AUGUSTA - Members of the Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval Thursday to LD 1626, legislation to uphold the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations, in a vote of 81-55. Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature voted on Tuesday to enact LD 2006, a measure from Rep. Raegan LaRochelle, D-Augusta, that would help eligible households better access available heating assistance from Maine State Housing Authority's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law LD 1776, a proposal to help Mainers more easily access emergency medications for their chronic health conditions, sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor.

The new law allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication used to treat long-term conditions without a current, valid prescription from a health care provider so long as:

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law LD 225, a bill that requires employees to receive their accrued vacation pay upon cessation of their employment, sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives advanced a bill Tuesday to create the Maine Generation Authority (MGA), sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth.

AUGUSTA - A bill to support maritime education LD 1389, sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, was recently signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature unanimously gave initial approval to a bill on Tuesday that would study and recommend improvements to the state's early college programs. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate gave overwhelming bipartisan support this week to a bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would establish the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority. In a vote of 117-16, the House gave initial approval to LD 1694 Monday, and the Senate passed it unanimously Tuesday.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted overwhelmingly Monday to advance a measure to identify ways lawmakers can support Maine's emergency medical services. The vote was 114-18.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature voted on Monday to enact LD 1984, a measure from Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, that would authorize the director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands to renew a lease for land in the Aroostook State Park to the Federal Aviation Administration.