that would offer grants to small communities seeking to develop and promote events and natural resource-based tourism opportunities.