AUGUSTA – On Thursday, Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, introduced a bill that would strengthen working waterfronts against aquaculture nuisance complaints. Additionally, four working waterfront measures sponsored by Rielly underwent work sessions and were advanced by their respective committees. 

LD 1595 would provide the same protections to the aquaculture sector that commercial fishermen have under current Maine statute regarding nuisance complaints. 

AUGUSTA – On May 1, the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future announced that the towns of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport have been selected as recipients of  Community Action Grant awards from the Community Resilience Partnership. 

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, May 8, the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee unanimously voted to support a bill sponsored by Rep. Holly Eaton, D-Deer Isle, to create a pilot program for the testing of biotoxins in cultured scallops. 

AUGUSTA – The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously advanced two bills with bipartisan support on Wednesday sponsored by Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, that would allow for the establishment of quasi-municipal entities to take over two local dams that are in the process of being abandoned, which will preserve Toddy Pond and Alamoosook Lake.  

AUGUSTA – Today, Rep.

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, a measure sponsored by Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, that would provide more transparency for Maine consumers interacting with online chatbots, utilizing artificial intelligence, was unanimously passed out of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. 

AUGUSTA – On May 1, the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future announced that the Town of Gorham has been selected as a recipient of a Community Action Grant award from the Community Resilience Partnership.

Gorham will receive an award of $56,077 to retrofit municipal buildings with LED lighting, which will improve energy efficiency and save local taxpayers money by lowering long-term costs. 

AUGUSTA – A bill sponsored by Rep. Sue Salisbury, D-Westbrook, which would expand patient confidentiality to emergency responders engaging in critical incident stress management peer support groups, received unanimous support from the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on May 1.

AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Labor Committee voted to advance a measure sponsored by Rep. Kilton Webb, D-Durham, that would strengthen Maine's pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. The committee vote was 5-2, of those present.  

AUGUSTA – On May 1, the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future announced that several communities in House District 15 have been selected as recipients of Community Action Grant awards from the Community Resilience Partnership.

Southwest Harbor will receive an award of $74,500 to be used for emergency preparedness, access to public EV charging stations and community resilience.