Latest Maine State Legislature News
Lawmakers want money for National Park maintenance
BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Lawmakers from Maine and Colorado are calling on senators to increase funding for infrastructure maintenance on federal lands. Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine and Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado chair the National Parks Subcommittee in their...
Maine clarifies marijuana rules to try to aid medical users
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine has clarified some of its marijuana rulemaking procedures in a move supporters said would protect medical users and growers. The bill to clarify new rulemaking parameters for the state Office of Marijuana Policy went into effect late last month as an...
Maine lawmakers sustain vetoes as they finish their work
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature sustained five vetoes by Gov. Janet Mills on Monday as lawmakers wrapped up their work. Bills that were vetoed focused on governance of the University of Maine System; electric transmission lines; probation and conditions of release;...
Maine to make abuse protection laws easier to understand
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine has changed its protection from abuse laws in an attempt to make them more accessible and understandable for survivors of domestic violence. Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, has signed a bill passed by the Maine Legislature that sought to clarify the laws....
1st Black justice ready to serve on Maine's supreme court
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The first African American to serve on Maine’s highest court was sworn in Wednesday, and he said he’s ready to get to work. Rick Lawrence said he's already reading legal briefs to bring himself up to speed on some of the cases before the court. ...
Maine seeks to preserve downtowns with tax credit program
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers have extended a historic preservation tax credit to try to rehabilitate properties in downtown areas. The Maine Senate voted in late April to extend the sunset date for the Maine Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from 2025 to 2030. Supporters...
Editorial Roundup: New England
Hartford Courant. April 25, 2022. Editorial: Car taxes in Connecticut are unfair Let’s get right to it: The way car taxes are imposed in Connecticut is simply not fair. How can they be when the same car with the same value is taxed differently...
Maine might switch to semi-open primary election system
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine might move to a more open style of primary elections. The Maine Legislature has voted in favor of semi-open primaries, which supporters said would allow unaffiliated voters more voice in elections. About a third of Maine registered voters are unenrolled...
Proposal to expand units allowed on housing lots becomes law
Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday signed into law a bill that expands the number of dwellings that can be built on housing lots to help address the state's affordable housing crisis. The new law allows accessory dwelling units and duplexes to be built in areas zoned for...
Tribal sovereignty effort faltering, for now, in Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — With a Democratic governor and a Democratic-controlled Legislature, Native Americans in Maine saw this year as their best shot at changing a landmark settlement to win sovereignty from the state. The tribes now reluctantly accept that sweeping change is...
