Author: Libby Palanza

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…

Starting this month, New Hampshire will be ending its practice of requiring annual vehicle safety inspections, leaving Maine as just one of thirteen states to have such a mandate on the books. Reportedly integral to New Hampshire’s shift away from inspections was the $50 price tag associated with obtaining a sticker, a cost that is roughly double that which Mainers are required to pay on an annual basis. Much like in Maine, supporters of these inspections argue that they help to keep poorly maintained and unsafe vehicles off the road, while opponents raise concerns that the system opens the door…

A Maine mom has now asked the United States Supreme Court to consider her 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…

Beginning on New Year’s Day, Maine’s minimum wage increased to $15.10 per hour. Following the enactment of a bill signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) last June, this minimum wage will now also apply to the state’s agricultural workers. In conjunction with this, the tip wage — also known as the tip credit — will also be increased to $7.55. The tip credit is a policy that allows businesses to pay employees below minimum wage so long as the workers make enough in tips to at least close the gap. [RELATED: Minimum Wage in Maine Set to Rise…

A new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of the yes. every kid. foundation suggests that the majority of Americans are supportive of several types of school choice, including public school open enrollment and education savings accounts (ESAs). The yes. every kid. foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the expansion of educational flexibility in order to “unlock the potential of every kid.” Source: YouGov/yes. every kid. foundation Survey, December 2025 80 percent of K-12 parents surveyed by the organization expressed a belief that “all children benefit from families having more control and choices in K-12 education.”…

Four Republicans serving in the United States House of Representatives broke with party leadership Wednesday to sign onto a Democrat-led petition forcing a vote on extending the pandemic-era health insurance subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. Because the petition was able to meet the minimum signature threshold, it is now guaranteed that the chamber will at some point hold a vote on the proposed three-year extension in early 2026. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan Jr., and Ryan Mackenzie, all of Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed onto the petition, allowing it to…

The State of Maine and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have filed a motion to dismiss the case brought recently by the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) over the state’s refusal to turn over voter registration information requested earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that Maine and Secretary of State Bellows have violated several federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA). These alleged violations are said to stem from Bellows’ refusal “to provide data regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an…

A new omnibus poll from Pan Atlantic Research, a Portland-based research company headed by former Maine Democratic Party chair Victoria Murphy, sought to reveal Mainers’ opinions on a range of topics including their elected leaders, the future of their state, and several hot-button issues. A strong plurality of Mainers were shown to feel pessimistic about the direction in which the state is currently headed. Nearly half of Mainers feel that the State of Maine is currently on the wrong track, while just just under a third (32 percent) feel that things are moving in the right direction. The remaining 20…

The United States Senate considered two proposals this week to extend the expanded health insurance tax credits first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Right now, about 85 percent of the roughly 61,000 Mainers who get their insurance through the ACA marketplace take advantage of the EPTC. Absent Congressional action, the 2021 expansion of this credit — approved as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and allowed…

A Massachusetts federal judge has ruled against the Trump Administration in a case concerning their plan to end billions of dollars in funding for a federal disaster mitigation program, prompting applause from Maine’s attorney general. Known as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), this program was designed to help localities prepare for potentially hazardous weather conditions by preemptively expanding their “capability and capacity.” After arguing that the program was “wasteful and ineffective,” the Administration moved to halt billions in funding that had been awarded but not yet paid, as well as decline to award millions in funding next year, according…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced on Wednesday a number of Subway sandwich shop locations throughout the state will be closing following the revocation of their business registrations. Now, the MDOL is attempting to get in contact with any workers that have been laid off as a result of the closures. “The department is here to assist these workers through this period of uncertainty,” Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said in a statement. “We have resources to assist them with both their immediate needs and long-term goals, and want to make their next steps as simple as possible during…

Maine’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 3.2 percent, a figure that remained unchanged from the previous month. Despite this, the total number of jobs in the state decreased for the second month in a row. In terms of unemployment, Maine is currently faring better than both New England and the nation at large, where unemployment came in at 4.1 percent and 4.4 percent respectively in September. Despite the promising nature of these numbers for Maine’s comparative economic position, the number of jobs available in the state has continued its first decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic. From August to…

A new omnibus poll from Pan Atlantic Research, a Portland-based research company headed by former Maine Democratic Party chair Victoria Murphy, offered a snapshot of key 2026 races that showed the establishment Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate enjoying a double digit lead over the renegade upstart. Two key primary races on the ballot next summer will be for the governorship, as well as for one of Maine’s two seats in the United States Senate. Source: Pan Atlantic Research, 67th Omnibus Poll, December 2025 Gov. Janet Mills (D) currently appears to hold a sizable ten-point lead over Graham Platner in…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I) announced Tuesday that ten Maine organizations will be receiving a combined $6.5 million for economic development projects. Individual awards range in value from just over $35,000 to a maximum of $1 million. Projects funded by these awards include the construction of a new facility at the Bangor YMCA, building a second water main crossing the Aroostook River, and developing a commercial working waterfront facility at Henry Point in Hancock County, among others. Funds will also be used to support building a new library and community center in Patten, as well as…

On Monday, a federal judge struck down President Donald Trump’s (R) Executive Order pausing wind energy projects that he signed on Inauguration Day. The order aimed to prevent any of the Outer Continental Shelf, including the entire coastline of the mainland U.S. and Alaska, from being leased for offshore wind development indefinitely until the president decides to lift the restrictions. Additionally, the order calls for an immediate review of the federal leasing process for both offshore and onshore wind development, which will consider the potential downsides, including “negative impacts on navigational safety interests, transportation interests, national security interests, commercial interests,…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has reached out to members of the Trump Administration urging them to provide relief to Maine’s blueberry industry in light of the tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum, according to a letter her office released. In her two-page letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Sen. Collins explained that between this year’s drought conditions and the increased costs of the tariffs, Maine’s blueberry industry is at risk. She highlighted the industry’s $361 million annual contribution to Maine’s economy and points out the $28 million in losses that…

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced late last month that the Department of Education (DOE) will be outsourcing several of its functions to other agencies in an effort to “break up federal bureaucracy,” sparking the ire of congressional opponents. On Friday, Sen. Angus King (I-ME) joined a number of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary criticizing this move, alleging that the Department’s new interagency agreements (IAAs) are illegal. The scathing letter opens by accusing the Department of jeopardizing critical funding nationwide by attempting to “dismantle” the DOE. Its authors go on to urge the Administration to keep…

Led by Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D), Maine’s Congressional delegation has joined together to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation aimed at providing assistance to farmers impacted by “forever chemicals.” Sen. Angus King (I) and Rep. Jared Golden (D) are both original co-sponsors of the legislation. Under the proposed bill, the federal government would be authorized to send grants to states so that they could give financial assistance to farmers impacted by PFAS, expand monitoring and testing, remediate the presence of PFAS, or even help farmers to relocate. A task force would also be created…

Data shared by the Maine State Housing Authority shows that Mainers from the northern-most parts of the state have so far this year been the largest beneficiaries of the organization’s heating assistance programs. With a combined $26 million available in total, roughly $3.5 million remains for the rest of the winter season as around $22.5 million has already been distributed to households throughout the state. Just over $3 million has been spent on MaineHousing’s Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) this winter, helping a total of 7,003 households. Under this program, qualifying households are eligible to receive a one-time benefit of…

Beginning on January 1, Mainers who subscribe to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify may see a new charge on their monthly bill. Approved as part of Maine’s supplemental budget for the current fiscal year, changes to the state’s tax code will impose a 5.5 percent fee on all streaming service subscriptions starting in the new year. This is the second time that Gov. Janet Mills (D) has attempted to impose a streaming service tax in the state, as lawmakers declined to include her proposal to advance it in the 2024 supplemental budget. Although cable TV premiums and the…