AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, spoke in favor of LD 1129, An Act Relating to the Valuation of Retail Sales Facilities, sponsored by Rep. Ann Matlack, D-St. George. The bill was heard before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on Wednesday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Lynn Copeland, D-Saco, has introduced a bill that, if passed into law, would sign Maine onto the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' shore damage mitigation project. The measure had its public hearing before the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, will host a virtual press conference to announce new legislation, LD 718, a bill to close gaps in MaineCare and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), on Thursday, April 15 at 9:00 a.m.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, was invited to join the Healthy States National Task Force, a new two-year working group launched by the Council of State Governments (CSG). The task force, composed of 60 state leaders from across the country, will develop public policy resources and solutions to address challenges in the areas of fiscal health, human health, economic and workforce health and civic health.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, House chair of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, has introduced two measures to deter electric utilities from leaving power lines at unsafe heights and to ban misleading winter disconnection threats as part of the collections process. At a public hearing on Tuesday, Berry said both bills would help reduce CMPs "shameless neglect and abuse of workers, small businesses and customers."

AUGUSTA - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, received unanimous support from the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. The bill, LD 1135, seeks to address the need for increased access to treatment for substance use disorder through a 25% increase in reimbursement rates.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, introduced LD 968, Resolve, To Expand Mental Health Crisis Intervention Mobile Response Services, before the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services on Monday. The bill earned the support of the Bangor Police Department, who submitted testimony in support of the measure.

AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills signed legislation making the Maine Green Power initiative permanent last week. The program allows electricity customers to voluntarily pay slightly more in their electricity bills to ensure their energy supply is purchased from Maine-generated renewable energy.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Charlotte Warren, D-Hallowell, introduced two bills regarding information safety and increased government accountability on Monday.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, introduced a bill on Friday that would shed light on how many Maine workers employed by large companies rely on public benefits like MaineCare and SNAP.