Citizens’ initiative effort regarding voter citizenship fails to submit minimum signatures
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today that the citizens' initiative effort "An Act To Clarify the Eligibility of Voters" does not have enough signatures to move forward. The proponents of this legislation submitted 17,622 petitions with 66,389 signatures...
4.5 Legislative Update
Maine Democrats Pass $8.3 Billion Two-Year Budget Democrats in the Maine Legislature used their majority status to pass an $8.3 billion two-year state budget Tuesday. Democrats hold majorities in the House and Senate and used that electoral strength to pass what they...
Environmental Groups Target CMP Corridor’s Presidential Permit in New Court Filing
Three of Maine's largest conservation groups filed a motion in a federal court to add the U.S. Department of Energy to their earlier lawsuit challenging federal permits granted to Central Maine Power for its controversial hydropower transmission project. The...
New Law to Eliminate Financial COVID-19 Barriers Effective Immediately
A bill that aims to eliminate barriers to COVID-19 screening, testing, and immunization is now law in Maine. The legislation, which became law without the governor's signature on Wednesday, requires state-regulated insurers to cover COVID-19 screening, testing, and...
Federal Public Comment Period Open to Remove the Federal Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) Requirements for York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox and Lincoln Counties
A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 03/25/2021 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-03-25/pdf/2021-05939.pdf The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the...
Maine’s Legislators Hear Testimony in Favor and in Opposition Banning the Sale of Plastic Water Bottles
A public hearing was held Monday on a bill that would ban the sale of plastic water bottles in Maine. This bill would prohibit the sale and distribution of water in plastic containers of one liter or less. The bill doesn’t apply to soda, juice, or flavored water that...
Speaker of the House Proposes Overhaul of Maine’s Unemployment System
Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau has drafted legislation that would overhaul and modernize the state’s unemployment system, which showed signs of problems before the pandemic led to a dramatic increase of claims. Speaker Fecteau held a virtual press conference...
Legislative Update
Earlier in the week, Democrats in the Maine Legislature indicated they will likely advance a majority budget. A press release issued Monday by the presiding officers of the Maine Legislature and co-chairs of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee states...
Governor Mills Continues State of Civil Emergency as Maine Fights COVID-19
On Wednesday, Governor Janet Mills extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) through April 15, 2021. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation which have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the...
Maine Legislature Seeks To Limit Foreign Influence In Anti-Power Line Referendum Again
Central Maine Power's controversial transmission project is again the target of another referendum that could scuttle the project, and the issue of foreign influence in the campaign has also surfaced once again. A new slate of bills in the Maine Legislature...