The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Maine Legislature Splits on Gun Control Measures, Advancing Ghost Gun Ban While Rejecting Bump Stock and Other Restrictions
  • Golden and Pingree Vote Against DOGE Cuts
  • It’s Only Mid-June, Yet Summer’s Already Getting Hot
  • Loudoun County, Virginia Should Serve as a Warning to Maine–and the Nation
  • Republican Senator Votes to Keep Transgender Policies in Schools While Democrat Senator Recites a Poem
  • South Portland Police Apprehend Suspect Using K9s, Drone After Stabbing Near Main Street
  • Juvenile Charged with Murder for Chelsea Double Homicide
  • Effort to Reverse Maine’s Controversial 2023 Abortion Bill Defeated by Lawmakers
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Friday, June 13
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » Maine Legislature acts on COVID-19, gives Gov. Mills broad authority to respond
News

Maine Legislature acts on COVID-19, gives Gov. Mills broad authority to respond

Jacob PosikBy Jacob PosikMarch 18, 2020Updated:March 18, 2020No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

The Maine Legislature adjourned Tuesday evening after a marathon session where the body spent most of its time working on emergency legislation related to the outbreak of COVID-19 and a supplemental budget, however it did address other work that appeared on the House and Senate calendars.

The omnibus COVID-19 response bill passed by lawmakers Tuesday evening gives flexibility to municipalities and schools to operate on their existing budgets if town meetings are delayed due to the virus, though it also expanded the powers of the executive branch over the June primary elections.

Here’s a recap of what lawmakers approved during yesterday’s legislative session:

–Supplemental budget: Provides for more than $70 million in new spending, including an additional $38 million for public schools and sending $17 million to the state’s budget stabilization fund. Separately, $11 was set aside for emergency coronavirus response spending.

While this is roughly $50 million less than what the governor originally proposed, it does contain some spending unrelated to the state’s coronavirus response, including funds for career and technical education schools and the state’s community college system.

It’s unclear if projected revenues will materialize into the future given the ongoing economic slowdown caused by the virus, which could cause budgetary woes for Maine down the road. Everyone involved in Maine politics will be anxious to see the next report from the state’s economic forecasting committee to get a better idea of how the virus is impacting our economy and revenue collections.

–Omnibus coronavirus response: This bill significantly expands the powers of Governor Mills during this public health crisis, including the ability to prohibit water and electric utilities from shuttering services due to unpaid bills and control over the June primary elections.

Under the bill, Governor Mills can take “any reasonable administrative actions” to facilitate voting for the June 9, 2020 primary elections, including conducting the election by absentee ballot. The bill also enables the governor to allow for compulsory school attendance requirements to be met through remote learning and suspends elements of the state’s Freedom of Access Act that require elected bodies to meet in person.

The measure also allows the governor to modify or suspend requirements for professional or occupational licensing if strict compliance with the requirements would hinder an effective emergency response.

This is an area where the governor should enhance response efforts by allowing medical professionals licensed in other states to immediately become licensed in Maine and expediting the licensing process for those actively seeking medical licensure in Maine. These actions would cut through unnecessary red tape in this time of emergency and give Maine access to medical professionals who can help defend against COVID-19.

In addition, lawmakers agreed to delay the implementation of a statewide plastic bag ban that was set to take effect in April. The law’s new effective date is January 2021.

-Other business: Outside of coronavirus response measures, lawmakers did approve other legislation during Tuesday’s marathon session. This includes a bill that would establish a process for the titling of tiny homes in Maine. The bill’s passage will help a local small business owner continue operating after rules issued by the Secretary of State in 2019 put her livelihood in jeopardy.

Lawmakers also approved a new $120 million bond package that will be sent to voters later this year. The package includes $105 million for transportation infrastructure improvements and $15 million to expand broadband coverage in Maine. An amendment added to the bill requires the bond issue to be decided by voters during the June primary election.

Currently, no date has been set for the Maine Legislature to reconvene. If they do not reconvene in 2020 to finish their work, hundreds of bills will die by default.

After lawmakers adjourned, Governor Mills issued an executive order Wednesday announcing new emergency measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Maine, including a statewide ban on dine-in service at all bars and restaurants and a prohibition on gatherings of 10 more people. These changes take effect on Wednesday at 6 p.m. She also requested nonessential public-facing businesses to close for 14 days.

adjournment bonding bonds broadband Commentary coronavirus COVID-19 Education Funding Featured governor janet mills Janet Mills Maine Legislature Opinion supplemental budget transportation
Previous ArticleProposed expansion of the Prescription Monitoring Program violates patients’ rights
Next Article Letter offers recommendations to assist Governor Mills in Maine’s COVID-19 response efforts
Jacob Posik

Jacob Posik, of Turner, is the director of legislative affairs at Maine Policy Institute. He formerly served as policy analyst and communications director at Maine Policy, as well as editor of the Maine Wire. Posik can be reached at jposik@mainepolicy.org.

Subscribe to Substack

Related Posts

Maine Legislature Splits on Gun Control Measures, Advancing Ghost Gun Ban While Rejecting Bump Stock and Other Restrictions

June 13, 2025

Golden and Pingree Vote Against DOGE Cuts

June 13, 2025

It’s Only Mid-June, Yet Summer’s Already Getting Hot

June 13, 2025

Leave A Reply

Subscribe to Substack
Recent News

Maine Legislature Splits on Gun Control Measures, Advancing Ghost Gun Ban While Rejecting Bump Stock and Other Restrictions

June 13, 2025

Golden and Pingree Vote Against DOGE Cuts

June 13, 2025

Republican Senator Votes to Keep Transgender Policies in Schools While Democrat Senator Recites a Poem

June 13, 2025

South Portland Police Apprehend Suspect Using K9s, Drone After Stabbing Near Main Street

June 13, 2025

Juvenile Charged with Murder for Chelsea Double Homicide

June 13, 2025
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.