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.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature enacted legislation Monday sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, that would increase financial support for apprenticeships in Maine. As amended, LD 177 would allocate $200,000 to reimburse training programs within the Maine State Apprenticeship Program and provide an additional $200,000 for pre-apprenticeship programs.
AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill to advance efforts to control invasive aquatic species. LD 1826, sponsored by Rep. Tavis Hasenfus, D-Readfield, requires the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species to report back to the Legislature and relevant departments their findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation related to controlling the introduction of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species in Maine.
AUGUSTA - A bill to support Maine's ecological reserve system, LD 736, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, was recently signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Association of Community Service Providers (MACSP) has awarded Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, with the Legislative Champion Award for 2021.
AUGUSTA - Sen. David Miramant, D-Camden, Rep. Valli Geiger, D-Rockland, and Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos, I-Friendship, welcomed the Oceanside High School government class to the State House Thursday.
"It was a pleasure to meet with the class," said Miramant. "The questions were very insightful and the visit allowed time for a great conversation about the legislative process and the issues facing Maine people. It was a wonderful start to my day and I wish each day began like this."
AUGUSTA - Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, says that one of the most enjoyable parts of her job is recognizing constituents for worthy achievements. In that spirit, she invited the Camden Hills Regional High School girls' swim team, the Class A state champions, and Victor Clayton, a Camden-Rockport Middle School student and winner of the Maine Scholastic Individual K-5 Chess Championship, to the Maine State House in recognition of their achievements.
AUGUSTA - In a bipartisan vote, the Maine House advanced a bill on Thursday sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would restrict future utility ownership by foreign governments.
LD 697 as amended would require the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deny any future purchase of a Maine utility by a foreign entity if it risks losses to reliability, customer privacy and safety, regulatory capacity or the state economy.