AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill from Rep. Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, that would create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, commonly referred to as a "green bank." The Maine Senate voted in favor of the measure Wednesday.

AUGUSTA - A measure to protect survivors of economic abuse from long-term consequences, LD 947, sponsored by Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, was signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills.

AUGUSTA - The Maine House advanced a historic bill Tuesday sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, to replace Central Maine Power and Versant with the Pine Tree Power Company, a consumer-owned electric utility.

The vote on LD 1708 was 76-64, earning support from Republican, Independent and Democratic lawmakers.

AUGUSTA - A bill by Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, to end the law enforcement practice known as "pretextual traffic stops" earned initial approval Tuesday in the Maine House. The vote was 72-67.

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.