AUGUSTA - Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, has introduced a bill to advance health equity in Maine by closing gaps in MaineCare and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The measure, LD 718, was heard before the Legislature's Committee on Health and Human Services on Thursday. If passed into law, the bill would ensure that all Maine residents have access to affordable health care, regardless of immigration status.

SCARBOROUGH - Speaker Fecteau visited volunteer vaccinators and MaineHealth clinicians for a tour of the Scarborough Downs vaccination site Wednesday morning. As of Monday evening, MaineHealth had administered 58,000 doses at Scarborough Downs.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted last week to advance a bill by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, that would help victims access justice. The vote was 7-5.

"As a kid, I knew I couldnt change what happened to me, but I also knew that, when I was a grown-up, I would do my best to make things better for others. As a social worker, I have worked my entire professional life to effect systemic change and to give voice to fellow survivors," said Gramlich.

AUGUSTA - Measures introduced this week by Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, aim to address Maine's housing crisis.

"The need for housing in our state is greater than we have ever seen it," said Morales, who leads a working group of lawmakers focused on housing policy. "Before the pandemic, 19,000 households were on the waiting list for Section 8 housing vouchers. Today, that number has increased by 27%. We must act with urgency to provide both short-term and longer-term solutions."

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.