Lawmakers in Augusta voted along partisan lines Friday to approve a resolution to study the extent to which housing voucher recipients in the state are allegedly discriminated against on account of the fact they receive taxpayer-funded income-based assistance.
After being passed by legislators in March, the resolution was placed on the special “study table” pending final passage, as is done for all legislation designed to establish a study commission.
This put the resolution before the Legislative Council, which is tasked with reviewing all study bills approved by lawmakers in order to prioritize staff and budgetary allocations.
Under this resolution, the Commission must complete a report by November 6, 2024 detailing their findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any suggested legislation. This report must then be presented to lawmakers in 2025.
Although this measure initially began as a sweeping proposal to change the Maine Human Rights Act and create a new rental assistance program, it was later amended to be a resolution creating a study commission.
Despite the fact that the Housing Committee’s recommendation to the Legislature was split along partisan lines — with all Democrats supporting the majority Ought to Pass As Amended report and all Republicans signing onto the Ought Not to Pass report — both chambers opted to pass the resolution without a roll call vote.
LD 1710 — presented by Rep. Cheryl A. Golek (D-Harpswell) — originally started as an extensive piece of legislation amending the Maine Human Rights Act and establishing a $75 million rental assistance program, among other things.
It also would have required landlords responsible for more than ten units to reserve at least 10 percent of their offerings for affordable housing.
Additionally, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would have been required under the original version of this law to “develop a comprehensive application form for applicants of general assistance, emergency assistance and rental assistance.”
The original version of this bill also would have made a number of changes to the municipal general assistance program, including “redefining maximum levels of assistance to better reflect the cost of basic necessities.”
Furthermore, this would have amended the state’s real estate transfer tax provisions by “creating a graduated tax based upon the sales price of the real estate” and dedicated the proceeds of this tax to “assist in funding” the rental assistance program.
Click Here to Read the Original Draft of LD 1710
After the Housing Committee accepted public comment on the original draft of the bill, however, it was replaced with an amendment seeking instead to establish the Commission to Improve Tenant-Landlord Relationships and Maximize the Use of Housing Vouchers.
It was this version of the legislation that was ultimately adopted by lawmakers in both chambers.
Click Here to Read LD 1710 As Amended
At around 8:30pm Friday — the final day that the 131st Legislature met — Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) moved to take this resolution off of the special appropriations table and consider it for final passage.
Sen. Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) then requested a roll call vote on Sen. Daughtry’s subsequent motion for final passage. This was the only roll call vote taken for LD 1710 at any point during the legislative process by either chamber.
The resolution was ultimately adopted along strictly partisan lines by a margin of 20-11. Four senators were excused at the time this vote was taken.
LD 1710 will now be sent to Gov. Janet Mills (D) for final approval. Because the Legislature has now adjourned, the governor must sign this resolution into law within ten days for it to take effect. If Gov. Mills chooses to not sign the legislation, it will not become law.
