• Read more about Tuttle introduces bill allowing Christine Pratt to be buried in veterans' cemetery

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held a public hearing Monday on a proposal that would allow a Sanford resident instrumental in creating the Southern Maine Veterans' Cemetery to be buried there when she passes away.

LD 619, sponsored by Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, would grant special eligibility for Christine Pratt, the current executive director of the Southern Maine Veterans' Cemetery in Springvale, to receive a burial plot at the facility.

• Read more about Speaker Fecteau's bill to fund Career and Technical Education Centers clears committee with unanimous support of all present

AUGUSTA - On Friday, legislation sponsored by Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford to invest in Maine's Career and Technical Education Center infrastructure, LD 144, "An Act To Fund Capital Improvements to Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions To Bolster Maine's Future Workforce" was discussed and voted on in a work session before the Legislatures Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. The bill received unanimous support of all present.

• Read more about Pierce introduces bill to implement online voter registration

AUGUSTA - Rep. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, introduced a measure that would allow eligible Mainers to register to vote using a secure online portal during a public hearing before a legislative committee on Monday.

"I am grateful to everyone who voiced their support for this bill during today's public hearing," said Pierce. "So many members of our communities would benefit from this, from aging Mainers to working parents to service members. To strengthen our democracy, we need to look at ways to improve voting access, not limit it."

• Read more about Grohoski, McDonald appointed to Maine Climate Council Subcommittee and Working Group

AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, and Rep. Genevieve McDonald, D-Stonington, have been appointed to serve in support of the Maine Climate Council.

• Read more about Terry presents bill to support hunger relief efforts in Maine

AUGUSTA - Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, introduced a bill that creates a funding mechanism to support hunger relief before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on Friday.

• Read more about Pierce to introduce bill to implement online voter registration

AUGUSTA - Rep. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, will introduce a proposal on Monday that would allow eligible Mainers to register to vote using a secure online portal.

• Read more about Lawmakers advance Gramlich's measure to ensure behavioral health care for Maine kids

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance a measure by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, which would help more Maine children receive the behavioral health care they need. The vote was 7-5.

• Read more about Presiding Officers, Budget Chairs laud signing of the Back-to-Basics Budget into law

AUGUSTA - Today, Governor Janet T. Mills signed a responsible biennial budget into law. The Back-to-Basics Budget provides critical funding for schools, property tax relief, health care, nursing homes and other essential services over the next two years.

Presiding Officers and Chairs of the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee released the following statements praising the budget and outlining the work that lies ahead:

• Read more about Legislature enacts Wood's LGBTQ veteran bill

AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature has unanimously enacted a bill that would restore state benefits to Maine veterans who separated from service without an honorable discharge due solely to the veteran's sexual orientation or gender identity.

"I am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support on this bill," said Wood. "Our veterans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, served our country and should qualify for the benefits their fellow service members have access to."

• Read more about The Maine Legislature approves Back-to-Basics Budget

AUGUSTA - Today, the Maine Legislature adopted a responsible biennial budget that provides critical funding for schools, property tax relief, rural health care and nursing homes in a vote of 77-67 in the House and 20-14 in the Senate. The Back-to-Basic Budget is a continuation of the bipartisan biennial budget that earned two-thirds support in both chambers in 2019. The budget will now go to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.