Lawmakers are vowing to adopt new rules to provide more transparency for bills that are submitted with only a vague title and no explanation of intent.
Maine Legislature
Posted inBusiness, Maine, Politics
Committee endorses amended changes to cannabis industry regulations
The amended bill, sponsored by Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, eliminates some of the more controversial elements in the original measure.
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Posted inMaine, Politics
Bill to shield providers of abortions and gender-affirming care advances after partisan clash
The measure backed by Democrats passed out of committee on an 8-4 party-line vote and now heads to floor votes in the Legislature.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Divided committee supports study of program to voluntarily waive gun rights
The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee tabled three other gun-related bills during a work session Thursday and will take them up again at a later date.
Posted inMaine
Mills signs law to create 2 more public defenders offices
The new law will create offices to serve three rural counties that lack enough volunteer lawyers to represent people who can’t afford counsel.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Gov. Mills’ proposal would raise minimum wage for farmworkers
If approved, the minimum would increase to $14.15 an hour in September, matching the minimum for all other workers.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Maine Democrats meet privately with ATF official as advocates work to build support for gun reforms
Democratic lawmakers meet in private with a federal firearms regulator to discuss existing rules in preparation for a key committee meeting Thursday. Republicans criticize the move, pass up an offer to do the same and say the discussions should have been public.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine House supports bill that would require landlords to disclose all costs
The proposal, now headed to a Senate vote, would require landlords to provide a written disclosure of all fees and costs before tenants sign a lease.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Maine Republicans use interim mass shooting report to argue against gun reforms
They point to the state commission’s finding that faulted the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office for not using existing laws to seize guns from the shooter before he killed 18 people in Lewiston.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, Politics
Proposal would exempt agricultural pesticides from law banning forever chemicals
Proponents of the bill say farmers need more time to move to alternatives, but opponents say the current law is reasonable and raise concerns about PFAS contamination of food.