• Read more about Berry issues statement in response to Pine Tree Power bill veto

AUGUSTA - In response to Gov. Janet Mills vetoing LD 1708, a bill to create the Pine Tree Power Company sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, Berry has released the following statement:

"I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed in the veto. After winning bipartisan majority support in the committee, House and Senate, we had hoped the governor too would trust Maine voters to weigh in this fall. I want to thank all of the legislators in both chambers who supported LD 1708.

• Read more about First-in-the-nation recycling bill signed into law

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill to enhance municipal recycling programs and decrease property taxes into law Monday. The measure, LD 1541, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, establishes an extended producer responsibility program, known as "EPR for Packaging," for municipal recycling and waste disposal costs.

• Read more about McCreight safe marine flare disposal bill signed into law

AUGUSTA - A bill from Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, providing for the safe disposal of expired marine flares was signed into law Thursday.

• Read more about Bipartisan proposal to fund sustainable economic development program becomes law

AUGUSTA - A measure to create a municipal grant program to promote sustainable economic development, LD 857, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, became law last month.

• Read more about O'Neil bill to create Forest Advisory Board earns final approval from Legislature

AUGUSTA - A measure from Rep. Maggie O'Neil, D-Saco, to establish the Maine Forest Advisory Board earned final approval from the Legislature in the early hours of Friday morning.

• Read more about Williams bill to support local medical marijuana growers and caregivers becomes law

AUGUSTA - A measure introduced by Rep. Lynne Williams, D-Bar Harbor, that gives Maine's small medical marijuana growers and caregivers a greater say over any new rules generated by the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) became law Thursday.

• Read more about Moriarty measure to strengthen Mainers' privacy rights becomes law

AUGUSTA - A bill to strengthen Mainer's privacy rights, LD 1021, sponsored by Rep. Steve Moriarty, D-Cumberland, is now law.

The impetus for this bill came from concerns about stalking by drone or unmanned aerial vehicles. The Maine Criminal Codes statute governing privacy violations previously only prohibited audio recording in a private location, leaving an unintended loophole open for invasions of privacy by drone or other visual recording devices.

• Read more about Governor signs Blume bill to help Maine prepare for sea level rise

AUGUSTA -Gov. Janet Mills held a signing ceremony Wednesday for a bill sponsored by Rep. Lydia Blume, D-York, that will help the state prepare for the amount of sea level rise that is scientifically predicted to occur by the turn of the next century. Present at the signing were many of the scientists who helped develop and analyze the data used to prepare the bill.

• Read more about Doudera bill to reduce child access to loaded firearms becomes law

AUGUSTA - A bill to reduce child access to loaded firearms by enforcing the use of safe storage became law Thursday. LD 759, sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, states that a parent, foster parent, guardian or other person caring for a child, who acts with criminal negligence by storing or leaving a loaded firearm where a child under 16 years of age can gain access to and use the firearm, can be charged with having committed a Class D crime.

• Read more about Terry bill to support hunger relief efforts in Maine receives funding

AUGUSTA - A bill to create a funding mechanism to support hunger relief efforts in Maine sponsored by Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, received funding approval Thursday from the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.