• Read more about Committee advances Roberts bill to license residential general contractors

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee voted Tuesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, that would protect Maine consumers by licensing residential general contractors.

Maine already licenses plumbers, electricians, architects, interior designers and more but residential contractors, who often work on projects with these professionals, have no licensing requirements.

• Read more about Committee advances Cloutier bill to expand physician assistant workforce

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services unanimously advanced legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would add Maine to the Compact for Licensing Physician Assistants (PAs).

• Read more about Legislative committee advances bill to cover funding gap for Property Tax Stabilization Program facing municipalities

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would appropriate $15 million from the General Fund to fully cover the state's reimbursement to municipalities for costs associated with the now-repealed Property Tax Stabilization Program. The bill would also appropriate $50,000 to reimburse municipalities for administrative costs associated with the implementation of the program.

• Read more about House advances Hepler bill to name Route 127 in Arrowsic after Vietnam veteran killed in action

AUGUSTA - The Maine House advanced a bill this week from Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, that would name a portion of Route 127 in Arrowsic the Private Merwin A. Delano, Jr. Memorial Highway.

• Read more about Reps. Terry, Cloutier issue statements on Governor Mills' supplemental budget proposal

AUGUSTA - House Majority Leader Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, released the following statements in response to Gov. Janet Mills' proposed supplemental budget:

House Majority Leader Mo Terry:

• Read more about Committee advances Golek bill to alleviate income-based rental discrimination

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Housing voted Tuesday to advance a measure sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, which would establish a commission to investigate income-based rental discrimination across the state.

• Read more about Republicans oppose Geiger bill to increase access to justice for sexual assault survivors

AUGUSTA - All of the Democratic members of the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted Wednesday in support of a measure sponsored by Rep. Valli Geiger, D-Rockland. The bill would increase access to justice for survivors of sexual assault by establishing a statewide sexual assault forensic examination kit tracking system. Every Republican on the committee voted against the bill.

• Read more about House advances Fay bill to protect Maine internet subscribers

AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave initial approval Thursday to legislation sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, to ensure that Maine consumers would not have to pay for unused internet services.

LD 1932 would require an internet service provider to allow for a credit or rebate for unused internet services if a customer makes a request within a 60-day period after the end of their billing period.

• Read more about House approves Cloutier bill to expand affordable housing

AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave initial approval Tuesday to legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, to expand affordable housing via group equity cooperatives.

The bill, LD 1505, would amend the Maine Cooperative Affordable Housing Ownership Act to include group equity cooperatives, which is resident-controlled housing owned by a corporation in which residents own a share of stock.

• Read more about Coastal access advocates testify in support of Ankeles' bill to protect Maine's working waterfront and prevent homelessness

AUGUSTA - Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, presented a bill to the Legislature's Taxation Committee that would help protect access to Maine's working waterfront and provide additional property tax relief for residents of mobile homes through the Homestead Exemption.