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.

AUGUSTA - Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, presented his bill to fund the long-overdue reconstruction of Route 161 from Fort Kent to Caribou, to the Legislature's Transportation Committee Thursday.

LD 410 uses a one-time payment of $40 million from Maine's General Fund to fund the project. The money would be appropriated during the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021.

AUGUSTA - Today, Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford presented LD 1, "An Act to Establish the COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights" at a public hearing before the Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Maine seniors, health care professionals, patients and advocates overwhelmingly testified in favor of the legislation. Here is what supporters are saying:

AUGUSTA - Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, has been appointed to the Building, Infrastructure and Housing Working Group of the Maine Climate Council.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, will host her virtual "Coffee with Constituents" event via Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. These monthly events are an opportunity for constituents from Ellsworth and Trenton to ask questions, share concerns and ideas and otherwise just connect.