• Read more about Fay testifies before Congress on long-term care workforce issues

AUGUSTA - Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, testified before the U.S. Congress on long-term workforce issues Tuesday. In her testimony, Fay discussed the urgency of addressing this workforce shortage and outlined ways to improve the recruitment, retention, training and professional development of long-term care workers. She spoke during a joint subcommittee hearing with the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee and the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee.

• Read more about Governor signs Mathieson bill to update water district charter

AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, to repeal and replace the charter of the Kittery Water District was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills Monday. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the Legislature.

LD 1542 expands the district's corporate limits to include all of Kittery, Kittery Point, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and portions of Eliot and York, allowing residents of those areas to serve on the board and vote for board members.

• Read more about Legislature allocates funds to expand affordable housing, support workers

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature voted Monday to provide $50 million to the Maine State Housing Authority to expand affordable housing options, $20 million of which will require the developers to use project labor agreements(PLAs).

• Read more about Governor signs Fay bill to fund wildlife rehabilitators

AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, to provide funding for wildlife rehabilitators was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills Monday.

The bill, LD 1012, An Act To Provide Funding for the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Program, will fund grants including those that seek to fund organizations that provide professional care to sick, injured and orphaned wild animals so they can be returned to their natural habitats.

• Read more about Speaker Fecteau lauds Maine House for unprecedented session

AUGUSTA - On Monday, the Legislature completed voting on over 1700 bills. These bills have now had public hearings, work sessions, and votes in the House and Senate since December 2020. The Legislature completed allocating $983 million in federal relief funds before adjourning.

House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford released the following statement:

• Read more about Delivering results for the people of Maine

The last 16 months have been a whirlwind. The pandemic has taken over 880 lives in Maine, caused thousands of layoffs and brought immeasurable instability and uncertainty into our lives. It was a legislative session like no other, and while COVID-19 brought to light the cracks in our systems, it also brought about widespread, bipartisan agreement that big problems can't be solved with piecemeal solutions. In both D.C.

• Read more about Legislature advances program to provide family caregivers with $2,000 tax credit payments

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature voted Monday to fund the Family Caregiver Pilot Program, a program that will provide $2,000 tax credit payments to eligible Mainers who care for older family members or family members with disabilities. The funding measure was included in LD 1733, the bill to allocate the federal relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

• Read more about McDonald bill decriminalizing hypodermic syringes signed into law

AUGUSTA - A bill by Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, that decriminalizes the possession of hypodermic syringes, was signed into law last week. The measure, which received unanimous support in the Legislature, will improve public health and ensure more Mainers affected by drug use and substance use disorder can access sterile supplies, support services and treatment. This will prevent the spread of dangerous infections from used syringes, reduce overdose deaths and divert people away from the criminal justice system.

• Read more about McDonald bill strengthening investigations of child sexual abuse signed into law

AUGUSTA - A bill by Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, that gives law enforcement additional tools to combat child sex trafficking has been signed into law last week.

LD 1486 changes the Maine Criminal Code to specify that a person who attempts to patronize prostitution of a minor still commits the crime even when the person they attempt to patronize is posing as a minor for the purpose of a law enforcement investigation. It also upgrades the crime of patronizing underage prostitution from a Class D crime to a Class C crime.

• Read more about Budget committee votes on once-in-a-lifetime investment in working Maine families, businesses and communities

AUGUSTA - On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted on a once-in-a-lifetime investment in Maine children, workers, families, businesses and communities, using unallocated federal funds directed to Maine through the American Rescue Plan Act. The vote was 8-4.