• Read more about Committee advances bill to limit liability exemptions for electric utilities

AUGUSTA - In a bipartisan vote, the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced a bill from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, to limit liability exemptions for electric utilities like Central Maine Power (CMP) when their negligence of overhead high-voltage lines contributes to personal injury or damage to facilities. Most other businesses, including gas utilities, do not currently share the same exemption regarding their infrastructure.

• Read more about Talbot Ross introduces measure to restructure tobacco settlement fund, improve public health

AUGUSTA - A proposal by Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, aims to preserve Maine's tobacco settlement funds, combat tobacco use and take steps to promote equity in public health. The bill was introduced before the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.

• Read more about Committee unanimously approves Grohoski ecological reserve bill

AUGUSTA - The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted unanimously, of those present, to advance a bill to support Maine's ecological reserve system, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, on Tuesday.

• Read more about Lawmakers advance bill to address browntail moth

AUGUSTA - Members of the Legislature's Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Conversation voted unanimously on Tuesday in support of a proposal by Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, that would help communities reduce their browntail moth populations.

• Read more about Gere introduces bill to expand sales tax exemption for nonprofit housing developers

AUGUSTA - Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, presented LD 1732, An Act To Amend the Sales Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Housing Development Organizations, before the Legislature's Taxation Committee on Tuesday. The bill would expand the exemption to allow nonprofit developers to serve households with incomes up to 120% of the area median income, an increase from the current threshold of 80%, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• Read more about Committee approves Zeigler bill to address "forever chemicals" entering Penobscot River

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously on Monday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, that would address per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) pollution at Juniper Ridge, a landfill owned by the State of Maine.

• Read more about Lawmakers advance Gramlich proposal to increase behavioral health support for first responders

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted Monday to advance a proposal by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, to increase behavioral health support for Maines first responders. The vote was 6-5 with two members absent.

• Read more about Energy Committee advances Berry's bill to protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection

AUGUSTA - In a 10-2 vote, a bipartisan majority of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted last week to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection.

• Read more about Williams introduces bill to clarify rulemaking parameters for the Office of Marijuana Policy

AUGUSTA - Rep. Lynne Williams, D-Bar Harbor, presented LD 1928, An Act To Update and Clarify the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act and Provide for Greater Transparency, before the Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Monday.

The bill would clarify new rulemaking parameters for the Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) and define the role of the Legislature in the rulemaking process.

• Read more about Legislative committee advances Kessler bill to increase housing availability and affordability through vacancy impact fee

AUGUSTA - A legislative committee voted on Thursday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, aimed at improving housing availability and affordability.