AUGUSTA - A bill from Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford intended to grow affordable housing options in Maine will receive a public hearing before the Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee today at 10:00. The hearing will be streamed live on the Committee's Youtube channel.

AUGUSTA - In a tripartisan vote, the Legislature's Judiciary Committee advanced a bill on Wednesday from Rep. Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco, aimed at protecting the right to privacy by regulating corporate collection and use of biometric identifiers.

AUGUSTA - Today, Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford and members of the Legislative Council voted to make face masks optional in the State House in response to declining hospitalization rates and updated guidance from the Maine CDC. The vote was unanimous of members present. The new policy takes effect Monday, March 7.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voted unanimously, of those present, to support funding for the Maine Climate Corps, a program proposed in legislation sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, that gained committee support last year.

AUGUSTA - The City of Portland and City of South Portland have each expressed support for a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, aimed at improving housing availability and affordability in Maine.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business gave bipartisan approval to LD 1694, An Act To Create the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, establishes land banks in an effort to convert vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties into productive use. The committee voted 10-1, with two members absent, in support of the legislation.

AUGUSTA - Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, introduced a measure Tuesday that would provide the treatment, housing and support necessary to help Mainers struggling with mental health conditions and substance use disorders stay out of the criminal justice system and emergency rooms.

WELLS, SACO AND BRUNSWICK - Today, Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford hosted a tour and press conference to unveil a new bill to address Maine's affordable housing crisis. LD 2003 "An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions" was released this week and is expected to have a public hearing before Maines Labor and Housing Committee.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee voted unanimously, of those present, to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, that would ensure employees receive vacation pay upon cessation of their employment.

The legislation, LD 225, was amended to exempt public employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees. Currently, unused vacation time is required to be paid upon cessation of employment only if an employer's policy states this explicitly.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, presented LD 1899, An Act To Ensure Safe Entry and Access for People Seeking Health Care and Other Constitutional Rights, before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.