AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature gave initial approval this week to a bill from Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, that would increase voter access to the ballot and provide clearer guidance to municipal officials overseeing elections. The vote in the House was 79-58, and the vote in the Senate was 22-12.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature unanimously voted Wednesday to pass a measure sponsored by Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, that would require certain schools to provide free menstrual products to students.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave unanimous final approval Wednesday to legislation from Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, that would create better, more accessible measurements of economic and social progress.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Lydia Blume, D- York, joined state legislators from 18 states Monday to form the Coastal Working Group. This group will allow state legislators to share ocean-based solutions to the climate crisis and policies to protect coastal communities.

"As our country's coastal communities start to react to and plan for the impacts of climate change, state legislatures need to act to protect our communities without hurting our all-important coastal environments," said Blume.

AUGUSTA - A proposal by Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, to create a state-level rental assistance program earned initial approval Wednesday in the Maine House. The vote was 82-61.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature gave unanimous initial approval Tuesday to a measure from Rep. Art Bell, D-Yarmouth, that would help determine the untapped potential of dormant rail corridors across the state.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted Tuesday to advance a measure by Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, that would incorporate African American studies into Maine's statewide learning standards. As amended, the bill includes proposals introduced by Sen. Louie Luchini, D-Ellsworth, to also require the study of genocide and the Holocaust. The vote was 106-38.

AUGUSTA - A bill to strengthen lead testing in school drinking water received unanimous support Monday from the Maine House of Representatives.

LD 206 amends state rules to decrease the standard for lead in school drinking water from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 4 ppb and requires schools to share results with the public within five days.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature gave initial approval Tuesday to legislation from Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, that would plan for a new state-level position to help address incidents of bias, discrimination and harassment in Maine's public schools. The House vote was 81-62, and the Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval Monday to a measure sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, to include more career and technical education (CTE) teachers in the minimum $40,000 salary initiative.