House Democrats Voted Against An Impeachment Resolution Against Maine’s Secretary Of State After Her Decision To Remove Donald Trump From The State Ballot. [AP, 1/9/24; Maine Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, HO34, failed passage 1/9/24]
Guns
A Democratic Representative Introduced Legislation To Allow Those Going Through A Mental Health Crisis To, Privately And Voluntarily, Temporarily Waive Their Firearm Rights. [News Center Maine, 11/9/23; Maine Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, LD 2119, introduced 1/3/24]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced A Package Of Gun Safety Legislation, Including A 72-hour Waiting Period And Funding For Mental Health Care. [Portland Press Herald, 2/28/24; Maine Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, LD 2238, introduced 2/28/24; Maine Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, LD 2237, introduced 2/28/24]
LGBTQ+ Rights
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Prevent Other States From Taking Legal Action Against Minors Who Travel To Maine For Gender-Affirming Care. [Maine Legislature, 2023-2024 Regular Session, Carried over 7/26/23; WGME, 1/22/24]
Reproductive Rights
Democratic Legislators Introduced A Constitutional Amendment To Protect Abortion Rights In The State. [Portland Press Herald, 1/10/24; Maine Legislature, 2023-2024 Regular Session, Carried Over 7/26/23]
Maine Key Legislation – 2023
Democracy
Senate Republicans Have Introduced A Bill To Require Voter ID In Maine. “But Republican Sen. Matt Pouliot of Augusta and other supporters cited national polls suggesting that a strong majority of Americans support showing a photo ID before voting. While Pouliot says he believes Maine is doing a good job of ensuring that elections are “free and fair,” he acknowledged that some people continue to believe fraud is happening within the election system and that “whether we like it or not, perception is reality.” During a roughly three-hour hearing, he and other supporters argued that passing a voter ID law could help address those voters’ concerns about election fraud.” [Bangor Daily News, 2/6/23]
The Bill Failed In The House And Senate Along Party-Lines Votes. “Party-line votes in both the House and Senate earlier this week killed a bill that would have required Maine voters to present a photo ID when casting their ballots, whether that be in person or absentee, starting on January 1, 2024. The bill, LD 1365, listed a number of eligible types of photo identification, including a drivers license, state ID, United States passport, military ID, or permit to carry a concealed handgun.” [The Maine Wire, 6/23/23]
Senate Republicans Introduced A Bill That Would Ban Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes. “Sen. Jeff Timberlake said, ‘We submitted a bill to prevent unmonitored drop boxes, which prevents the potential of midnight dump of unauthorized or false ballots.’ Bellows doesn’t see the value or the need for the law. ‘Any proposal to ban drop boxes or make it more difficult for municipalities to have drop boxes doesn’t make any sense,’ Bellows said. ‘People loved the drop boxes, especially Mainers who are commuting to work, sometimes hours from their town office.’” [WMTW, 3/7/23]
The Bill Did Not Pass Before The End Of Session. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1055, accessed 7/11/23]
Economy
Democratic Legislators Are Working With Experts To Craft A Proposal For Paid Family Leave. “A commission made up of lawmakers and experts – including Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick – is crafting a proposal that will go before lawmakers this spring. […] Daughtry, in a phone interview Friday night, said she is “confident” the Legislature will approve paid family leave this year. Democrats hold the trifecta in state government, with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Democrats controlling majorities in the Senate and House.”[Portland Press Herald, 1/13/23]
The Bill Passed And Was Signed Into Law By Gov. Mills. “Maine is the next US state to require paid family and medical leave for employees under a new law signed by Gov. Janet Mills (D). The legislation approved by Mills on Tuesday as part of the state’s budget bill passed both chambers of the state legislature earlier this month. States continue to adopt new paid family and medical leave legislation as advocates push for these worker protections across the country. Maine is the 13th state in addition to Washington, D.C., to enact a universal paid leave program. The law goes into effect in 2026 and will apply to businesses with 15 or more employees. Workers and employers would split a wage contribution to fund the program that amounts to 1% or less of an employee’s wage.” [Bloomberg Law, 7/11/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Passed $100 Million Towards Affordable Housing Initiatives. “More than $100 million was allocated to address Maine’s housing shortage and the ongoing homelessness crisis under budget measures passed by the Legislature last week. The spending comes as cities and towns across the state grapple with maxed-out homeless shelters, unaffordable apartments and increasing numbers of people living on the streets. […] This latest funding follows an “unprecedented” infusion of about $43 million for emergency housing programs the Legislature approved over the winter, Jorgensen said. Included in the supplemental budget passed Thursday is $70 million in one-time funding for housing subsidy programs statewide through the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program and the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Both are administered by MaineHousing.” [News Center Maine, 7/10/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Passed LD701, Which Increases The Requirement From 45 To 75 Days For Landlords To Give Notice To Tenants Of A Rent Increase Of 10% Or More. “In a 9-3 vote on Wednesday, members of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee moved forward LD 701, “An Act to Increase the Notice Period for Rent Increases,” sponsored by Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland. The bill would require Maine landlords to provide a 75-day notice to tenants when increasing rent by 10 percent or more from the previous year’s rent, according to a news release from the Maine Legislature House Democratic Office. Currently, landlords are only required to provide 45 days’ notice before any rent increases, the release stated.” [News Center Maine, 4/6/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, Became Law Without Governor’s Signature, 7/6/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Raise The State Minimum Wage To $15. “According to the Bangor Daily News, the proposal would boost the minimum wage from $13.80 to $15 in 2024 with an annual cost of living increase. Democrats in the House pushed the bill through an initial 71-70 vote on Monday, according to the BDN. It advanced through the Senate on Tuesday in a 22-11 vote.” [WGME, 6/14/23]
Education
Republican Legislators Are Working On A Proposal For A “Parent’s Bill Of Rights.” “‘If there’s curriculum there that parents don’t agree with, then they can say, ‘Nope, I’m opting out of this,’ Senator Lisa Keim (R-Oxford) said. […] ‘There should be a really accessible way for parents to have oversight of what books are in the library, they should have that easily accessible for themselves so they can say, ‘OK, I approve of this,’ or ‘I don’t approve of this,’ Keim said. […] State Democrats agree with the importance of parental involvement, however they also stress the importance of working with the experts on school curriculum. ‘Everyone believes in parental involvement,’ Daughtry said. ‘I don’t think that’s a subject of disagreement, but we need to be working with our teachers and trusting our school boards. We have local systems who are working on curriculum that are well proven.’” [Fox23 Maine, 1/31/23]
The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1953, Ought Not to Pass, 6/21/23]
Senate Republicans Introduced A Bill To Ban Educational Materials That Contain “Obscene Matter.” [Maine Legislature, 131st First Regular Session, LD123, accessed 2/8/23]
The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 123, Ought Not to Pass, 6/13/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Strengthen Confidentiality Protections For School Counselors. “The national debate over balancing “parents’ rights” with those of students who confide personal information with school counselors spilled into the Maine Senate on Tuesday. Majority Democrats advanced a Department of Education rule that codifies new confidentiality standards for counselors, but not before Republicans argued that it allows students and counselors to keep secrets from their parents. […] ‘We need to have the discretion to keep that confidentiality for those students so that they feel safe enough to come back and let us know when it’s something real, when it’s something big and it’s something scary,’ Reny said. ‘This job is not about hurting kids. It’s not about cutting parents out. Education is a team sport.’” [Maine Public Radio, 5/23/23]
The Bill Passed And Was Signed By Gov. Mills. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 394, Signed by the Governor, 6/8/23]
Environment
Lawmakers Have Introduced Legislation That Would Require Bottled Water Companies To Test For PFAS And Require Additional Labeling Requirements. “Democratic Rep. Lori Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach) is sponsoring a bill similar to Bennett’s to require PFAS testing, although her bill also seeks to require additional labeling to list the source of the water, the date of the test and the level of PFAS in the water.” [Spectrum News, 4/28/23]
The Bill Passed And Was Signed By Gov. Mills. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1248, Signed by the Governor, 6/26/23]
Guns
Republican Legislators Have Introduced Or Proposed At Least Three Bills Aimed At Allowing Teachers And School Employees To Be Armed, As Well As Funding Armed Security In Schools. “Republican lawmakers are proposing arming teachers and school security guards in Maine as a response to school shootings across the country. […] In response, the co-chair for the legislature’s gun safety caucus, a Democrat, released a statement. ‘We all want to keep our children safe in schools. It is our top priority. But our caucus believes that putting guns in the classroom is not the way to do it, and the teachers we have spoken with are not in favor of this measure.’” [Fox23 Maine, 2/1/23]
All Three Bills Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 52, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/13/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 518, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/12/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1557, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/8/23]
Republican Lawmakers Had Several Bills Heard Aimed At Making It Easier For People To Own A Gun, Including Barring Maintaining Records Related To Firearm Owners, Prohibiting The State Enforcement Of Federal Firearm Laws, And Allowing Those Convicted Of Certain Felonies To Obtain Firearms. “Meanwhile, Second Amendment supporters said more needs to be done to give gun owners more freedom, like Bruce Ashmore of Bucksport. Ashmore said he is a member of the Gun Owners of Maine and hosts gun safety training events around the state. […] He said a bill that hits close to home is LD 1561, which would reinstate the right to own a gun to some people previously convicted of felonies.” [News Center Maine, 5/8/23]
Four Bills, Including Legislation To Bar Maintaining Records Related To Firearm Owners, Prohibiting State Enforcement Of Federal Firearm Laws, And Allowing Firearms To Be Discharged Near Schools, Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 551, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/16/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 624, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/20/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 943, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/15/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1451, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/20/23]
A Bill To Allow Those With Felony Convictions To Own Firearms Did Not Pass Before The End Of Session. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1561, accessed 7/11/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Had Two Bills Heard, One Of Which Would Prohibit The Sale Of Rapid Fire Modification Devices For Firearms, And One That Would Require Reporting Of Stolen Firearms. “‘I think there is always a passionate debate when talking about firearms,’ Rep. Vicki Doudera, a Democrat from Camden, said. Doudera is the sponsor of LD 1011, which would mandate people report their firearms stolen to authorities. ‘By simply reporting a stolen firearm, we can help law enforcement track them down,’ she said.” [News Center Maine, 5/8/23]
Both Bills Failed To Pass. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1340, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/20/23; State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1011, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/16/23]
Health Care
House Democrats Introduced A Bill To Decriminalize Personal Drug Possession, And Fund Substance Use Treatment Programs. “Among the most significant measures within the slate is a bill sponsored by Rep. Lydia Crafts (D-Newcastle) titled “An Act to Implement a Statewide Public Health Response to Substance Use.” While the language of the bill has not yet been finalized, the idea behind the measure is to decriminalize personal possession of drugs and invest in treatment for substance use so that — rather than spending time in prison or jail — people receive medical care for problems associated with drugs. […] ‘It’s time to acknowledge the harms associated with incarceration — not to mention the cost — and decriminalize personal possession of drugs,’ she said. ‘We will continue to see the consequences of this failed War on Drugs until we are willing to move past drug policies that hurt individuals, families and communities in Maine.’” [Maine Beacon, 3/28/23]
The Bill Did Not Pass Before The End Of Session. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1975, accessed 7/14/23]
House Democrats Introduced Legislation Aimed At Funding Sexual Assault And Abuse Support Services. “Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, presented two pieces of legislation Monday, March 27 at a public hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee that would provide funding for Maine’s sexual assault support centers and prevent the sexual exploitation of children. […] LD 816 would fund up to seven positions across the state to provide direct services to survivors at the state’s sexual assault support centers. These professionals would be trained to handle the mental health needs of victims of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual violence and related trauma. LD 1092, following an amendment offered by Rep. Stover, would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to create a program to support regional Child Advocacy Centers and community-based agencies to respond to suspected child sexual abuse and commercial exploitation, connect children and families to resources and prevent further commercial sexual exploitation of children. [Boothbay Register, 3/28/23]
Rep. Stover (D-Boothbay) Is Also Cosponsoring Legislation With Senate Democrats, Which Would Also Fund Sexual Assault Support Services. “Additionally, Rep. Stover is the lead cosponsor on LD 566, An Act to Provide Funding for Sexual Assault Services, which is sponsored by Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland. That legislation also received a public hearing before the HHS committee on Monday and would provide a significant state funding increase to sexual assault services of roughly $3 million for the next two years. ‘These bills are incredibly important to ensure sexual assault and trauma survivors get the care and support they need,’ said Duson. ‘We know that survivors face myriad hurdles and relive their trauma every time they must tell someone what happened to them. We owe it to these individuals to expand and improve the care they receive, so they can truly heal and pursue the justice they deserve.’” [Boothbay Register, 3/28/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced A Bill Aimed At Regulating And Banning Hospital Facility Fees. “Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, are sponsoring the bill, indicating it’s a priority among Democratic leadership. Jackson drafted the bill after a Press Herald investigation revealed that health care providers are adding – and sometimes hiding – surcharges called facility fees to patients’ bills, often charging hundreds of dollars simply because an outpatient procedure or test was performed in a hospital. The newspaper’s investigation, published last August, reported that patients are surprised, confused and frustrated by such charges, and that insurance companies are not covering them, leaving patients stuck paying the bill.” [Portland Press Herald, 4/28/23]
Labor
Senate Democrats Introduced The “Fair Workweek” Bill That Would Require Companies To Provide Employees With Regular Schedules, And Require Additional Compensation For Short Notice Schedule Changes. A Similar Bill In The House Would Allow Workers To Request Flexible Work Schedules. “The bill, LD 1190, would create a requirement for companies with at least 250 employees worldwide to provide workers with a regular schedule at the time they are hired. Employers can make changes to this regular schedule, but for short notice changes they must give the worker extra compensation to make up for the disruption. It would not interfere with a worker’s ability to request a change. A similar bill, LD 827 sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor), the Labor Committee’s House chair, would tackle the scheduling issue from a different angle. She proposed to establish a process that allows workers to request a flexible work schedule in six-month increments.” [Maine Beacon, 4/10/23]
Six Republican House Representatives Introduced Legislation To Exempt Part-Time Service Industry Employees And Substitute Teachers From Earned Paid Leave Laws. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 301, 2023 First Regular Session, 1/27/23]
The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 301, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 5/9/23]
Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross Introduced Legislation To Make Agricultural Workers and Other Related Workers Employees Under the Wage and Hour Laws. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 398, 2/2/23]
LGBTQ+ Rights
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced A Package Of Bills That Would Provide Gender-Affirming Care Protections For Patients And Doctors. “In a public hearing late last week, representatives from the Maine Medical Association, the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Maine Psychological Association endorsed two bills designed to protect gender-affirming care for young people. One bill, LD 535 sponsored by Rep. Erin Sheehan (D-Biddeford), would allow certain young people to receive gender-affirming hormone therapy without parental consent. The other measure, LD 1735 introduced by Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono), would protect Maine health care providers who provide gender-affirming health care to young people from out of state.” [Maine Beacon, 5/16/23]
Democratic Lawmakers In Both Chambers Passed A Bill Allowing 16- and 17-year-olds To Receive Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy. “Both houses of the Maine Legislature have now voted in favor of a bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to receive gender-affirming hormone therapy without parental consent under certain conditions. The Maine Senate voted 20-14 Tuesday, while the House of Representatives voted 73-60 in favor of the bill Monday. The bill requires final enactment votes in both chambers before being considered by Gov. Janet Mills. Under the bill sponsored by Rep. Erin Sheehan, D-Biddeford, teens at least 16 years old would be eligible to receive gender-affirming hormone therapy – not gender reassignment surgery – without parental consent if they are diagnosed with gender dysphoria, the condition where someone’s expressed gender identity is different from the gender assigned at birth for a sustained period of time.” [Portland Press Herald, 6/27/23]
Reproductive Rights
Governor Mills And Democratic Legislators Are Working On A Package Of Bills To Protect And Expand Abortion Access And Reproductive Care. The package of bills includes protections for post-viability abortions when recommended by a medical professional, prohibits municipalities from banning or restricting abortion, allows for pregnant people from other states to travel to Maine for abortions, and mandates that insurers provide coverage for reproductive care. [Central Maine, 1/26/23]
The Judiciary Committee Held A Hearing On A Bill That Would Expand Abortion Access. “Hundreds of Mainers, including 675 people in opposition, had signed up to address the Judiciary Committee for two minutes each at the hearing over the Democratic bill introduced by Governor Janet Mills and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross to legalize abortion after fetal viability, or 24 weeks into pregnancy. […] ‘We trust medical professionals to provide care that is in their medical judgment,’ Talbot Ross said. ‘This legislation is compassionate. It is bound by science and best medical practices, and it recognizes abortion as health care.’ Women who’ve experienced later-in-pregnancy abortions were among the witnesses in the first four hours of testimony in support of the bill. [WMTW, 5/1/23]
The Bill Passed In The Legislature. “Early Thursday evening, the Senate gave final approval, 20-11 in a party line vote, to an expansive and controversial reproductive rights bill, sending it to the desk of Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who proposed the bill and plans to sign it next week. Four senators were absent, two from each party. The bill, LD 1619, would allow surgical abortions, if medically necessary, after fetal viability at 24 weeks of pregnancy. The House enacted the bill last week 73-69 also along party lines. ‘We are for women’s, for reproductive rights for anyone who wants to have a family, is trying to have a family, is not ready for a family,’ Rep. Maureen Terry, (D) Gorham, the House Majority Leader, said in an interview.” [WMTW, 7/10/23]
Republican Legislators Introduced A Bill To Repeal Maine’s Current Law Allowing For Abortion Services To Be Paid Through Mainecare. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 494, introduced 2/7/23]
The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 494, Voted Ought Not to Pass, 6/20/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Enshrine The Right To Bodily Autonomy In The Maine Constitution. “It has been referred to as the abortion amendment, but to its sponsor, enshrining an individual’s right to bodily autonomy in the Maine Constitution would protect much more than a woman’s right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. “It is my belief completely that bodily autonomy isn’t just about reproductive freedom,” said Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop. ‘My body, my choice. No one has any right to tell me what I can and cannot do with it except for me. If I do not have control over my own body, am I truly free?’” [Portland Press Herald, 5/12/23]
The Bill Did Not Pass Before The End Of Session. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 776, Placed in Legislative Files, 6/16/23]
