AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance a bill from Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in Maine. The vote was 7-4.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, introduced a bill to create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, also known as a "green bank," before the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Wednesday.
AUGUSTA- Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, presented LD 1656, An Act To Promote Energy-efficient Affordable Housing, before the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing on Monday.
AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, to authorize a local option sales tax on prepared food and lodging and provide funding to the Maine State Housing Authority was advanced by the Taxation Committee on Tuesday.
AUGUSTA - Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford presented a bill to support Maine's child care workforce before the Committee On Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business on Tuesday. The bill, LD 1652 "An Act to Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce" is aimed at addressing Maines child care workforce crisis.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, introduced legislation to support and improve municipal recycling programs before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday.
LD 1541 establishes an extended producer responsibility program, also known as an "EPR for Packaging" program, to be operated by a stewardship organization contracted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
AUGUSTA -The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave unanimous approval Monday to a bill to provide state funding to Maine's Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) that rewards firefighters and EMS personnel for service to their communities with contributions to a retirement program. The vote on LD 1316 came immediately following the bill's public hearing earlier the same day.
AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business unanimously passed LD 1551, An Act To Ban the Sale of Cosmetics That Have Been Tested on Animals, on Thursday.
AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee voted to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, on Friday that would update the classification of service employees in order to address issues of wage theft.
AUGUSTA - A bill from Rep. Ann Matlack, D-St. George, to provide additional support to municipalities and regional shellfish management organizations was signed into law on Wednesday by Gov. Janet Mills.
LD 454, as amended, raises shellfish depuration fees. This would be the first increase in the fee in 24 years.
