AUGUSTA - A measure to ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals, LD 1551, sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, was signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills. The measure states that a manufacturer may not sell or offer to sell a cosmetic product that was developed or manufactured using animal testing on or after November 1, 2021.

AUGUSTA - A measure to ban the use of chlorpyrifos, LD 316, sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, was signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills.

AUGUSTA - In initial votes, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, to improve the pay of long-term care workers was unanimously supported by both the Maine House and Senate on Monday.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature unanimously advanced a bipartisan measure Monday sponsored by Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham, to codify a longstanding Windham tradition of the town providing winter maintenance of designated private ways. The measure was co-sponsored by Rep. Patrick Corey, R-Windham, and Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature gave unanimous approval last week to a measure from Rep. Dave McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, that would require municipalities to legally recognize tiny homes as a primary dwelling.

AUGUSTA - On Monday, the Senate approved a bill from Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, and Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, to update and improve Maine's unemployment insurance system. An amended version of LD 1564, "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Unemployment Compensation," received bipartisan support in a vote of 22-12.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House passed a bill Monday from Rep. Ben Collings, D-Portland, that sets a statewide minimum wage for school support staff. The final House action came after initial 73-71 and 20-14 votes in the House and Senate, respectively.

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.