• Read more about Child care workforce bill sponsored by Speaker Fecteau passes with unanimous bipartisan support

AUGUSTA - Today, the Maine Legislature approved a bill to recruit and retain Maine's child care workforce from Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford by a unanimous vote, 130-0.

The bill, LD 1652 "An Act to Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce" is aimed at addressing Maines child care workforce crisis and putting the sector on a path to long-term growth and stability.

• Read more about Brewer resident opens House session

Brewer resident opens House session

Rep. Kevin O'Connell, D-Brewer, welcomes local resident Lou Tardiff to the State House Thursday to open the legislative session with his poem, "The Bean Hole Bean."

Contact:

Jackie Merrill [OConnell], c. 812-1111

• Read more about House advances proposal to expand sales tax exemption for nonprofit housing developers

AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted on Tuesday to give initial approval to a measure sponsored by Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, that would expand the current sales tax exemption for nonprofit housing developers.

LD 1732 would amend the exemption to allow nonprofit developers to serve households with incomes up to 120% of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an increase from the current threshold of 80%.

• Read more about Legislature advances proposal to support maritime education in Maine

AUGUSTA - The Maine House and Senate gave unanimous approval this week to a bill, LD 1389, sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, that would strengthen maritime education in Maine by restructuring the funding and supervision model of the Maine Ocean School (MOS) in Searsport.

• Read more about House advances Roeder emergency medicine supply bill

AUGUSTA - The Maine House advanced a proposal sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, Tuesday that would help Mainers more easily access emergency supplies of chronic maintenance medications.

• Read more about House votes to advance bill to raise wages for intensive case managers

AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted on Tuesday to advance a bill from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, to increase wages for intensive case managers (ICMs) within the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Read more about House advances bill to establish workload limits for caseworkers

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval on Tuesday to a bill sponsored by Rep. Colleen Madigan, D- Waterville, that would institute workload limits for child protective services caseworkers.

LD 1825 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that caseworkers within the Office of Child and Family Services are not working more than 60 hours over seven consecutive days or 70 hours over eight consecutive days.

• Read more about House advances proposal to protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection

AUGUSTA - In a bipartisan 90-47 vote, the Maine House advanced a proposal on Tuesday from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection.

• Read more about House advances bill to prevent power line electrocutions

AUGUSTA - In a strong bipartisan vote, the Maine House advanced a proposal on Tuesday from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would limit liability exemptions for electric utilities when their negligence of overhead high-voltage lines contributes to personal injury or damage to facilities. The vote was 101-33.

• Read more about House advances Lookner bill to define solitary confinement

AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave initial approval Tuesday to a proposal sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland, to define solitary confinement as a means of better understanding its use in Maine's correctional facilities. The proposal was advanced by a vote of 78-58.