AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on a bill Monday to make sure Maine has the knowledge it needs to protect the health of its marine environment. The bill puts Maine one step closer to resuming regular mapping of eelgrass beds along the coast.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted to approve the supplemental budget after reaching a compromise early in the morning on Friday. The motion exceeded the required 101 votes to reach a two-thirds majority, receiving 139 votes. Following the vote in the House, the measure was finally enacted by the Senate.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted today on a supplemental budget that included tax relief for 100% of Maine businesses who received a Paycheck Protection Program loan. House Republicans rejected the majority proposal and blocked passage of the bill. The vote was 83-63.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted Thursday to advance a measure by Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, that would give lawmakers a new tool to combat racial disparities in Maine.
The measure was approved "under the hammer," or by unanimous consent.
Berry releases statement on CMP worker bonus disparities
AUGUSTA - Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, House chair of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, issued the following statement in response to Central Maine Powers decision regarding frontline worker bonuses:
"CMP workers are the ones working on the front lines during Maines frequent outages. To give them only a fraction of the bonuses paid to management is just one more reminder of all thats wrong with distant, for-profit ownership of our electrical grid.
AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing voted on Monday to advance LD 213, a bill sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millet, D - Cape Elizabeth, that would provide greater equity in firefighters' access to health care coverage for reproductive system cancer.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, and Sep. Chip Curry, D-Belfast have been working with representatives from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to address confusion around the Maine Ocean School's funding structure. In a meeting Cuddy and Curry organized with DOE representatives on Feb. 17, they were able to clarify the statute and secure more funding for the Maine Ocean School.
AUGUSTA - Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, introduced a bill on Monday to provide personalized and proactive support to military members transitioning to civilian life in Maine.
AUGUSTA - Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford have announced that the Maine Legislature will convene Wednesday, March 10 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Senate proceedings will begin at 10:00 a.m.; the House proceedings will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The agenda items are still being finalized as Legislative Committees continue to vote out bills. However, lawmakers are expected to take up the supplemental budget proposal.
AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee approved a supplemental budget that supports Maine workers and small businesses on Thursday. The vote was 8-5. The bill gives Maine businesses and unemployed Mainers a break from paying taxes on relief funds they received during the pandemic.
Republicans rejected two compromise proposals on the Paycheck Protection Program both from the Mills administration and Democrats on the AFA Committee in favor of a proposal that costs an additional $32 million.
