A resolution establishing a commission to study the extent of “housing discrimination” in Maine was among the thirty-five bills passed on Veto Day that Gov. Janet Mills (D) refused to sign into law.
The final day of the Legislative session in Maine — colloquially referred to as “Veto Day” — is typically set aside for lawmakers to consider whether or not to overturn any vetoes that have been issued by the governor.
This year, however, lawmakers also used this time to approve thirty-five new bills that were subsequently sent to Gov. Mills for consideration.
In a letter shared with members of the Legislature, Mills explained that she would not be signing any of these measures into law, irrespective of her stance on their objectives.
[RELATED: Janet Mills Will Not Sign Bills Passed by Lawmakers on Veto Day]
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.
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.
This Commission would have been directed to “consider the extent to which recipients of housing vouchers are subject to discrimination based on the fact they are recipients of housing assistance and the adequacy of current law to deter or prevent discrimination against renters who use income-based assistance programs.”
It would also have been the Commission’s responsibility to take stock of the “incentives that currently exist to encourage landlords” to rent to those relying on assistance and identify the reasons why landlords are “unwilling or reluctant” to enter into a lease with those utilizing rental assistance.
To do this, the Commission would have been instructed to gather input from landlords who do not rent to those relying on housing vouchers or other forms of rental assistance, as well as those who do and “wish to share [their] positive experiences.”
The Commission would also have been required to review what other states have done to reduce “housing and income discrimination based on source of income” and consider what Maine is currently during to “provide outreach and educational information” to landlords regarding rental assistance programs.
A report containing their findings and recommendations, complete with any proposed legislation, must be shared with the Legislature by November 6, 2024.
It was this version of the legislation that was ultimately adopted by lawmakers in both chambers.
A roll call vote was not taken on the resolution until it was up for final passage in the Senate, at which point it was adopted along strictly partisan lines. Four senators were excused at the time this vote was taken.
In her letter to lawmakers explaining why she decided not to sign the thirty-five bills approved on Veto Day, Mills said that lawmakers’ choice to ignore the legislative processes outlined in statute and in the state’s constitution left her “gravely concerned.”
“Signing any of these bills, no matter how much I may see value in some of them, would send the message that the Legislature is allowed to flout its own self-imposed and Constitutionally-imposed limitations, which would create a precedent for future legislatures to do the same, and subject the bills to the threat of serious legal challenge,” said Mills.
The governor went on to argue that “constitutional norms” and “institutional safeguards” must be maintained “no matter how inconvenient” they may be, “even when they may be an impediment to achieving good policy aims.”
Click Here to Read the Full Letter Gov. Mills Sent to Lawmakers
All that crap just to rent an apartment. And you don’t think gov’t is bloated and intrusive?
Is that a photo of governor standing in front of Chinese grow house # 568 …….?
I’m impressed . She didn’t sign the bills . She’s correct …..they were too late . Rules are Rules .
Republicans and Normal People should use this as a lesson plan , because you can be sure that these sneaky democrats will bring this shit to the floor again just as soon as they get back in session .
Democrats don’t care about the rules . Rules don’t apply to Democrats .
Normal versus Crazy folks . Your choice .