On Monday, the Maine House of Representatives will meet for a legislative session to tackle a whopping 45 divided reports on the 74-page Legislative Calendar. The day will most likely be split into two sessions and it is likely that it will run into the evening. The increased intensity of the workload is the beginning of the dash to the end of session. Legislators will be working daily over the next two and a half weeks as they try to meet a projected adjournment date of June 18.
The bills up for votes today are very diverse in policy and subject matter. We’ve broken down and grouped by subject matter the bills that will most impact Mainers on a day-to-day basis. These are votes that are scheduled for just Monday. There will be as many or more every day for next two and a half weeks. Buckle up, the 132nd legislature is about to shift into overdrive.
PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE BILLS:
LD 406 “An Act to Repeal the Laws Providing for Paid Family and Medical Leave and to Reimburse Taxpayers” is an emergency bill from Representative Josh Morris (R-Turner). The legislation would repeal the one percent PFML tax that the Democrat majority passed last session. Private sector workers and businesses alike bear this tax burden. Interestingly, state employees have their PFML obligation paid for by the taxpayer. The bill is most likely dead, but a roll call is certainly in order.
LD 1273 “An Act to Make Paid Family and Medical Leave Voluntary” is from Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor). This is a bill that would make the PFML tax mandate a voluntary program. It is most likely dead as well. If there’s one thing that Majority Democrats have shown, it’s that their ideas are so good that they have to be mandatory.
LD 1333 “An Act to Make Changes to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program” is a bill from Representative Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan). The intent of the bills it to tighten up exactly how and when the PFML program can be used. Currently, the scheduling of leave is a free for all that employers have to abide by or face government crackdown. This bill would allow businesses to plan and maintain the operations of their businesses around the PFML. The pro-business bill is most likely dead.
LD 1221 “RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Prohibit the Legislature from Using Paid Family and Medical Leave Program Funds for Any Other Purpose” is a smart bill from Representative Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford). This is Rep. Drinkwater’s fourth term and he’s been around enough to see certain budget funds raided to pay for things they were never intended to. This is a constitutional amendment, so it’s already a heavy lift. Making Democrats vote against raiding funds to pay for pet projects in the closing days of session is a challenging but noble task.
LD 1712 “An Act to Amend the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program to
Balance Support of Businesses and Employees” This is a bipartisan bill from Representative Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick). The bill comes with a Labor Committee majority report of ought not to pass by all Democrats and Representative Laurel Libby (R-Auburn). The remaining Labor Republicans voted to pass the bill in an amended from. This is probably because they thought it was the best that they could do to try and reign in the PFML program with a Democrat sponsored bill. LD 1712’s fate on the floor could go either way.
CRIME BILLS:
LD 1146 “An Act Regarding the Required State of Mind Relating to Robbery” is a bill from criminal defense lawyer and legislator, Representative David Sinclair (D-Bath). The bill amends Maine’s robbery statute in response to the new federal standard set by Counterman v. Colorado case in 2023. The bill requires that an individual must
‘Intentionally or knowingly’ threaten a person while committing theft to have the culpable state of mind to be found criminally liable for robbery. If the party line bill passes criminals would be wise to keep their mouths shut while taking your stuff. That way they can get a lesser charge.
LD 1147 “An Act Regarding the Required State of Mind Relating to the Threatening Display or Carrying of a Concealed Weapon” is another bill from defense lawyer and legislator David Sinclair of Bath. The bill is another alignment of state law with the 2023 Counterman v Colorado case. The bill requires that a person must intentionally or knowingly conceal a weapon on their person or display a weapon in a threatening manner to have the culpable state of mind to be found criminally liable under that statute. The bill has competing ought to pass reports along party lines. Most likely the Majority report in favor of it will prevail.
LD 1773 “An Act to Criminalize Certain Offenses Related to Gift Card Thefts” is a bill from Senator Matt Harrington (R-York). It would enact a definition of “retail merchandise” to include the theft of gift cards, among other things, in the crime of organized retail theft. It’s simple and common sense. That’s probably why everyone on the Criminal Justice Committee voted to pass it except for Representative Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill). It will be interesting to hear why Rep. Milliken voted against the proposal if she is inclined to speak to it on the floor.
CRACK COCAINE AND PSYCHEDYLIC BILLS:
LD 1366 “An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of the Drug Laws Related to Cocaine Base” is a bill from Representative Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill). The definition of the bill reads ‘This bill eliminates possession of cocaine in the form of cocaine base in a quantity of
more than 4 grams from the list of schedule W drugs for which a person who has prior
convictions for drug crimes may be charged with the Class B crime of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs. The bill amends the provision of law that establishes a Class A crime for aggravated illegal importation of cocaine by removing language that allows a person to be charged under this provision for importation of cocaine in the form of cocaine base in a quantity of 32 grams or more.’ Read that again and replace ‘cocaine base’ with ‘crack’. The Milliken bill would essentially decriminalize crack possession and trafficking into the state of Maine. Amazingly, this bill got a party line ought to pass vote in the Criminal Justice Commitee and is on its way to becoming law. I’ll willing to bet that former Attorney General and current Governor Janet Mills (D) would veto it. The bill getting that far in the legislative process might incentivize street drug dealers to hire lobbyists next go round. It works for big Pharma.
LD 1034 “An Act to Decriminalize Personal Possession of Therapeutic Amounts of Psilocybin for Adults” is a bill from Representative Grayson Lookner (D-Portland). The bill has an interesting three report split from the Criminal Justice Committee. Two are ought to pass and one is ought not to pass. The bill’s sponsors include Republicans who may support the bill for psilocybin’s potential therapeutic effects for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is no way to tell how this bill will go on the floor, but the speeches will likely be entertaining and may make their way onto social media.
CLASSROOM TRANSPARENCY BILL:
LD 660 “An Act to Provide Transparency and Public Access to Public School Curricula” is a bill from Representative Liz Caruso (R-Caratunk). The bill comes from the Education Committee with a party line split. Majority Democrats support the ought not to pass report. The bill would increase transparency of school curriculum and ensure that that is exactly what is being taught in classrooms. It would also require the Department of Education to list and make available to the public all administrator, teacher and staff professional development and instructional programs offered to schools that are paid for with state funds.
MANDATING CONTRACTOR LICENSING BILL:
LD 1226 “An Act to Protect Consumers by Licensing Residential Building Contractors” is a bill from Representative Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick). The bill has competing ought to pass as amended reports on a party line split. So, either way it goes, Maine’s residential contractors will soon have to get a state mandated license from the bills’ newly created Residential Licensing Board. Government never shrinks.
BANGOR MALL AND EMINENT DOMAIN BILL:
LD 901 “Resolve, Directing the Maine State Housing Authority to Negotiate for the Purchase of or Acquire by Eminent Domain the Land and Buildings Commonly Known as the Bangor Mall” is a bill from Bangor’s Senator Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot). Sen. Baldacci’s cosponsors include three nearby House members who are Representative Amy Roeder (D-Bangor), Representative Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor) and Representative Laura Supica (D-Bangor). The legislation directs the Maine State Housing Authority to enter into negotiations to buy the Bangor Mall. If all concerned parties don’t reach a deal after 12 months, the Maine State Housing Authority will seize the property through Eminent Domain for affordable housing. There’s no mention in the bill if that affordable housing is to be made available to Maine citizens or someone else. Judging by how excited the Bangor Democrat delegation is to seize the property, I’m guessing it’s for someone else. The Housing Committee report is a party line except for Senator Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) voting with the Democrat majority to pass the Eminent Domain bill.
There will be many other votes tomorrow besides the ones that we have highlighted. House and Senate session begin at 10am and you may watch them here. You may also view the entire calendar here. The Maine Wire will be covering all the legislative action tomorrow. Be sure to follow The Maine Wire on X and Facebook for the latest updates.
