AUGUSTA - Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, introduced legislation Thursday that would prohibit landlords from asking prospective tenants about their eviction history in an effort to reduce housing discrimination.
AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Transportation Committee voted unanimously of those present on Thursday to advance an amended version of LD 522, An Act to Require That Motor Vehicles Be Clear of Snow When Operated on Public Ways. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Bruce White, D-Waterville.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, presented LD 701, An Act to Increase the Notice Period for Rent Increases, before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The bill would increase the required notice for landlords to increase their tenants rents from 45 days to 90 days.
Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, was joined at the State House on Thursday by friend and North Yarmouth Congressional Church Choir Director David Myers-Wakeman, who performed the national anthem prior to the opening of the legislative session.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Graham], c. 305-965-2744
Left to right: David Myers and Rep. Anne Graham.
Reps. Karen Montell, D-Gardiner, Dan Shagoury, D-Hallowell, and Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea, and Senator Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, welcomed the Hall-Dale Middle School Girls Basketball Team to the State House on Thursday.
The team was recognized by the Maine House of Representatives for winning the 2023 Capital Area League Championship.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Montell, Shagoury], 305-965-2744Lisa Haberzettl [Hickman], 207-251-3548John Bott [Lemelin], 207-287-1440
AUGUSTA - On Wednesday, the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee heard from Casella Waste Systems and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the disposal of PFAS-contaminated biosolids, or "sludge," in Maine. Committee co-chairs Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, and Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, scheduled the briefing and called Casella and DEP to present to ENR, to get all parties around the table and find a path forward.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Sam Zager, D-Portland, has proposed bipartisan legislation to create a new pilot project that would improve fair access to housing by helping low-income individuals establish or improve credit.
LD 1107 would create a two-year pilot program at the Maine State Housing Authority to connect renters' favorable payment history to the databases of national credit agencies, such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, on a voluntary basis.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, was recognized this week as one of 20 Outstanding Women in 2023 for her work as the director of the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council and with Lincoln County Dental, a low-income dental program.
Coast 93.1 and Hannaford Supermarkets offer this recognition to women from around Maine who go above and beyond to improve their communities.
Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, was joined at the State House on Tuesday by constituent and former state representative, Deane Rykerson, who performed the national anthem on the cello prior to the opening of the legislative session.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Mathieson], c. 305-965-2744
Left to right: Rep. Kristi Mathieson and former state representative Deane Rykerson.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave initial approval Thursday to a proposal that would celebrate Maine's signature confection by creating Maine Needham Day. The measure was approved "under the hammer," or by unanimous consent.
LD 292, sponsored by Rep. Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco, would designate the last Saturday in September each year as Maine Needham Day.