AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing voted on Monday to advance LD 213, a bill sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millet, D - Cape Elizabeth, that would provide greater equity in firefighters' access to health care coverage for reproductive system cancer.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport, and Sep. Chip Curry, D-Belfast have been working with representatives from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to address confusion around the Maine Ocean School's funding structure. In a meeting Cuddy and Curry organized with DOE representatives on Feb. 17, they were able to clarify the statute and secure more funding for the Maine Ocean School.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, introduced a bill on Monday to provide personalized and proactive support to military members transitioning to civilian life in Maine.

AUGUSTA - Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford have announced that the Maine Legislature will convene Wednesday, March 10 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Senate proceedings will begin at 10:00 a.m.; the House proceedings will begin at 9:00 a.m.

The agenda items are still being finalized as Legislative Committees continue to vote out bills. However, lawmakers are expected to take up the supplemental budget proposal.

AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee approved a supplemental budget that supports Maine workers and small businesses on Thursday. The vote was 8-5. The bill gives Maine businesses and unemployed Mainers a break from paying taxes on relief funds they received during the pandemic.

Republicans rejected two compromise proposals on the Paycheck Protection Program both from the Mills administration and Democrats on the AFA Committee in favor of a proposal that costs an additional $32 million.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, introduced LD 446, An Act To Reestablish the State Planning Office, before the Legislature's State and Local Government Committee. LD 446 would reestablish the Maine State Planning Office, housed within the Office of the Governor, which was eliminated in 2012.

AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, introduced a proposal to prevent overdose deaths by ensuring unused prescription medications are properly disposed of when an in-home hospice patient passes away.

AUGUSTA - On Monday, the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety joined the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee for a public hearing regarding the corrections and public services portion of the proposed biennial budget for Fiscal Years 2022-2023.

AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, will introduce a proposal to prevent overdose deaths by ensuring unused prescription medications are properly disposed of when an in-home hospice patient passes away.

AUGUSTA - Reps. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, and Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, urge Maine residents to check the state database for unclaimed property.

Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck says the state is holding more than $275 million of unclaimed property after adding over $13.9 million this year alone, including over 85,000 individual pieces of unclaimed property.