Author: Libby Palanza

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,…

Maine lawmakers are now poised to consider a bill that would prohibit competitive electricity providers from charging more than the standard-offer service rate to customers receiving low-income assistance. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) would be authorized under this bill to adopt routine technical rules to implement this measure. 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, from May 2024 to May 2025, Maine’s average residential energy costs increased by a staggering 36.3 percent. Nationwide, there was an increase of just…

Maine lawmakers are poised to support a 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 has since been 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 tax. The sponsors amendment…

Later this month, members of the public will have the opportunity to weigh in on a bill that would require Maine hospitals to develop plans for handling potential cybersecurity intrusions. This past summer, several Maine hospitals were affected by cyberattacks, forcing several facilities throughout the state to shut down access after encountering suspicious activity in their systems. [RELATED: Cyberattack Strikes Multiple Maine Hospitals, Remains Unclear Whether Patient Info Compromised] Under the proposed law, hospitals would need to submit plans to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) detailing how they would handle “notifications, communications, continuity of care for…

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division has sued Harvard University for allegedly withholding information that they say is necessary to determine if their admissions practices are free of discrimination. In 2023, the United States Supreme Court declared affirmative action unconstitutional, ruling that Harvard’s race-conscious admissions process actively violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. “Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion at the time. The Trump Administration’s lawsuit alleges that Harvard “repeatedly slow-walked the pace of production and refused to produce pertinent data and…

Expiring Saturday is the two-week continuing resolution approved by lawmakers earlier this month to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amidst tense negotiations. As part of a funding package to end a partial government shutdown, lawmakers agreed to fund DHS through February 14, buying them time to continue working towards an agreement over funding for the department. Although the House had originally approved full funding for DHS — which is responsible for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside the other agencies — the Senate opted to take a different route, instead supporting a two-week continuing resolution for DHS amidst…

The United States House of Representatives voted Wednesday to oppose the tariffs levied against Canada by President Donald Trump, approving the measure by a narrow but bipartisan margin of 219-211. Maine’s Rep. Jared Golden (D) of the Second Congressional District was the only Democratic lawmaker to join the majority of Republicans in rejecting the move and expressing support for the president’s policy. “I’ve loudly supported tariffs as a tool to make America more self-sufficient,” Rep. Golden, who is not seeking reelection, said Thursday morning, according to the Portland Press Herald. “I don’t have plans to take that tool out of…

On Thursday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed an Obama-era 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 Section 202(a) if they can reasonably be understood to pose a threat…

On Thursday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will rescind the 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 section 202(a) if they can reasonably be understood to pose a…

Maine lawmakers voted again Tuesday to advance a controversial bill that was recalled from Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk as the eleventh-hour measure last year expanding the use of ranked choice voting to all state elections. The bill was approved by a strict party-line vote of 19-13 in the Senate, followed by a series of nearly partisan votes in the House. The first vote in the House to accept the minority Ought to Pass as Amended report came 74-65. One Democrat — Rep. James F. Dill (D-Old Town) — joined Republicans in opposition. For the following two votes — to…

Early next week, lawmakers in Augusta are set to discuss a bill that would redefine the meaning of “public education” under state law. The proposal would also require that any private schools receiving public funds must be located within the state. Under the revised definition, the term “public education” would refer to education provided primarily at the public’s expense that meets all state and federal requirements for enrolled students and is free for all students in grades kindergarten through twelve. This bill, LD 2109 was submitted for consideration by the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), as opposed to being sponsored…

A special election has been scheduled for June 9 to fill the seat previously held by Rep. Kathy Javner (R-Chester) who passed away earlier this year after battling cancer. Rep. Javner represented House District 29, which is located in Penobscot County and is comprised of Chester, East Millinocket, Medway, Millinocket, Mount Chase, Patten, Woodville, and unorganized townships. The special election for House District 29 will coincide with the 2026 primary election. Javner was serving her fourth term in the legislature and was a member of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee when she passed away. [RELATED: Republican State Rep…

The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) announced Wednesday that Maine will be receiving $48.4 million in federal funding to help expand access to high-speed internet throughout the state. MCA president Andrew Butcher has reportedly said that this money will support infrastructure bringing internet to 22,000 homes and businesses. This will continue the work that the MCA has done in recent years connecting nearly 135,000 locations with high-quality internet. Butcher has explained that this latest round of funding will provide dedicated funding to all parts of the state that are currently, according to News Center Maine. This nearly $50 million award, however,…

On Wednesday, Gov. Janet Mills (D) released her proposed supplemental budget for the State of Maine. As part of this proposal, the governor had the opportunity to recommend updates to the state’s tax code, including whether or not to adopt some or all of recent changes made to the federal tax code. Last year, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), lawmakers in Washington DC approved a number of changes to the federal tax code, reduced taxes on tips and overtime. Under the proposed supplemental budget, however, Gov. Mills has only directly endorsed conforming with a small…

In keeping with a resolve approved by lawmakers last year, a bill has been introduced in Augusta that would allow rental cars to be inspected once every two years instead of annually. This past spring, the Transportation Committee unanimously supported a resolve directing the Secretary of State’s Office and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), with input from the State Police Bureau, to “consider and develop recommendations” for implementing a “multiyear registration and inspection program” for national car rental companies operating in Maine. LD 2191, introduced Tuesday, proposes allowing car rental companies with over 1,000 noncommercial registered in the state…

The United States Supreme Court voted Wednesday to allow the State of California to use its new voter-approved congressional map in this year’s elections, a move that is expected to be favorable toward Democratic candidates in five districts. As is common with cases on the Court’s emergency docket, no explanation as to the Justices’ reasoning was provided in the brief order. No members of the Court dissented from the decision. In December, the Court issued a similar ruling in a case out of Texas, allowing the state to use an updated congressional map expected to be favorable toward Republican candidates…

The spending package to end the partial government shutdown was approved by lawmakers in the House Tuesday and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) later that same day. Although the House had already agreed to a set of spending bills last week, the package in the Senate was amended, meaning that it had to go back to the House for a final vote before it could be signed into law. While the House had originally approved funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is responsible for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside several other agencies, the Senate…

The United State Supreme Court has announced that on April 1 the Justices will be hearing oral arguments 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 the 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 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…

Nearly a year ago, Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill into law prohibiting banks from charging customers a fee for opting to receive paper statements. Now, lawmakers are considering a proposal to clarify what actually constitutes a “billing statement.” Ahead of a work session scheduled for later this week, updated language has been brought forward by bill sponsor Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York). Sen. Bailey, who was also responsible for the legislation approved last year, explained in testimony before the Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee that LD 2061 seeks to address concerns raised by credit unions in…

The United States Senate voted Friday in support of a major funding bill to keep the federal government open. Included in the package advanced by last week’s 71-29 vote were five regular appropriations bills, as well as a two-week stopgap measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This represents a departure from the proposal advanced by House lawmakers, as the lower chamber had voted to fully fund DHS, albeit by a more narrow margin than for the other departments. Because the Senate opted to take a different direction than the House, representatives must again consider and approve the…

Digital privacy will soon be coming before the United States Supreme Court as Justices have agreed to hear a case concerning conflicting interpretations of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). Enacted in 1988, the VPPA was introduced after Robert Bork’s video rental history was shared with and published by a journalist during his contentious Supreme Court confirmation hearing. The VPPA bars “video tape service providers” from sharing “personally identifiable information” about “consumers” who rent, purchase, or subscribe to their services. The case that is now set to come before the Supreme Court alleges that Paramount violated the VPPA by disclosing…

Nearly a year ago, Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill into law prohibiting banks from charging customers a fee for opting to receive paper statements. Now, lawmakers are considering a proposal to clarify what actually constitutes a “billing statement.” Bill sponsor Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York), who was also responsible for the legislation approved last year, explained in testimony before the Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee that LD 2061 seeks to address concerns raised by credit unions over the past several months. Originally sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, last year’s legislation banning paper statement fees…

President Donald Trump (R) has sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department for $10 billion over allegations that the agencies unlawfully allowed a contractor to leak his tax returns during the 2020 election cycle. The complaint, filed by President Trump in his personal capacity, alleges that a former IRS employee “illegally obtained access to, and disclosed [his] tax returns and return information to the New York Times, ProPublica, and other leftist media outlets.” Also plaintiffs in the lawsuit are his sons Eric and Don Jr., as well as the Trump Organization as a whole. It is argued in…

President Donald Trump (R) signed a trio of bills focused on America’s veteran population into law last week. All three pieces of legislation were approved by a voice vote in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate. The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, or HR 224, prevents compensation from service-connected disabilities from being considered when determining someone’s eligibility for income-restricted benefits. By amending section 102(a)(20) of the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act in this manner, a larger portion of the disabled veteran population will now qualify for access to affordable housing programs. Under the VA Budget Shortfall…

The fight over new laws in Texas and Louisiana requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments continued this month as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals took up a pair of cases challenging these measures. On January 20, the 5th Circuit sat en banc to hear oral arguments in these two cases, meaning that all of the court’s seventeen judges participated in the proceedings as opposed to a significantly smaller select panel. Families pushing back against the laws have alleged in their complaints that the measures represent violations of the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise clauses. The…

Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Tuesday that she intends to recommend that the state spend $2.25 million in support of “Maine-based reproductive health care providers.” This proposal, the governor explained, is intended to “offset the impacts of Federal funding cuts implemented by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.” The $2.25 million in funding for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) and Maine Family Planning (MFP) is set to be included as part of Gov. Mills’ upcoming proposed supplemental budget. In the biennial budget approved by lawmakers last year, $6 million in state funds were allocated for reproductive health…

Absentee voting is now underway for the special election being held in House District 94 to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D). Election Day is scheduled for February 24. Whichever candidate prevails during this election will serve out the remainder of former Rep. Cloutier’s two-year term in the House. In-person voter registration is available through the close of polls on February 24, and absentee ballots may be returned until the end of business on February 19. Click Here for More Information on Absentee Voting and Voter Registration Comprising a swathe of central Lewiston running from…

After being recalled from Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk as the eleventh-hour last year, Maine lawmakers are scheduled to discuss a controversial bill expanding the use of ranked choice voting to all state elections during a Friday work session. Ranked choice voting has, until now, been used to ensure that the winner of a given election secures majority support, but Sen. Cameron Reny’s (D-Lincoln) bill LD 1666 looks to take a different approach. 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…

The United States House of Representatives has voted to advance a $1.2 trillion spending package ahead of the upcoming January 30 deadline to avert another government shutdown. The three-bill package was supported by a coalition of 149 Democrats and 192 Republicans. Funding included in this package will be going toward the Departments of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, according to CBS News. A separate measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was also approved by a bipartisan vote, albeit with a much slimmer margin of 220 to 207.…

A bill that would have allowed the State Police to establish an electronic surveillance system to track vehicle inspections has now been unanimously rejected by Augusta lawmakers. Sponsored by Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset), LD 566 would have then required all mechanics throughout the state to make use of this new system. For the purposes of this bill, an “electronic inspection program” was defined as a program designated by the Chief of the State Police “that uses electronically generated data as part of an inspection and permits the creation and exchange of an electronic record for maintaining inspection information.” This proposal…

A new bill introduced in Augusta looks to make permanent in Maine law a version of the federal energy-efficient home improvement tax credit that lapsed at the end of last year. LD 2140, sponsored by Sen. Denise Tepler (D-Sagadahoc), would allow Mainers to claim up to several hundred dollars in refundable tax credits for making certain qualified upgrades to their homes. Refundable tax credits are able to be claimed regardless of whether or not taxes are owed, as opposed to nonrefundable credits which can only be used to reduce the total amount of taxes owed. For example, a maximum credit…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Tuesday that she will be proposing in the upcoming supplemental budget $4.3 million worth of “enhanced safety measures” for Maine school buses following last year’s two deadly school bus accidents. If approved by lawmakers, this funding would cover the cost of retrofitting nearly 1,700 buses that are not currently equipped with crossing arms or anti-pinch door sensors. The governor has also signed an executive order establishing the Maine School Transportation Safety Commission, which will be responsible for reviewing statutes and rules regarding school bus safety and identifying potential improvements. Serving on this Commission will be…

Both the number of homes sold in Maine and the median price for which they were bought increased last year in comparison to 2024. According to a new report from the Maine Association of Realtors, there were a total of 15,133 real estate transactions in 2025, a 4.78 percent increase over the previous year. The median sale price for 2025 came in at $405,000, rising 3.85 percent over the year 2024. December’s year-over-year statistics for Maine revealed an 11.82 percent increase in home sales accompanied by a 3.75 percent decrease in the median sale price, which came in $385,000. Nationally…

Maine lawmakers are considering establishing a refundable electricity cost fairness tax credit valued at up to $600 targeted at lower-income Mainers. Refundable tax credits are able to be claimed regardless of whether or not taxes are owed, as opposed to nonrefundable credits which can only be used to reduce the total amount of taxes owed. 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, from May 2024 to May 2025, Maine’s average residential energy costs increased by a staggering 36.3 percent. Nationwide,…

The University of Maine System (UMS) is set to receive $51 million in federal funding as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. This funding will be spread across three projects, including the construction of a health and life sciences complex and the expansion of the ocean observation system in the Gulf of Maine, as well as the Maine Collector Survey for lobster in the Gulf of Maine. Of these three projects, the development of a new health sciences complex is receiving the largest portion of this funding, coming in at $45 million.…

The Maine State Senate voted 24-10 Tuesday to uphold Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) veto of an automotive right to repair bill approved by lawmakers last year. This comes one week after House lawmakers moved to overturn the veto by a margin of 96-44. Designed to implement recommendations from the Automotive Right to Repair Working Group, the vetoed LD 1228 aimed to clarify and improve the effectiveness of a law approved by voters at the ballot box in 2023. [RELATED: Maine House of Representatives Overrides Gov. Janet Mills’ Veto of Automotive Right to Repair Bill] Under the citizens’ initiative, vehicle manufacturers…

Later this week, Augusta lawmakers are set to discuss a bill that would set a minimum rate of pay for rideshare drivers in Maine. Under the proposed law, which originated as a concept draft, companies like Uber and Lyft would be required to pay drivers a minimum amount per trip based on either duration or length. On a per-trip basis, drivers would be guaranteed at least $00.34 per minute or $1.17 per mile, whichever is greater, beginning on January 1, 2027. Alternatively, platforms would be allowed to pay drivers a flat fee of $3 per ride. Starting in 2028, these…

Eight years in the making, a controversial power corridor running through the North Maine Woods, transporting hydroelectric power from Quebec, has now gone live. The 145-mile New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) will bring this power from Canada into New England, primarily Massachusetts, where it is expected to help provide power to 1.2 million households. Colloquially known in Maine as the “CMP Corridor,” the new transmission line was developed by Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power (CMP). The $1.65 billion project was financed by Massachusetts ratepayers, as power companies in the state negotiated twenty-year agreements to purchase hydropower…

A federal judge in California has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in a thirty-three-page ruling. At nearly the same time, another federal judge issued a ruling from the bench on Wednesday that granted Oregon’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it. This ruling is tentative pending a written decision, according to reporting from KOIN. Both California and Oregon were sued by the DOJ alongside more than twenty other states, including Maine, for their refusal to turn over unredacted voter registration files to the federal government upon request. In late December, Maine Secretary…

A bill allowing for locally licensed marijuana “consumption lounges” is set to be discussed during an upcoming work session in Augusta. Carried over from the previous legislative session, Rep. David Boyer’s (R-Poland) LD 1365 was the subject of a public hearing in May of last year. A sponsor’s amendment introduced at the time by Rep. Boyer sought to take a “thoughtful approach to regulating social use,” incorporating recommendations from Maine’s Cannabis Hospitality Task Force. For the purposes of this bill, a “cannabis consumption lounge” is defined as a “designated area within a facility licensed under this chapter as a cannabis…

At a public hearing next week, Mainers will have the opportunity to weigh in on a bill that would require political communications using images or videos that have been manipulated or altered to include a disclaimer. Although this bill originated as a concept draft sponsored by Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) and pertaining to Mainers’ First Amendment rights, the language that has now been proposed for LD 517 appears to now be taking the proposed legislation in a more targeted direction. Now titled “An Act Regarding Synthetic Material in Campaign Advertising,” the proposed bill would levy a fine of up to…

Maine lawmakers are set to consider a bill later this month that would carve out an exception to the state’s new law prohibiting stores containing pharmacies from selling tobacco products. Signed into law this past summer by Gov. Janet Mills (D), a bill sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Moonen (D-Portland), barred all pharmacies and any retail establishments containing a pharmacy from selling tobacco products. Fiscal estimates at the time suggested that this move would cost the state about $800,000 in the next fiscal year with projections indicating similar levels of loss expected for FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29.…

The Maine Department of Energy Resources (MDER) announced Tuesday that a combined $1.2 million in grants have been awarded to three organizations to “support energy efficiency workforce training programs.” Together, the programs being supported by these grants are expected to serve around 1,200 participants, including both those new to the field and existing professionals. Funding for these grants comes from the United States Department of Energy Training for Residential Energy Contractors program. Grant recipients included the Maine Community College System (MCCS), the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP), and the Maine Labor Climate Council. With its $317,000 grant, MCCS will “expand…

The United States Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Wednesday that a Republican representative from Illinois has standing to sue the state over its law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after election day. At this time, the Justices were not tasked with weighing in directly on the permissibility of Illinois’ law itself. Authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the majority opinion argues that candidates for office have standing to “challenge the rules that govern the counting of votes” in their elections because “an unlawful election rule can injure a candidate in several ways.” “The harm to candidates from an unfair and…

A Democrat representative from Kennebunkport has introduced a bill that would establish a new program and non-lapsing fund to support 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…

A public hearing is set to be held next week for a bill that would provide additional salary supplements for certain childcare provider and establish a grant program to support overnight care. This bill, LD 1414, was originally introduced as a concept draft by President of the Senate Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland). Language for the proposal was recently released to the public and posted on the Legislature’s website in preparation for the upcoming public hearing. The full text of the proposed legislation can be read here. As it is currently written, this bill would require the Maine Department of Health and…

The Maine House of Representatives voted 96-44 Tuesday morning to override Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) veto of an automotive right to repair bill approved by lawmakers last year. This represents a slightly slimmer margin of support for the measure than was originally expressed by lawmakers when the bill was passed 135-12 last year. Designed to implement recommendations from the Automotive Right to Repair Working Group, the vetoed LD 1228 aimed to clarify and improve the effectiveness of a law approved by voters at the ballot box in 2023. Under the citizens’ initiative, vehicle manufacturers were required to standardize onboard diagnostic…

The United States House of Representatives voted last week to advance a measure already rejected by the Senate that would have revived the expanded health insurance subsidies that expired at the end of last year. Under the House-approved bill, the COVID-era expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance tax credits would have been reinstated for three years. Known as the enhanced premium tax credit (EPTC), this program gives many Americans access to free or discounted monthly premiums if they purchase their insurance through the ACA marketplace. Absent congressional action, the 2021 expansion of this credit — approved as…

The Maine State Housing Authority’s 2026 Housing Outlook Report reveals several positive indicators for Maine’s housing landscape but highlights how affordability remains the biggest hurdle for Mainers when it comes to achieving homeownership. The twenty-two page report details a number of statistics pertaining to housing production, affordability, homeownership, and homelessness. While the median income in Maine has risen 44 percent between 2015 and 2025, the median home price has increased by a whopping 187 percent. Rising prices have also impacted the rental market, resulting in an increasing share of tenants bearing an outsized cost burden for their housing. In the…

A bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers has sent a letter Gov. Janet Mills (D) asking her to vacate the state’s contract with ModivCare — a large Colorado-based company that recently filed for bankruptcy — for the provision of non-emergency medical transportation. Signing the letter were roughly 130 Democratic and Republican members of both the House and the Senate. While ModivCare currently has a contract to provide non-emergency medical transportation to MaineCare patients in certain areas, the State of Maine has been attempting for the past two years to award it full responsibility for all sixteen counties. As of now, Maine-based…

Augusta lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee brought a proposed concept draft concerning “reproductive rights” to the forefront Tuesday, discussing the possibility of referring the bill to another committee, as the intended scope of the proposal appears to have changed since it was first brought forward last year. Although proposed text for LD 335 is still not yet available, sponsor Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) explained during Tuesday’s work session that the bill has essentially become a “funding bill for reproductive and sexual health providers in Maine.” Originally, the concept draft was referred to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee due to their jurisdiction…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Wednesday that she will be allowing nearly all remaining bills enacted by the Legislature during the previous session to become law, vetoing only an automotive right to repair bill. Designed to implement recommendations from the Automotive Right to Repair Working Group, the vetoed LD 1228 aimed to clarify and improve the effectiveness of a law approved by voters at the ballot box in 2023. Under the citizens’ initiative, vehicle manufacturers were required to standardize on-board diagnostic systems, as well as allow both owners and non-dealership repair facilities remote access to these systems and mechanical data.…

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Monday that its Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization after nearly sixty years. This comes several months after a measure was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) rolling back $9 billion worth of already approved federal spending, including $1.1 billion that was originally destined for the CPB. According to the CPB, the Board determined that it would “not serve the public interest” to continue operating as a “nonfunctional entity” in the absence of Congressional funding. The CPB was primarily responsible for distributing funding to…

On Tuesday, Mainers gathered in Augusta to make their voices heard on a proposed “right to repair” law for electronic devices carried over from the first legislative session. LD 1908, a bipartisan bill presented by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), would establish 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. In speaking before committee members Tuesday, Sen. Tipping highlighted the bipartisan nature of the bill, as well as the handful of exemptions included in the legislation for items like gaming consoles and…

Lawmakers in Augusta are set to discuss a bill Tuesday that aims to prohibit “housing discrimination” based on a person’s source of income under the Maine Human Rights Act. If approved, LD 847 would prevent anyone looking to sell or rent a property from refusing to rent to, or engage in housing negotiations with, individuals because of their income source, so long it is legal and rightfully obtained. For example, landlords and property owners could not discount potential tenants or buyers because a portion of their income is sourced from a public assistance program, non-governmental organization (NGO), or the Social…