Author: Libby Palanza

The United States Supreme Court issued an order Monday allowing for women to continue accessing mifepristone, a drug used in medication-induced abortions, by mail. This comes after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed only in person in response to a case brought by the State of Louisiana. In a brief order signed by Justice Samuel Alito, the Court temporarily stayed the ruling through 5pm on Monday, May 11, 2026. This issue was brought to the Supreme Court by two drug companies that produce mifepristone, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, calling the 5th Circuit’s order…

The White House has expressed support for making the moratorium on new regulations pertaining to North Atlantic Right Whale valid through 2035. Friday afternoon, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a State of Administration Policy backing a bill Rep. Jared Golden’s (D) bill extending the current regulatory moratorium by seven years. The original moratorium, set to expire in 2028, was secured in 2022 while former President Joe Biden was in office, due in part to the urging of Maine’s congressional delegation alongside Gov. Janet Mills (D). In its notice, the OMB explained that the effort to extend this…

As of May 1, most employees in Maine are eligible to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, as well as to bond with a newborn baby or newly adopted child. Also eligible for leave under the program are those who are experiencing a serious health condition and are rendered unable to work for an extended period, and anyone serving as a caregiver for someone who meets the other conditions. Mainers began paying into the program on January 1, 2025, more than a year in advance of the program becoming available. Enacted…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case concerning the federal government’s efforts to end temporary protected status (TPS) designation for thousands of people living in the United States from Syria and Haiti. Under the TPS program, individuals from certain countries are temporarily given legal status to live and work in the United States if they are unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary circumstances. Relief is limited to 18 months, but the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the duration of these protections if it is…

The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a group of faith-based pregnancy centers is able to bring a First Amendment challenge against the New Jersey state government. First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, the coalition at the heart of this case, describes itself as a “faith-based nonprofit” that provides “material support and medical services like ultrasounds and pregnancy tests under the direction of a licensed medical director.” The group has attempted to bring a challenge against the New Jersey state government in federal court over its 2022 attempt to demand information regarding its fundraising practices in federal court. The…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill into law Friday requiring businesses with more than ten employees to include a prospective range of pay when posting a job listing. Under this law, businesses will also be required to disclose, at an employee’s request, the range of pay for their position. A record of each employee’s position and pay history must be maintained for the duration of employment plus three years. Just over $81,000 was appropriated from the state’s General Fund for the 2026-27 fiscal year to cover the costs associated with enforcing this new measure. Lawmakers on the Labor Committee…

The United States Supreme Court has struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana as an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” The Court was divided 6-3 over this case, with Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. “The Constitution almost never permits a State to discriminate on the basis of race, and such discrimination triggers strict scrutiny,” the majority said. There are only two instances in which such discrimination is permissible: “avoiding imminent and serious risks to human safety in prisons” and “remediating specific, identified instances of past discrimination that violated the Constitution or a statute.” At question in…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has continued to tout provisions of the $500 million supplemental budget in the weeks since she signed it into law. On Monday, the governor attended an event with Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce to celebrate the inclusion of a measure raising Maine’s minimum teacher salary over the course of the next three years. Under Part SSS of the supplemental budget, the minimum salary for teachers statewide will be increased from $40,000 to $50,000 by the fall of 2029. This will be done incrementally over the course of the next few years, going up to $45,000 in…

InterMed has announced that it will no longer be accepting Martin’s Point Medicare Advantage plans starting in January of 2027. In a written statement shared Friday, InterMed President Phyllidia Ku-Ruth explained that “this decision was not made suddenly or lightly.” “Over the last several years, we have consistently raised concerns that the structure of our agreement was making it increasingly difficult to deliver the high-quality care our patients need and deserve while maintaining a sustainable practice environment for our teams,” Ku-Ruth said. “We are purposely providing this notice more than eight months in advance, so that our patients have time…

The United States Supreme Court has greenlit the use of Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map by overturning a lower court’s ruling Monday. Last year, the Court allowed the map to be used on a temporary basis, but Monday’s ruling made this decision permanent, solidifying its use in the upcoming midterm elections and beyond. In December of 2025, the Justices granted Texas’ request for a stay, finding that the state was likely to succeed on the merits of its case. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority at the time, arguing that the temporary ruling…

Maine’s Congressional delegation has reached out to the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding a payment issue with a contractor serving several of the state’s island communities. Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Angus King (I), Rep. Jared Golden (D), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) joined forces to send a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner seeking clarification on the situation. Reports have been made that the USPS failed to pay the Rockland-based Penobscot Island Air (PIA) more than $349,000 for its mail-delivery services. Due to this outstanding balance, PIA announced on April 21 that it would be suspending operations in…

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a Texas law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. Those challenging the law have alleged in their complaint that the measures represent violations of the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise clauses. The state government, however, has argued that the requirements are permissible, citing Supreme Court precedent and the Ten Commandments’ historical relevance. It has been the expectation for some time now that regardless of which party prevailed, the ruling would ultimately be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Dr. Patrick Flavin, Baylor University’s Political Science Chair, indicated…

As part of the supplemental budget signed into law earlier this month created a new grant program designed to expand free meals to students at off-site public preschool programs. This provision was based on a bill introduced by Senate President Mattie Daughtry last year. Included under Part BB of the supplemental budget, the Early Childhood Nutrition Grant Program will allow eligible off-site public preschool programs to receive a grant equal to or less than the total annual per-student reimbursement rate for the National School Lunch Program. Funds from this program cannot be distributed until the 2027-28 school year. For the…

Housing in Maine is among the most expensive in the country, according to a new report shared by personal finance website WalletHub. Mainers were found to pay the third largest share of their income in rent each month — a whopping 52.72 percent of income — surpassed only by New York and Hawaii. Homeowners in Maine fared comparatively better, although the state still ranked in the bottom half, coming in 15th-worst, with an average monthly housing cost of 26.60 percent of income. To calculate these rankings, mortgage and rent payments were taken into consideration alongside home energy costs. Click Here…

Sen. Angus King (I) has joined a group of Democratic senators in pushing back against President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order. This order, issued in March, has also been the subject of several lawsuits alleging that it is a violation of both the Constitution and the law. Under this executive order, the United States Postal Service (USPS) would be required to establish new standards for mail-in and absentee ballot handling, as well as provide each state with a Mail-In and Absentee Participation List. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) would be required to…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a partisan bill into law extending Maine’s Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit through 2036. LD 2116, sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor), was originally intended to make the credit permanent, but the Democratic majority on the Taxation Committee voted to recommend a pared-back proposal. The Maine Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit was first approved by lawmakers in 2020 with bipartisan support and was modeled after the state’s rehabilitation tax credit. Under this program, developers who invest in the preservation or construction of affordable housing are eligible to receive state income tax credits. According to…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has announced that Maine will be receiving an additional $4.3 million in home heating assistance funding from the federal government. This comes shortly after Sen. Collins and a group of bipartisan colleagues sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging the release of the remaining $400 million in funding appropriated by Congress in FY26 for heating assistance. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, more commonly referred to as LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that helps low-income households cover utility bills, respond to energy emergencies, and reduce long-term costs through home weatherization…

As lawmakers wrap up their work for the session, two bills aiming to reform the state’s child welfare system have been left without a clear resolution. While one measure would have created a new Department of Child and Family Services, the other would have given the Legislature more oversight of the state’s existing operations. Theoretically, these bills could still be taken up by lawmakers when they return later this month for what is colloquially known as “Veto Day,” but this time is not generally used to advance new measures. Additionally, it is not clear if the governor would allow any…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a unanimously approved bill into law replacing the Child Welfare Services Ombudsman program with the new Office of the Child Advocate. Sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the new office created by LD 1893 will be responsible for providing “independent oversight,” promoting “the best interests of children,” and ensuring that “children receive timely, safe and effective services in accordance with state and federal law.” For administrative purposes, the Office of the Child Advocate will be established within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS). The Child Advocate will be appointed for a…

Central Maine Power (CMP) has asked the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve a new rate change. This move comes several months after the Maine PUC unanimously rejected the utility’s most recent request to increase costs, arguing that the proposal “misse[d] the mark,” noting that Mainers are facing mounting affordability challenges. Earlier this year, CMP signaled its intention to file for a rate increase this spring, costing the average household around $7 each month. Because this rate change would coincide with the end date for other charges implemented to help pay for the utility’s response to recent years’ extreme…

The Maine Supreme Court is set to consider a case challenging the state’s rules prohibiting most forms of fishing in certain bodies of water, arguing that the prohibitions allegedly violate the state’s constitutional provision protecting the right to food. Earlier this month, Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy dismissed the lawsuit, but the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal this week. This is the second time in recent years that Maine’s Right to Food Amendment has been the subject of a lawsuit where it has been pitted against the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s mandate to “preserve, protect, and…

The Maine State Legislature has approved a first-of-its-kind temporary ban on large data centers. Whether or not it will receive a signature from Gov. Janet Mills (D), however, remains to be seen. At an event in Bangor last week, the governor reportedly told members of the press that an exemption for the $550 million project at the former Androscoggin paper mill in Jay was necessary to earn her support. “The people of Jay need those jobs, with appropriate guardrails on preserving water resources, electricity resources, local generation, and all those things,” said Gov. Mills. Such an exception, however, was not…

A bill establishing a new Office of the Child Advocate has now been sent to Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk for a signature after receiving unanimous approval in both the House and the Senate. Sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, LD 1893 replaces the Child Welfare Services Ombudsman program with the new Office of the Child Advocate. As described in the bill, the mission of this office would be “to provide independent oversight of state agencies and promote the best interests of children and ensure that children receive timely, safe and effective services in accordance with state and federal…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has joined forces with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in leading a bipartisan group of senators, including Sen. Angus King (I), in urging the federal government to “revise and reissue those applications” for a federal education grant program. According to the coalition, U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Linda McMahon made significant changes to the guiding principles of the Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) grant competitions. Generally speaking, TRIO Programs are “Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.” Under this umbrella are eight separate programs…

The City of South Portland has moved to close James O. Kaler Elementary and reconfigure students by grade level, but residents may be given the opportunity to weigh in before plans are finalized. A petition is being circulated that would put the closure of Kaler School before voters as a referendum question should it be signed by at least 10 percent of the number of voters who cast a ballot in the last gubernatorial election. Resident Wheeler Boyd-Boffa was issued the petition by the city clerk Wednesday, according to the Portland Press Herald, more than a week after the school…

Last month, Maine homes sold for a median price of $375,000, unchanged from March of 2025. Home sale volume also remained consistent over this period. Nationally, home sales dropped 0.3 percent in a year-over-year comparison, while prices rose 1.3 percent to $412,400. In the northeast, sales dropped by 12.2 percent as the median sale price increased 5.7 percent to $494,500. “As families time their transitions around the school year and Maine’s snow-free months, we expect to see more homes coming onto the market in April and May,” the Maine Association of Realtors said in a statement. “On average, 39 families…

Under the supplemental budget signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills (D), all Maine public school districts will be required to adopt a bell-to-bell cell phone ban by August of this year. Accompanying this mandate is a $350,000 appropriation from the state’s General Fund. This represents a departure from the policy adopted by lawmakers this past summer directing school boards to develop their own approach to regulating student cell phone use during the school day. Although that measure originated as a statewide cell phone ban, it was later amended to preserve local control. All members of the Education…

As part of the recently signed supplemental budget, Maine has now made free community college a permanent fixture in the state. In recent years, a pandemic-era program has allowed several classes of graduating high school seniors to attend Maine’s community colleges both tuition- and fee-free. During the first wave of the program, approximately 6,400 students took advantage of these benefits. Last year, lawmakers considered a bill that would have solidified this program in state law, but the measure was unanimously rejected in committee before ever making it to the chamber floor. [RELATED: Free Community College Will Not Become a Permanent…

Maine’s $500 million supplemental budget was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) Friday after narrowly passing the House and Senate the day before. While lawmakers in the House were divided along strict partisan lines, one Democrat in the Senate, Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), broke ranks to join the Republicans in opposition to the measure. Among the provisions included in the final version of the budget are a new tax on Mainers earning over $1 million, free community college, funding for “reproductive health care” providers, as well as a plan to send $300 checks to many Maine residents, among…

Included in the supplemental budget advanced by the Democratic majority in Augusta was a “millionaire tax” that would charge residents an additional 2 percent on all income earned over $1 million. Maine’s current highest tax bracket caps out at 7.15 percent, the most wealthy Mainers may soon be subject to a total of 9.15 percent income tax on a portion of their earnings. The threshold at which this surcharge applies would be $1.5 million for heads of household and those filing jointly. According to WGME, this new tax can be expected to impact roughly 2,400 households. A similar idea had…

Maine Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) have called for continued engagement with seafood industry stakeholders regarding concerns over ropeless gear, also known as “on-demand” gear. In a letter to Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Eugenio Piñero Soler, the senators urged consideration of alternatives such as Dynamic Area Management. Sens. Collins and King explain in their letter that while Maine has made “meaningful progress” toward the eventual adoption of innovative fishing technologies, there are still “substantial issues” that must be resolved before it is “suitable for broad implementation in Maine’s fisheries.” “Cost…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Monday that Maine will be receiving a combined $65 million for two rural infrastructure projects through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP). This represents an outsized portion, roughly equal to 16 percent, of the $408 million being awarded in total through the program. Nearly $39 million of this will be going towards the replacement of 11 state-owned bridges across rural central Maine, while the remaining $26 million will be used to replace the bridge decks on four state-owned bridges along Interstate 95 (I-95) in Penobscot County. “Growing up in Caribou,” said…

The amended supplemental budget under consideration by the Maine State Legislature contains a provision that would establish millions of dollars in ongoing funding for “reproductive health care and family planning” providers. Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced her intention to support such a measure in January, explaining that she wanted to “offset the impacts of Federal funding cuts implemented by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.” The language included in Part Z of the amended supplemental budget would substitute state funding for Title X grant recipients in the event that federal money should be restricted or rescinded, as well as if…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill into law prohibiting medical debt collectors from placing a lien on a person’s home or garnishing their wages. This comes less than a year after state lawmakers passed a law preventing medical debt from being factored into Mainers’ credit scores. [RELATED: Medical Debt Will No Longer Play a Role in Calculating Mainers’ Credit Scores] After this latest measure, LD 2129, received unanimous approval from members of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee, both the House and the Senate advanced the bill by voice vote. “Just like with consumer credit…

The Maine Supreme Court is in unanimous agreement that expanding the use of ranked-choice voting to include all state elections would represent a violation of the Maine State Constitution. Maine has used ranked-choice voting for federal offices since 2018, but the Maine Supreme Court explained in a 2017 advisory opinion that requiring candidates for state offices to earn majority support would violate the Maine Constitution, which states that the candidate winning the most votes, or a plurality, prevails and does not stipulate that a majority — or more than 50 percent — is needed to win. Although LD 1666 sought…

Maine is among the 23 states suing the Trump Administration over the president’s executive order outlining new federal actions intended to strengthen election integrity, enhance citizenship verification, and establish uniform standards for mail-in and absentee ballots. Led by California and filed in a Massachusetts court, the challenge alleges that the directives represent an unconstitutional attempt to interfere with the states’ administration of elections. According to the lawsuit, neither the Constitution nor any federal law gives the president the authority to mandate changes to election procedures. In his executive order, President Donald Trump cited the Help America Vote Act of 2002…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Gov. Janet Mills (D) celebrated Thursday after a federal appeals court rejected the Trump Administration’s request to allow the federal government to impose new rules for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care program. A coalition of twenty states, including Maine, has argued that these rules would sharply limit how much of the grants can go toward permanent housing and renewals. The complaint also alleges HUD has imposed unlawful conditions on funding eligibility, such as requiring providers to recognize only two genders, mandating that residents accept services as a…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed into law a bill requiring the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider affordability when carrying out its prescribed duties. Members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee were divided over the proposal earlier this year, exhibiting partisan divisions that were ultimately reflected in roll call votes taken by the House and Senate in March. The final version of the bill directs the Maine PUC to develop an “affordability metric” to be used in assessing the impact of electricity bills on “the overall energy burden for residential customers of an investor-owned transmission and…

The cost of heating fuel in Maine has remained above $5 per gallon, according to the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Heating oil’s per gallon price tag of $5.37 per gallon represents a 41 percent increase since February. As of March 30, kerosene prices averaged at $6.25 per gallon. Estimations based on a standard 275-gallon oil tank indicates that Mainers are now paying an additional $475 for a fill-up compared to February. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly by the DOER and available to view here. Click Here to Read the DOER’s Full Statement The DOER went on to…

House lawmakers have advanced along nearly partisan lines a bill supporting the conversion of vacant school buildings into residential housing. Sponsored by Rep. Traci Gere (D-Kennebunkport), LD 2164 posits allocating $5 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year to the proposed Maine School Conversion Fund, portions of which would be used for a variety of expenses associated with transforming empty school buildings into usable housing. Termed the Vacant School Housing Conversion Program, the proposed initiative would be established within the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority and be authorized to provide “technical and financial assistance” to municipalities that choose to undertake such…

The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear a Maine mom’s case against a Damariscotta school in which she alleges they withheld information from her about her child’s gender transition. In December of 2022, mother Amber Lavigne discovered that a then-26-year-old social worker by the name of Samuel Roy had given her 13-year-old child two breast binders — garments designed to conceal the appearance of a female’s breasts — and provided instructions on their use. Lavigne also said that she was not told when Roy and other school officials began to use an alternative name and pronoun set for…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday morning in a case challenging President Donald Trump’s (R) stance on birthright citizenship. This past fall, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to uphold his Executive Order issued on Inauguration Day redefining birthright citizenship. Although the Court considered a case earlier this year stemming from challenges to the Administration’s new policy, the Justices were not tasked at the time with weighing in on the merits of the discussion. Instead, they were asked at the time to define the bounds of authority for federal judges, determining whether or not they have…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill clarifying what constitutes a “billing statement” under state law. Last year, Maine prohibited banks from charging customers a fee for opting to receive paper statements, but concerns were raised in the interim that the language was too broad. Credit unions brought up to lawmakers that this change not only eliminated fees for regular monthly statements, but also prevented them from charging to fulfill labor-intensive requests, such as those that encompass years’ worth of records. Under the new law, “billing statement” would be defined as a monthly account statement, allowing Mainers to receive…

The United States Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Tuesday that Colorado’s ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy for children is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. According to the majority, the ban “regulates speech based on viewpoint,” meaning that the lower courts erred in “failing to apply sufficiently rigorous First Amendment scrutiny.” A concurring opinion authored by Justice Elena Kagan joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, arguing that “had instead enacted a content-based but viewpoint-neutral law, it would raise a different and more difficult question.” Dissenting from the Court’s ruling was Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the grounds that the move “opens a dangerous…

Mainers bear the fifth highest overall tax burden nationwide, according to a recent study published by personal finance website WalletHub. This ranking takes into account property taxes and individual income taxes, as well as excise and sales taxes. Instead of looking at the rates themselves, this study considered these taxes as a share of personal income. The data used for this report was collected from the Tax Policy Center on March 3, 2026. Source: WalletHub Report, 03.31.26 Maine’s high placement on the list was primarily driven by the state’s property tax burden, which was found to be the fifth highest…

Applications for Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program opened Monday, allowing Mainers to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, as well as to bond with a newborn baby or newly adopted child. Also eligible for leave under the program are those who are experiencing a serious health condition and are rendered unable to work for an extended period, and anyone serving as a caregiver for someone who meets the other conditions. Mainers began paying into the program on January 1, 2025, more than a year in advance of…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Friday that she was able to preserve $190 million in federal funding for Maine’s rural hospitals after the state missed key milestones and failed to provide adequate information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the award’s implementation. In reaching out to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Sen. Collins underscored how critical the funding is for Maine’s rural hospitals and health care providers and urged CMS to help bring the state into compliance, which has since occurred. “Maine’s rural hospitals are under serious strain, with maternity wards and emergency departments continuing to…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Friday that Maine is now slated to receive $43 million in federal funding to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters. This money comes through the New England Heat Pump Accelerator, described by the governor as “a collaborative multi-state initiative supported by a Federal grant to rapidly increase the adoption of heat pump technology across the region.” Heat pump water heater purchased at participating Maine distributors and retailers will be eligible for an instant discount of up to $1,100 through Efficiency Maine rebates for eligible households. According to Gov. Mills, use of these…

Early Friday morning, the United States Senate agreed by voice vote to partially fund the Department of Homeland Security, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as some parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This represents a major step towards ending the now 42-day long shutdown impacting a number of critical government agencies, including TSA, FEMA, The Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Under the package approved by the Senate, these agencies would be funded as lawmakers continue to battle over ICE and CBP. This comes immediately after President Donald Trump announced that he…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in a case challenging the legality of counting late-arriving absentee ballots. Originating in Mississippi, the case asks the Justices to decide whether mail-in ballots can be counted after election day if they are postmarked on time. More than a dozen other states have similar laws on the books allowing for these ballots to be counted, so the Court’s ruling later this year can be expected to have a widespread impact. The law at the center of this case was first passed in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A…

The Trump Administration announced last week that Maine is going to be one of 13 states investigated over their abortion laws. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office for Civil Rights, the federal government is looking into whether the states in question are violating the 2005 Weldon Amendment, which prohibits discrimination against health care entities that do not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. “OCR launches these investigations to address certain states’ alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the HHS…

New polling from Emerson College shows Graham Platner holding a significant lead over Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary in the race for one of Maine’s seats in the United States Senate. Among likely Democratic voters, 55 percent have expressed support for Platner, while just 28 percent have said they plan to vote for Gov. Mills. 13 percent remain undecided. Source: Emerson College Poll, 03.23.26 When pitted head-to-head against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R), both Platner and Mills perform equally well, with results suggesting that either candidate would be able to earn a plurality of the votes. In both…

State lawmakers have advanced a bill giving Mainers the “right to repair” their electronic devices, but the House and Senate are in disagreement over which version of the bill to support. LD 1908, a bipartisan bill presented by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), looks to create an electronic “right to repair” law in the state, requiring that original equipment manufacturers make it possible for individuals and unauthorized repair shops to fix their products. Earlier this year, Sen. Tipping explained to members of the Housing and Economic Development (HED) Committee that the language he proposed aimed to build upon the work done…

Maine Senator Angus King (I) has joined a group of his Independent and Democratic Senate colleagues in calling upon Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to bring what they describe as a “key federal oversight group” out of dormancy. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – self-described as a “scientifically independent, volunteer panel” responsible for “making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services” – has been inactive for a year. Signing onto this letter alongside Sen. King are U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed an emergency bill carving out an exception to the state’s new law prohibiting stores containing pharmacies from selling tobacco products. Because of this, small grocery stores could still potentially be eligible for a tobacco license, assuming that several other key conditions are met. Although many retail pharmacies, including CVS in 2014 and Hannaford in 2020, have already independently decided to stop offering tobacco products in stores, most businesses will not have a choice beginning in April of this year. Under these new regulations, it is considered a civil violation punishable by a fine of…

A group of preservation and architectural organizations are suing the Trump Administration in an attempt to block any further physical changes from being made to the Kennedy Center. President Donald Trump (R) has indicated that he believes it is necessary to shut down the performing arts center for two years in order to make a series of renovations. According to reports from the Associated Press, the lawsuit does not challenge the need for routine maintenance, but rather it takes aim at the more substantial alterations alluded to by the Trump Administration. The plaintiffs argue that any such updates would be…

A coalition of states and cities, including Maine, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its February reversal of a 2009 declaration that has served as the basis for the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Known as the Endangerment Finding, this 2009 declaration states that the “current and projected concentrations” of greenhouse gases “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.” This stemmed from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases are a category of air pollutant covered by the Clean Air Act, opening the door for the EPA to determine under…

The price of heating fuel in Maine has continued to climb, now up 30 percent since February 23. The DOER pointed out in a Thursday press release that this spike occurred following the start of the conflict in Iran. The statewide average price per gallon of heating oil increased from $3.82 on February 23 to $4.97 per gallon on March 16, according to the results of a survey conducted by the DOER. Kerosene prices rose to $5.87 per gallon. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly by the DOER and available to view here. [RELATED: Maine Heating Fuel Prices Climb] “As…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a measure into law that provides funding to the state’s Public Defenders Service (PDS). This comes just days after the agency announced it had run out of money to pay its attorneys. According to a PDS press release, final payments for FY26 were set to be made on March 23. Beyond that, lawyers would not have been paid until mid-July, when the new fiscal year begins. This emergency piece of legislation allocates a total of $22 million from the state’s General Fund to keep these services running, including $13 million for FY26 and $9…

Maine’s median home sale price rose to $395,000 in February this year with a total of 691 single-family residences exchanging hands. Home sale volume was down 8.84 percent compared to this time last year, while median sale prices were up 3.34 percent. According to the Maine Association of Realtors, February is typically a low point in the year for home sales. During this same period, home sales nationally decreased by 1.1 percent while prices rose 0.2 percent to $401,800. The median home sale price in the Northeast for February came in at $479,800, a 3.3 percent hike over last year,…

The State of Maine has awarded a total of $12 million for the construction of affordable apartments in Bangor, Portland, and South Portland. This funding stems from the Home for Good program, also known as the Housing First program, which was established by the Legislature in 2023 to support the provision of “permanent housing to address chronic homelessness in the State.” State law requires that “services facilitated under the program must be available on site, 24 hours per day and be designed to build independent living skills and connect individuals with community-based services.” As a result of these $12 million…

The Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER) announced last week that heating fuel prices are on the rise. In just one week, the cost of a gallon of heating oil was said to have gone up 89 cents. The DOER pointed out in a Thursday press release that this spike occurred following the start of the conflict in Iran. The statewide average price per gallon of heating oil increased from $3.94 on March 2 to $4.83 on March 9, according to the results of a survey conducted by the DOER. Kerosene prices rose to $5.80 per gallon, up from $4.96…

Thirteen attorneys general have joined together in a lawsuit against OneMain Financial for allegedly adding unwanted products and hidden costs to borrowers’ loans, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden charges. According to the lawsuit filed Monday in New York, the plaintiffs allege that OneMain Financial employed the practice of guiding customers toward purchasing credit insurance and other loan-related products while making misleading claims about what was actually required, as well as what the cancellation process was. The attorneys general argued in their complaint doing so violated state consumer protection laws and impacted tens of thousands of borrowers.…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I) have joined a bipartisan but primarily Democratic group of lawmakers in calling upon the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release the remaining $400 million in heating assistance funds for FY26. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay utility bills, address energy crises, and lower costs by improving home energy efficiency through weatherization. Last year, nearly six million households nationwide received assistance through LIHEAP. Eligibility for LIHEAP aid is based on income, family size, and the availability of…

Both the Maine State House and Senate have unanimously approved an emergency bill expanding the state’s sales tax exemption for the sale and delivery of residential electricity. Originating as a proposal to establish a refundable tax credit worth as much as $600, LD 2078 was later amended to a more straightforward expansion of the existing structure. Under current state law, the first 750 kilowatt hours of electricity are exempt from sales tax, as well as “off-peak residential electricity used for space heating or water heating.” Any electricity consumed by customers enrolled in low-income assistance programs is also exempted from sales…

Lawmakers in the Maine State Senate have followed suit with their House colleagues in advancing a measure that would require political communications using images or videos that have been manipulated or altered to include a disclaimer. Coming down along strictly partisan lines, all Democrats voted in support of the bill, while all Republicans voted in opposition. The bill now faces a final vote in the Senate before likely being sent to Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk for a signature. Titled An Act Regarding Synthetic Material in Campaign Advertising, LD 517 looks to levy a fine of up to 500 percent…

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation have called upon the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reopen the recently closed Tax Assistance Centers (TACs) in Bangor and Augusta. TACs are physical offices offering support to those who lack stable internet access, need help navigating technology, or otherwise require in-person assistance with their taxes. Should these closures remain permanent, the only remaining TAC in Maine would be located in South Portland. The lawmakers pointed out in their Thursday press release that for someone living in Fort Kent, getting to this TAC would require a ten-hour, 600-mile drive. Joining the push to reopen the…

The Falmouth School Department and Superintendent Steve Nolan are facing a lawsuit for allegedly not providing students the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. A high school student and his father filed suit on March 3, 2026, alleging that the school violated a 2011 state statute requiring that students be offered the chance to recite the Pledge at some point during the school day. As reported by the Portland Press Herald, plaintiff Christopher Hickey, on behalf of his son Clayton Hickey, claimed that during his two years in attendance at the school, recitation of the Pledge has not been…

South Portland voters will be asked this November to weigh in on an $87 million bond to construct new fire and police stations. This comes after the City Council rejected a $194 million bond to renovate the former Mahoney Middle School property into a comprehensive City Center complex, including a renovated theater, gym and community space. Under that proposal, a new police station would have been built on the former Mahoney athletic field. A new fire station was slated for construction on the department’s existing Broadway location. Due to the high cost, however, the City has since moved in a…

The Maine State Housing Authority announced Thursday that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will continue accepting applications through May 29, 2026. This federally funded program is designed to help eligible low- and moderate-income households pay a portion of their home heating costs. MaineHousing officials have explained that funding is still currently available for the program but warned that demand may increase as winter continues amidst rising prices. “MaineHousing and our community action agency partners across Maine stand ready to help as we head through the final weeks of winter and energy prices continue to climb,” MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan…

Maine lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require political communications using images or videos that have been manipulated or altered to include a disclaimer. House lawmakers approved the bill in a largely partisan roll call vote of 73-65, so it will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration. No House Democrats voted against the measure, meanwhile only one Republican voted in favor of it. This reflects the split that emerged earlier this month among members of the Judiciary Committee. Titled An Act Regarding Synthetic Material in Campaign Advertising, LD 517 looks to levy a fine of up…

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a tentative settlement in the antitrust lawsuit filed against Live Nation and Ticketmaster two years ago for allegedly monopolizing the live entertainment industry. This comes less than a week after proceedings began in New York federal court. Although a number of states joined the federal government in its 2024 challenge, Maine was not among this group. As part of the tentative agreement, Ticketmaster would be required to allow venues to sell a portion of their tickets through other companies. Half of all tickets at amphitheaters owned, operated, or controlled by Live…

Lawmakers have asked the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to consider weighing in on the constitutionality of expanding the use of ranked-choice voting to all state elections. The request for the court’s opinion came almost immediately after the House advanced the bill in early February. LD 1666 has remained as unfinished business before the Senate in the weeks since it was sent to the chamber for final approval. Maine has used ranked-choice voting for federal offices since 2018, but the Maine Supreme Court explained in a 2017 advisory opinion that requiring candidates for state offices to earn majority support would violate…

Five Democratic lawmakers, as well as Maine’s Sen. Angus King (I), have filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit against President Donald Trump (R) over his plan to construct a 250-foot commemorative arch across from the Lincoln Memorial. The president announced his intention to pursue building “Independence Arch” during an October gathering at the White House for those who provided financial support to the $400 million ballroom project. “We really need it,” President Trump said of the arch. “The United States is the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, and American presidents need to be able to host events…

Rep. Jared Golden (D) of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in an effort to increase transparency surrounding the national debt. The Debt-to-GDP Transparency and Stabilization Act – co-led by Rep. Golden and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) – would require the President’s annual budget, as well as congressional budget resolutions, to include the ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product (GDP). According to data from the Treasury Department, the national debt currently stands at nearly $39 trillion. Projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicate that the debt is on track…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill into law expanding access to the state’s Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives. State law previously specified that only federal food and nutrition assistance programs were eligible to benefit from this fund. According to the sponsor of LD 2004, Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-York), this change brings the law into alignment with lawmakers’ original intentions. Sen. Ingwersen explained that “no matter the funding sources, the original intent has always been to match SNAP/EBT dollars.” This fund was first established three years ago by the Legislature and, as of last year,…

Federal officials have said that they are working to implement a system for refunding the money collected from the tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court in February. The Court blocked the tariffs after finding that the federal law upon which President Donald Trump (R) relied does not permit the president to impose tariffs. Known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, the 1977 law at the heart of this case gives the president broad authority to regulate economic transactions under a declared emergency. Despite having been invoked by prior presidents, IEEPA has never before been used…

Maine lawmakers have again taken up a bill aimed at bolstering the state’s child care industry, the most recent version of which has now been approved in both the House and Senate. While the bill was advanced by the Senate without a roll call vote, the House was split along mostly partisan lines over its passage, with all present Democrats supporting it and nearly all Republicans opposing it. Under the updated language, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is directed to develop a long-term plan for the sustainability of the Maine Child Care Affordability Program, which pays…

Maine’s congressional delegation has reached out to the Trump Administration seeking support for wild blueberry, potato, and apple farmers, as well as members of the state’s lumber and fishing industries. In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, members of the delegation urged the Administration to continue providing targeted relief to these specialty crop producers to help them “withstand the economic impacts of on-the-ground, environmental realities.” The lawmakers explain that the “absence of reliable, up-to-date cost-of-production and farm-gate pricing data for many specialty crops” has made it “essential” for the USDA to work directly with those in…

Maine’s Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee has unanimously voted to reject a proposal that would have overridden local ordinances on renewable energy development. Originally introduced as an entirely different measure, a sponsor’s amendment shared last month overhauled LD 2174 by striking and replacing its contents, as well as giving it a new title. Under the proposed amendment, brought forward by Rep. Christopher J. Kessler (D-South Portland), any local ordinances pertaining to renewable energy development that were “more stringent” than those included in state law would have been void and had “no force or effect.” Impacted by this provision would…

Sen. Angus King (I) introduced a bill with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to provide support to veterans participating in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) when they are applying for benefits. Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins (R) has also signed onto the bill as a cosponsor alongside a number of other Democratic and Republican lawmakers. According to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), TAP is a program designed to “address the employment, training, and job security needs of over 200,000 military servicemembers who transition to civilian life each year.” Titled the TAP Promotion Act, this bipartisan bill would authorize accredited representatives…

The United States Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a case concerning copyright protections for images generated using artificial intelligence (AI). By declining this case, the Justices have brought to a close the years-long dispute over whether visuals created by AI are eligible for protection under US copyright law. Plaintiff Stephen Thaler sought a federal copyright registration in 2018 for an image titled “A Recent Entrance to Paradise,” generated using an AI technology he developed called DABUS. His application was rejected in 2022 on the grounds that only works with human authors are eligible for copyright protections. This decision from…

The United States Supreme Court has sided with the New York Republican who challenged the state’s redistricting effort that would have eliminated New York City’s only GOP-held district. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) asked the Court on an emergency basis to restore the lines of her district ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A lower court ruling found the district’s boundaries unfair to Black and Hispanic residents, ordering the state’s redistricting commission to produce a new map. Six of the nine Supreme Court Justices disagreed with this assessment, allowing Rep. Malliotakis’ district to remain intact. Dissenting from the majority were Justices…

Senate lawmakers in Maine unanimously voted Tuesday to advance a resolve increasing salary supplements for child care providers willing to look after babies. This measure also seeks to establish a grant program for facilities offering overnight care. All 34 senators present for Tuesday’s vote expressed support for the proposal. One Republican lawmaker was excused. This measure, LD 1414, was originally introduced as a concept draft by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland). The language shared by Senate President Daughtry in January was eventually supplanted by committee members with a resolve providing the same kind of targeted benefits beginning on January 1,…

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District has joined forces with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce a bill to assess the effectiveness of the mental health services available to veterans and transitioning servicemembers. Titled the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act, this bill would launch a formal review of the mental health programs offered by the federal government to former military members and those transitioning back into civilian life. Co-leads on this bill include Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). “When I came home from the…

Maine lawmakers have unanimously recommended the passage of a bill carving out an exception to the state’s new law prohibiting stores that contain pharmacies from selling tobacco products. Members of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee added an emergency designation to the bill before sending it to the chamber floor, meaning that it will be able to take immediate effect. Signed by Gov. Janet Mills (D) this past summer, a bill sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Moonen (D-Portland) barred all pharmacies and any retail establishments with a pharmacy from selling tobacco products. [RELATED: Potential Exemptions to Maine’s…

Maine lawmakers are considering a bill designed to provide financial support for reproductive and sexual health providers in the state amidst efforts at the federal level to restrict the flow of taxpayer dollars to abortion providers. According to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth), LD 335 is “intended to protect Maine patients and their access to health care regardless of political attacks,” referring to recent federal actions targeting abortion providers. Under this bill, state funds would be used to fill in any gaps created by reduced or restricted federal funding. Effective retroactively to July 1, 2025, the Maine Department…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) is looking to make free community college a permanent fixture in Maine as part of her proposed supplemental budget. In recent years, a pandemic-era program has allowed several classes of graduating high school seniors to attend Maine’s community colleges both tuition- and fee-free. During the first wave of the program, approximately 6,400 students took advantage of these benefits. Last year, lawmakers considered a bill that would have solidified this program in state law, but the measure was unanimously rejected in committee before ever making it to the chamber floor. [RELATED: Free Community College Will Not Become…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has introduced legislation that would allow claimants to bypass the five-month waiting period when applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. As the law is currently written, Americans are not eligible to receive payments during this time frame despite already having a confirmed disability. Under the bill proposed by Sen. Collins, alongside Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), disabled claimants would have the option of receiving benefits immediately after approval in exchange for “a modest, actuarially sound reduction in their monthly benefit amount.” According to a statement shared by Collins announcing this proposal, the actuarial balance in…

A strong majority of Mainers believe that illegal immigration is a serious problem in the United States despite holding more divided opinions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This comes as part of the latest Pine Tree State Poll, a States of Opinion Project, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. When asked about ICE or President Donald Trump’s (R) immigration enforcement actions, Mainers were starkly split based on their political affiliation. While Republicans were nearly unanimous in their support for ICE’s enforcement actions under the Trump Administration, Democrats were largely united in their opposition. Independents were more…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed an emergency bill into law amending the requirements that must be met by nurse practitioners before they gain full practice authority. State law previously required new nurse practitioners to spend twenty-four months, or two years, practicing under the supervision of a licensed physician or supervising nurse practitioner. Alternatively, nurse practitioners could spend this period employed by a clinic or hospital that had a licensed physician serving as a medical director. During the public hearing for LD 961 held in April of 2025, a representative of the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association explained that these longstanding requirements…

Sen. Angus King has cosponsored a bill alongside several Democratic lawmakers requiring the federal government to return the revenue generated from President Donald Trump’s (R) tariffs, which were recently struck down by the United States Supreme Court. According to the majority of the Court, the federal law upon which President Trump relied to enact these policies does not permit the President to impose tariffs. Authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the opinion explains that the Trump Administration’s view of the law “would represent a transformative expansion of the President’s authority over tariff policy.” “The Framers did not vest any part…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has sent a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration expressing concern over the proposed Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act. In a statement shared Tuesday, the Secretary of State characterized the bill as “the most sweeping federalization of election administration in our nation’s history,” alleging that the law would be “unconstitutional” and “disenfranchise voters.” House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) has been the leading lawmaker behind this legislation, which seeks to make sweeping changes to federal election law. “Americans should be confident their elections are being run with integrity…

A public hearing has been set for a bill sponsored by members of Maine’s Democratic leadership in Augusta that would establish several new state-level health care funds worth millions of dollars. LD 2208, presented by Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) and cosponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), is billed as “offset[ting] federal cuts to health insurance for certain Maine families and seniors.” Three separate funds are proposed in this legislation, each with a distinct purpose. The Rural Hospital Stabilization Program would “provide grants to defray operating costs for health care providers and health care facilities in rural…

Members of Maine’s Congressional delegation have spoken out in response to the United States Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision Friday striking down President Donald Trump’s (R) sweeping global tariffs. All four lawmakers representing Maine in Washington D.C. expressed support for the Court’s ruling, but their respective statements varied notably in tone and tenor. Maine’s two senators zeroed in on the balance of power between the three branches of government. The representatives, however, addressed the issue of tariffs more directly. While Rep. Jared Golden (D) of the Second District expressed support for the imposition of global tariffs, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) of…

This Wednesday, Mainers will have the opportunity to make their voices heard on a proposed bill that could override local renewable energy development ordinances. Initially introduced as an entirely different measure, the sponsor’s amendment shared last week overhauls LD 2174 by striking and replacing its contents, as well as giving it a new title. The emergency designation included in the original version of this legislation was also removed as part of this sponsor’s amendment. Under the proposed amendment, brought forward by Rep. Christopher J. Kessler (D-South Portland), any local ordinances pertaining to solar energy developments, wind energy developments, energy storage…

Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills (D) released a statement Friday praising the United States Supreme Court’s ruling against President Donald Trump (R) declaring the tariffs he issued last year unlawful. The case spurring this decision originated after President Trump imposed tariffs on a wide variety of goods entering the country from many places around the world via a series of executive orders. To do this, Trump called upon the authority granted to presidents under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to regulate economic transactions under a declared emergency. Despite having been invoked by prior presidents, IEEPA had never…

The United States Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 against President Donald Trump (R) in a long-awaited decision concerning the tariffs he imposed on numerous countries last year. Dissenting from this ruling were Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy coney Barrett each issued concurring opinions. According to the majority of the Court, the federal law upon which President Trump relied to enact these policies does not permit the president to impose tariffs. Authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the opinion explains that the Trump Administration’s view of the law would “would represent a transformative…

New polling from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center offers some early insight into the 2028 presidential primary field for both the Democratic and Republican tickets. As the first state in the nation to conduct presidential primary elections, how things turn out in New Hampshire can often set the tone going into the rest of the election cycle, indicating up front which candidates have a real chance of taking their party’s nomination. Results from the Granite State Poll, a States of Opinion Project, revealed that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is currently at the top of the potential Democratic…

Central Maine Power (CMP) will again be seeking permission from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise its rates. Despite this, the utility has indicated that ratepayers can expect to see their monthly bills decrease over the summer. This move comes several months after the Maine PUC unanimously rejected the utility’s most recent request to increase costs, arguing that the proposal “misse[d] the mark,” noting that Mainers are facing mounting affordability challenges. According to an Axios report from this past summer, Mainers saw the highest year-over-year increase in electricity costs nationwide between 2024 and 2025. In just one year,…