Updates to the “Back to Work” Grant Program
Based on feedback from employers and job seekers some requirements for the state's Back to Work program are being modified. The $1,500 payment is being extended for the duration of the program June 15- July 25. The program will now also retroactively cover part-time...
Governor Mills Signs, Bipartisan Budget
Governor Janet Mills signed the revised Fiscal Year 2022-2023 biennial budget into law, making a historic investment in Maine public schools and keeping a promise from the Governor to meet the State’s obligation to pay 55 percent of the cost of K-12 education for the...
Governor Mills Welcomes End of State of Civil Emergency
In remarks delivered during the last scheduled COVID-19 media briefing, Governor Janet Mills welcomed the end of Maine’s nearly sixteen month long State of Civil Emergency and paid tribute to Maine people for their perseverance throughout the pandemic. The State of...
Pandemic-era remote notarization rules to continue as Maine works towards permanent new laws
On Wednesday, Governor Janet Mills signed a new law to temporarily enshrine pandemic-era remote notarization practices into law while the Secretary of State, interest groups, and consumer privacy experts work towards permanent practices for remote, online...
Bill banning flavored tobacco loses funding in state budget compromise
The legislation, which would bar the sale of menthol cigarettes, fails. A bill that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes was defeated in the Legislature as a bipartisan budget compromise brokered over the weekend excluded...
Governor Mills Signs Legislation Establishing the Maine Connectivity Authority
Governor Janet Mills has signed landmark legislation to establish the Maine Connectivity Authority, a new entity charged with achieving universal availability of high-speed broadband in Maine. Using Federal funds allocated to the State of Maine under the American...
Maine Bill Could Send Electric Rates Soaring
A bill approved by the Maine Legislature aims to control the number of medium-sized solar projects and avoid a further flood of electricity into the grid, but it also could raise electricity distribution rates by up to 30 percent. The measure, which was passed last...
Republican Legislator Announces His Resignation
Republican State Representative from Augusta has announced he will resign from the Legislature for work reasons next month. Rep. Justin Fecteau, R-Augusta, said o he will resign mid-way through his second term to accept a teaching position outside of his district. His...
Governor Mills Vetoes Bill That Would Have Barred Foreign Government-Owned Entities From Ballot Campaigns
Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a bill that would have barred entities owned by foreign governments from influencing ballot campaigns with advertising and other forms of electioneering. The proposal was inspired by Hydro-Quebec’s roughly $10 million in spending to...
Will Northern Maine Become Renewable Energy Hub?
Most of northern Maine, including a large portion of Aroostook and part of Washington counties, is an energy island that is dislocated from the rest of the northeastern power grid, ISO New England. A bill to connect that island to the New England power grid has passed...