AUGUSTA - A bill to terminate the Maine Information and Analysis Center Program (MIAC), LD 1278, sponsored by Rep. Charlotte Warren, D-Hallowell, advanced in the Maine House of Representatives Monday. The vote was 88-54.
AUGUSTA - A measure by Rep. Jan Dodge, D-Belfast, to require telephone utilities to provide details of services designed to reduce the volume of calls received from automated telephone calling devices, also known as spam calls or robocalls, was signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills.
AUGUSTA - A bill to study strategies to help working families achieve long-term economic security, LD 1005, was approved by the Maine Legislature this week. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, creates a commission to study strategies that will help families establish financial success, including baby bonds, a savings program initiated at birth.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday to advance a proposal from Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, to amend the rules of the board of trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, giving the board greater authority over the development of disciplinary standards.
AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Jan Dodge, D-Belfast, to ensure that public workers pay the same income tax as other retirees, received unanimous support from the Maine House of Representatives Wednesday.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature approved a measure Thursday sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, that would improve the air quality and ventilation in Maine's public schools.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted this week to advance a proposal from Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, which, as amended, directs the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to study the impacts of ending at-will employment in Maine.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature voted this week to advance a proposal from Rep. Poppy Arford, D-Brunswick, to provide much-needed funding for capital projects at Maine's emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
"When Mainers are facing homelessness, 24-hour shelters are crucial to keeping them safe and helping them access the services they need to secure stable housing. But our shelters, like Tedford Housing, are struggling to meet the need," said Arford. "This bill is needed to increase capacity for emergency shelter in our state."
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Thursday to advance a measure sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, to protect Maine children from death and injury from loaded firearms. The measure, LD 759, would amend the child endangerment laws to include unauthorized access to firearms. The vote was 77-67.
AUGUSTA - A proposal by Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, to provide stable housing and community services to Mainers experiencing chronic homelessness was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday.
"This proposal is about breaking the cycle of homelessness and crisis among those who are most frequently utilizing expensive emergency services. The way to accomplish this is to create a supportive housing framework that provides stability and increases access to services," said Morales, who leads a working group of lawmakers focused on housing policy.
