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Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Mills signs budget addition into law
Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Gov. Janet Mills listen to the State of the Judiciary address on Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Gov. Janet Mills signed into law on Monday the budget passed by the Democratic majority of the Maine Legislature last week. After initial conflicting votes, both chambers Wednesday night approved a roughly $320 million budget addition to the $11.3 billion biennial budget passed in March. 'The budget bill enacted by the Legislature, like all lawmaking, is the product of various tradeoffs and compromises,' Mills said in a statement on Monday. 'Although I might not agree with every single provision, I appreciate the diligence and hard work of the Appropriations Committee to produce this bill, which makes important investments in Maine families, children, and seniors, our higher education institutions, housing, and more.' With Mills' signature, the budget bill will take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the legislative session, a date that is not yet known as lawmakers are planning to return this week to finish work. The budget the Legislature passed defied several of the proposals Mills put forth earlier this year, including rejecting the governor's proposed cuts to childcare programs and low-income food assistance, as well as proposed taxes on ambulances and pharmacies. The budget also effectively stops the state's free community college program for future graduating classes, against the governor's request to make it permanent. However, the plan includes Mills' proposed tax additions on streaming services, cannabis, pensions and cigarettes — the latter at an even higher amount than the governor requested. Read about more of the details of the plan here. Committee sets budget plan with party-line vote 'At a time when so much feels uncertain, this budget offers something solid: a commitment to the well-being of our communities and a hopeful vision for a stronger, more resilient Maine,' senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) said in a statement Wednesday night. Her counterpart, Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), offered a different perspective. 'We began the first regular session of the 132nd Legislature six months ago with news of a severe budget shortfall. It is truly concerning that legislative Democrats are continuing with this reckless path,' Stewart said in a statement Wednesday night. 'The Democrat majority has seized every opportunity to spend more at the expense of Maine's taxpayers. I have a very simple question for my Democrat counterparts: at what point will you wake up and realize enough is enough?' While added appropriations total about $320 million, the bill has a lower fiscal note, $117 million, due to a range of cost cutting measures — taxes, some cuts, and transferring unexpected surpluses. The net cost is also lower than the roughly $127 million that remained after the initial budget passed in March, which had continued funding for state services at the same level while also providing one-time funding to fill the MaineCare deficit and other urgent needs. The Democratic majority also pushed through that two-year budget plan in March without Republican support and formally adjourned in order to start the clock for those funds to become available in 90 days, which was Friday. While the continued party-line divide in Augusta remains clear, the initial votes on the budget addition last week illuminated some divisions within the Democratic majority. Six progressive Democrats in the House initially voted against the budget, arguing for their colleagues to reject regressive taxes, which have a greater impact on people with lower incomes, and instead push for a model that taxes the wealthy more — even if the governor, who has opposed any income-based tax reform, ultimately vetoes it. But five of the six representatives later backed the budget, allowing it to pass. There is a bill currently in limbo that proposes such a change. Referred to as a 'millionaire's tax,' LD 1089 would place a tax surcharge of 2% on the portion of a resident's taxable income beyond $1 million for single filers to be used to fund public K-12 education. After both chambers rejected the bill in initial votes, the Senate reversed its stance last week, sending the measure back to the House to reconsider. It remains tabled. There are several bills that similarly remain in a state of uncertainty between the chambers — including proposals for a comprehensive data privacy law — that lawmakers could consider when they return sometime this week to finish work. About 300 bills that have passed both chambers are also in limbo on what's called the appropriations table. The appropriations committee, which manages this table, will ultimately decide which proposals to fund with any remaining unappropriated money. Some of those proposals are bills to establish a task force to suggest reform to the real estate property tax, ensure the already required teaching of Wabanaki and African American studies are effectively taught in Maine schools, provide more funding for family planning services, fund proper disposal of syringe litter and expand testing for forever chemicals in private wells, among others. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislative recap for Thursday, June 12
The Maine State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) Thursday saw several major issues come to the floor, with the Maine Senate and House of Representatives taking up more than a dozen gun bills. Additionally, the Senate voted on two bills related to transgender rights, arguably the most contentious topic this session, while the chambers backed proposals to increase taxes on corporations and top earners. With papers frantically shuffling between chambers this week ahead of the planned June 18 adjournment, Maine Morning Star will highlight the biggest items of debate as well as legislation and issues that we've followed all session. Here's an overview of what else happened Thursday. After the House voted 76-71 on Thursday, both chambers have now backed a measure (LD 913) that would prohibit ticket sellers from banning the transfer of tickets to third parties. The Senate on Thursday followed the House in backing LD 172, which would require the Maine State Police to create a statewide list of missing persons and study improvements for investigating those cases, but then moved to table the measure. (Read more about this issue here). With the Senate voting 19-16, the majority of both chambers support a proposal (LD 648) to expand the state's supervised community confinement program for incarcerated people who committed offenses before they were 26 years old. The Senate on Thursday insisted on its support of a proposal (LD 1200), rejected by the House Wednesday, that would prohibit the sale of items intended to be used to inhale nitrous oxide for recreational use. Voting without a roll call, the Senate passed legislation (LD 1955) that establishes several new programs to help support and incentivize people to become early childhood educators and providers. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for the long-term sustainability of the Maine Child Care Affordability Program. Introducing her bill, Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) said it is about 'supporting the workforce behind our workforce.' The Senate voted 20-15 on legislation that would establish a moratorium on the sale of mobile home parks. During debate, Sen. Chip Curry (D-Waldo) explained the pause would allow some of the other bills that passed protecting mobile home owners to take effect. An emergency bill (LD 1986) from the governor to fund collective bargaining agreements for judicial branch employees passed the Senate, with members agreeing to skip the committee process to advance the legislation. The Senate voted without a roll call to back a plan (LD 1669) to establish the Cannabis Advisory Council, to make recommendations to the head of the state Office of Cannabis Policy, as well the Legislature, on matters related to the industry and policy. Legislation (LD 1164 ) that would give the Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to operate internet gaming in Maine passed the House 85-59. During debate, Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Aaron Dana said the bill offers hope and opportunity not just for tribal communities but for rural Maine. He added that it's ultimately about long-overdue economic inclusion. (Read more about this issue here). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine Democrats drop opposition to 'red flag' hearing
Jun. 10—Under intense pressure — and threats of a lawsuit — from Republicans and gun rights groups, Democrats reversed course and agreed to hold a public hearing on a citizens initiative that would make it easier to temporarily remove access to firearms from people who are in a crisis. Republicans announced the public hearing shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday — only moments after Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, told state senators to expect an additional public hearing to soon be announced, though she didn't provide details. The hearing, scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, will focus on a citizen initiative for extreme risk protection order, also known as a 'red flag law," which would allow a family member to petition a court to temporarily remove access to firearms of someone deemed a danger to themselves or others. Maine currently has a "yellow flag" law, which can only be initiative by police, who can only seek a court order after taking that individual into protective custody and provided them with a mental health evaluation. Republicans have been pushing for a public hearing ever since Democrats, who control both chambers, decided not to hold a hearing, citing a hearing on a similar bill last session that did not get a floor vote and the fact that it would ultimately be decided by voters. Republicans accused Democrats of violating a state law, enacted in 2019, requiring a hearing on any citizen initiative that is received when lawmakers are in session. "I'm relieved that my Democrat colleagues finally realized they could not get away with silencing the voices of Maine citizens to limit criticism of this radical gun-control proposal," Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, said in a written statement Monday night. "Even the most rabid gun-control activists realized that breaking the law to silence their opposition was not an acceptable way to move their agenda forward." The citizens initiative came forward in the wake of the mass shooting in Lewiston in October 2023 and is certain to generate intense debate over gun rights and restrictions ahead of the November vote. Tensions over the call for a public hearing escalated during a late-night session in the Senate last week in which Republicans tried to force the issue through a series of floor votes. The votes fell along party lines with Republicans voting to move forward with a series of motions aimed at forcing action on a public hearing while Democrats voted against them. Democrats resisted holding a hearing, saying it's not required in the Maine Constitution. And last week, Daughtry said that a law enacted by a prior legislature could not bind the current group of lawmakers, which Republicans decried as "a dangerous ruling." The National Rifle Association announced last week that it was joining a planned lawsuit with the Sportsmen's Alliance of Maine and the Gun Owners of Maine. In a fundraising appeal, SAM speculated that Democrats don't want to hold a hearing because it will highlight opposition, including from Gov. Janet Mills, law enforcement and other Democratic lawmakers. Mills, a former attorney general, help negotiate the state's current "yellow flag" law and has opposed previous attempts to enact a "red flag" law, which exist in 21 other states. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to support later high school start times passes in House, Senate
Jun. 4—Lawmakers approved an amended bill this week that would offer grant funding to Maine school districts to explore pushing back high school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The amendment replaced the original version of LD 396, sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, that sought to mandate an 8:30 a.m. or later start time for all high schools. Daughtry has long advocated for pushing back start times, arguing that research shows teens need more sleep to be safe and productive at school. Her efforts have stalled in the past, and while this year's bill advanced in both the House and Senate this week, it was not without significant changes. Following amendments in committee and on the Senate floor, LD 396 no longer mandates a start time for all districts. Instead, it creates a grant-funded pilot program that would support districts financially if they want to explore changing their high school start time to 8:30 a.m. or later, either within their own district or in collaboration with neighboring ones. The bill has a $206,078 fiscal note, which includes $100,000 for the grant program and $106,078 for the Department of Education, which would be tasked with creating an application process, timeline and criteria for the grant program. "I've been dreaming about making this happen at the state level since high school. My classmates and I wanted adults to change this back when we were teenagers, struggling through our early mornings," Daughtry said Wednesday. "While this isn't a statewide requirement, it's still a meaningful step forward and a real win for Maine's high schoolers." The amended bill passed the Senate in a 20-13 vote on Tuesday and passed through the House unanimously Wednesday. It still needs additional votes in both chambers, and approval from the Appropriations Committee, before being sent to Gov. Janet Mills. A spokesperson for the governor did not say whether Mills had a stance on the bill, just that she would review the bill as enacted if it reaches her desk. At a public hearing on LD 396 in February, students and parents testified that a later start time would improve safety and academic outcomes. Pediatric health experts said research shows later high school start times lead to improved attendance, better grades, less tardiness and fewer car accidents. But statewide education groups and the Maine Department of Education submitted testimony in opposition, arguing that a statewide mandate would not acknowledge districts' varied needs. "(Districts) across Maine vary significantly in their geographic, demographic and logistical realities. Decisions about school start and end times are complex and deeply interconnected with transportation, after-school programming, extracurricular activities, student employment and family schedules," Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Beth Lambert said on behalf of the department. "Each district must be free to determine the start and end times that work best for their students, families, and communities." The pilot program, called the School Start Time Fund, would provide one-time grants to be used by schools to coordinate start time changes. Districts are also free to push back their start times on their own, and several Maine districts — including Portland, South Portland, Bath and Biddeford — have already implemented their own late-start policies. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After much discussion, Maine Legislature keeps paid family and medical leave mostly intact
Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) cheer supporters of paid family and medical leave who rallied at the Maine State House in May 2023. The bill was signed into law a month later. (Courtesy of Maine Paid Family Leave campaign) Following the Senate earlier this week, the House on Wednesday passed LD 894, which proposes a series of amendments to the state's paid family and medical leave program to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. But the vote was not without significant debate. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process. However, during the House floor debate, Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips) called it 'legislation that threatens the very foundation of Maine's economic landscape.' But underscoring the human rather than economic impacts, Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland) said, 'We are not just a series of businesses. We are not just a series of workers.' She went on to say that 'we thrive when there is a blend of work and life, and all of us age, all of us fall into illness, many of us have children, and when we do, it is part of our culture and a decent society to give us time to recover, to allow us to take care of our elderly, our frail, our beloved ones.' Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Others supportive of the overall program argued that LD 894 does not do enough to ensure it will be effective. 'While LD 894 focuses on infrastructure, it leaves behind the operational reforms that matter most to the people on the ground,' said Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick). Rep. Nathan Carlow (R-Buxton) attempted two floor amendments to the bill, which both failed. One amendment sought to require an employee to be employed with an employer for a minimum of 120 days before being eligible for paid leave. Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) said the Department of Labor is opposed to any change that would delay the implementation of the program. Rep. Charles Skold (D-Portland) argued the amendment would prevent people from taking leave when they need it. A motion to indefinitely postpone the amendment narrowly prevailed, 72-70. Carlow then presented another floor amendment that would allow workers and businesses who have contributed to the state fund but choose to adopt a qualifying private plan before the start of 2026 to be eligible for a refund from the Department of Labor. A motion to indefinitely postpone also narrowly prevailed 71-70. The Senate had its own, albeit smaller, debate on paid family and medical leave Wednesday. Despite urging from Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) to back LD 1712, which hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out. He described it as 'a reasonable compromise and a responsible compromise,' the upper chamber voted against it 20-14. The House rejected the bill earlier this week, so it is now effectively killed. That bill joined a series of other proposals to modify or repeal the program that were also rejected earlier this week, including LD 406, LD 1273, LD 1333, LD 952 and LD 1307. Reporter AnnMarie Hilton contributed to this story. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
