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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, introduced legislation Monday before the Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee that would support Maines law enforcement officers, corrections officers, E-9-1-1 dispatchers, firefighters and emergency medical services providers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).