Author: Libby Palanza

Lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee have unanimously voted to recommend that a bill allowing candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State to participate in the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA) not be passed into law. LD 454 was sponsored by Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) and, if approved, would have given candidates running for these key constitutional offices the right to access public campaign financing. Because the Attorney General and Secretary of State are currently selected by legislators — and not by popular election — this change would not have gone into effect unless the state constitution…

A public hearing has been scheduled next week for a bill that aims to support Maine’s hospitality industry by eliminating the sales tax on prepared foods, including meals sold in restaurants. The official summary of this legislation indicates that the purpose of this change would be to “mak[e] dining out more affordable,” as well as potentially to boost tourism. Because LD 908 was originally introduced by Sen. Joseph Martin (R-Oxford) as a concept draft, the final language of the proposed bill has not yet been released. Having become a controversial tool in recent years, the Joint Rules Committee recently approved…

Maine Democrats have proposed levying an additional four percent tax on income earned over $1 million to fund public education. Sponsored by Rep. Cheryl A. Golek (D-Harpswell), LD 1089 would impose this new “surcharge” on income beginning with that generated this year. The four percent tax would only be applied to the portion of a Mainer’s income that is above the $1 million threshold, meaning that everything up to that point would not be subject to this additional fee. As the law is currently written, revenue collected from this tax could only be used to fund public pre-kindergarten through grade…

The public will now get a chance to weigh in on whether to give Maine voters the opportunity to approve or reject pay raises for elected officials in the state, including legislators and the governor. Sponsored by a group of GOP lawmakers, LD 775 would put the pay raise legislators already approved earlier in the session on next ballot as a referendum question. The State and Local Government Committee will be holding a public hearing on this bill at 1pm on Monday, March 24 in Room 214 of the Cross Building, which is located directly across from the State House.…

Democrat lawmakers in Augusta have introduced a bill that aims to prohibit “housing discrimination” based on a person’s source of income under the Maine Human Rights Act. If approved, this law 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 Social Security…

Mainers gathered in Augusta Wednesday for a public hearing on two bills that look to allow cities and towns throughout the state to adopt a local option sales tax on short-term lodging. Both laws up for consideration this week would give municipalities the option of imposing a two percent sales tax on the cost of hotel rentals. While one proposal — sponsored by Rep. Charles A. Skold (D-Portland) — would restrict the use of these funds to qualified affordable housing initiatives at the local level, the other — sponsored by Rep. Gary Friedmann (D-Bar Harbor) — would give cities and…

Northern Light Inland Hospital and its associated Waterville clinics are slated to be shut down and will halt patient care on May 27 before fully closing their doors on June 11, its administration said on Thursday. According to the announcement, Lakewood Continuing Care, a 105-bed facility, will remain open and will not be affected by these changes. A statement posted on the Northern Light Health Facebook page explained that the 48-bed hospital has been struggling under the weight of financial pressures and labor shortages. “Like hospitals and healthcare systems nationwide, Northern Light Health continues to feel the immense pressure of…

Funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Maine universities was restored Wednesday following a brief pause by the federal government on Monday. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday as news of that the funding pause had ended broke. The University of Maine System (UMS) announced Monday that the USDA had temporarily halted funding, apparently in connection to an investigation announced by the agency in February. The USDA announced publicly on February 22 that it would be initiating a review of UMS’ compliance with Title IV and Title IX,…

Democrat lawmakers in Maine are looking to impose an additional four percent tax on capital gains earned by residents over a certain threshold. Capital gains refers to the increase in the value of an asset between the time it is acquired and when it is sold. These assets include a wide range of investments, including stocks, bonds, or real estate, as well as items purchased for personal use, like furniture or a boat. Short-term capital gains — or those earned on an asset owned for less than a year — are taxed alongside all other income in accordance with an…

Maine lawmakers are now looking to have the final say over what civil lawsuits are brought by the state’s Attorney General. In recent years, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has pursued litigation on a host of controversial topics, as well as joined a number of suits challenging the policies of President Donald Trump’s (R) administration. [RELATED: Crusading AG Frey Leaves Maine Behind in His Quest to Slay Dragons Across America] This year, Attorney General Frey has filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration for the president’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, as well as for allowing Elon Musk and the Department…

Democrat lawmakers are looking to add new penalties and enforcement measures to Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program that went into effect earlier this year. The bill introduced by President of the Senate Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and cosponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) would also establish a Bureau of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) to administer the program. This program, enacted last year as part of a spending bill, has imposed a one percent payroll tax on most working Mainers and their employers to fund paid leave for all employees statewide, with…

Taking your car in every year for its inspection sticker is a familiar ordeal to all Maine drivers, but some lawmakers are looking to make this a less frequent experience. Under LD 1010, sponsored by Rep. Chad R. Perkins (R-Dover-Foxcroft), drivers would only need to get their inspection stickers updated every other year. Cosponsoring this bill are Rep. Roger Clarence Albert (R-Madawaska), Rep. Quentin J. Chapman (R-Auburn), Rep. Randall Adam Greenwood (R-Wales), Rep. Michael J. Lance (R-Paris), Rep. Richard G. Mason (R-Lisbon), Rep. James Lee White (R-Guilford), and Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec). Click Here for More Information on LD 1010…

The federal government has temporarily halted millions of dollars in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the University of Maine System (UMS). The USDA announced publicly on February 22 that it would be initiating a review of UMS’ compliance with Title IV and Title IX, citing “the State of Maine’s blatant disregard for President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14201, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Title IV refers to a subsection of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of “race, color, or national origin.” Title IX is a federal law barring schools and educational…

Maine’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee voted Wednesday to recommend that millions in proposed cuts to certain child care programs included in the state’s proposed biennial budget be scrapped. These cuts, worth more than $36 million in total, were originally proposed as part of an effort to address the massive budget shortfall that Maine is currently facing. For the upcoming 2026-2027 budget cycle, Maine is looking at a $450 million “structural deficit,” where spending is projected to far outpace revenue unless changes to either side of the equation are made. The decision to eliminate these proposed cuts came shortly…

Democratic lawmakers have proposed replacing Maine’s statewide minimum wage with a regionally based structure tied to an assessment of the living wage for the area of the state where one is based. Under this legislation, Maine would be divided into three regions: coastal, northern, and Portland metropolitan. Each of these sub-divisions would be subject to a different minimum wage as determined by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator. These new wages requirements would take effect on January 1, 2026. Beginning the following year, the minimum wage in each region would be indexed to the cost of living,…

A group of Maine Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow municipalities to adopt a local option sales tax to fund affordable housing initiatives. If approved, this law would give cities and towns the option of imposing a two percent sales tax on the cost of hotel rentals. While the majority of revenue generated would be returned to municipalities, 15 percent would be reserved for the Maine State Housing Authority and administrative costs. To opt into this program, residents would need to approve of the sales tax in a referendum vote. To be valid, the total number of…

Criminal defendants in Maine will now be released from jail if a lawyer is not provided within 14 days, and charges must be dropped for those who have been incarcerated for more than 60 days without receiving legal representation. Those who are released from jail under this new order will be subject to conditions of release similar to those who are granted bail. These changes are the result of an order published Friday by Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy. At the end of January, Justice Murphy heard arguments in a lawsuit filed two years ago by the American…

The United States Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), rejecting the argument made by two veterans that the denial of their claims deserved deeper review by the courts. When veterans apply for service-related benefits from the VA, they are entitled to receive the “benefit of the doubt” if the evidence supporting and opposing their claims is roughly balanced. In practice, this means that the VA is obligated to grant a veteran’s request for benefits if the evidence for and against their claim is nearly equal. At the center of this case is the…

Some Maine students are granted the ability to attend a public school outside of their home district through what is known as a Superintendent Agreement. Under current state law, however, students may be denied such a transfer if either of the superintendents involved deems that it is not a child’s “best interest.” All it takes is a thumbs down from either superintendent for the transfer to be blocked. State law does not specify what actually constitutes a transfer being “in the student’s best interest,” leaving this language almost entirely up to a given superintendent’s discretion. A bill introduced by Rep.…

Nine Republican lawmakers are looking to completely phase out Maine’s income tax by 2030 and reduce the state budget proportionally, according to a bill they introduced this week. Based on their plan, beginning in 2026, state income taxes would gradually be phased out over the course of several years, with Mainers paying a smaller and smaller percentage of the state income tax until it is eliminated entirely in 2030. If approved, this legislation would result in the elimination of state income tax both for individuals and corporations. In conjunction with this, the Bureau of the Budget would be directed to…

A group of Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill aims to eliminate the eight percent sales tax on prepared food, including meals sold in restaurants. The official summary of this legislation indicates that the purpose of this change would be to “mak[e] dining out more affordable,” as well as potentially to boost tourism. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) would be directed under this legislation to launch an advertising campaign to “encourage tourism in Maine and promote dining establishments as tax-free, with the exception of alcoholic beverages.” To offset the loss of revenue as a result of this…

Child care workers gathered at the State House Tuesday morning to protest tens of million dollars worth of cuts that were included in the proposed biennial budget. To allow workers to participate in Tuesday’s protest, a number of child care centers throughout the state were closed or only open for part of the day. According to a Portland Press Herald report, as many as 200 workers from at least 15 child care centers throughout the state were expected at the State House as of Monday evening. Concerns primarily centered around the $30 million worth of proposed cuts to the Early…

Maine is currently facing a significant housing crisis, and researchers at a state-based think tank have written a report illustrating how the situation has been exacerbated by some of the policies being pursued at the state and local level, and suggesting what can be done to remedy it. In their report — titled Under Construction: Fixing Maine’s Self-Imposed Housing Crisis — James Siodla, Ph.D. of Colby College and Harris Van Pate, J.D of the Maine Policy Institute take a look at the impact of various housing policies that have been implemented throughout the state. The researchers then go on to…

Maine lawmakers are again considering proposals to allow the State Police to require the use of an electronic inspection program for the state’s annual vehicle safety inspections. If approved, this would create an electronic surveillance system to track vehicle inspections that mechanics around the state would be required to use, if directed to by the State Police. More specifically, an “electronic inspection program” is defined in these proposals 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…

Maine voters could soon have the opportunity to approve or reject pay raises for elected officials in the state, including legislators and the governor, should a new initiative make it to the ballot this November. Sponsored by a group of GOP lawmakers, a new bill would give Mainers a say in whether or not legislators and the state’s chief executive will be receiving a pay raise. This comes after it was revealed earlier this year that state senators and representatives were set to be given a 61 percent pay raise beginning this session, as well as a significantly higher level…

A Democrat-led bill restructuring Maine’s income tax brackets is officially set to go before the Legislature’s Taxation Committee for a public hearing today. If approved, this proposal would result in higher taxes on the state’s individuals who earn more than $144,500 per year. The public hearing for this bill will be held on Thursday, February 27 at 1pm at the State House in Room 127. Testimony can also be submitted online at: www.mainelegislature.org/testimony LD 229 — An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates — was sponsored by Rep.…

A group of Republican lawmakers are looking to eliminate Maine’s income tax and require the state to develop zero-based budgets for the next two bienniums. Under the proposed law, the state government would be prohibited from collecting income tax from residents as of January 1, 2026. The state would also be directed to develop a zero-based budgets for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2028-29. From that point on, all departments and agencies in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of State Government would be required to create a zero-based budget at least once every eight years. For the purposes of this…

Signed by former President Joe Biden (D) in January, a law co-authored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) allowing public employees and their spouses access to increased social security benefits has now taken effect. Based on a statement from the Social Security Administration released Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s (R) administration is supportive of this policy. Approved by significant margins in both the House and Senate, this bill repealed two statutes reducing the amount of Social Security benefits that public employees and their spouses were eligible to receive. Known as the “Social Security Fairness Act,” this law eliminated the Windfall Elimination…

A group of Democrat lawmakers have proposed a plan to stabilize property taxes for Maine seniors that would be funded by a local option sales tax. LD 559 — sponsored by Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York) — would allow municipalities to impose a one percent sales tax on prepared food and living quarter rentals and use the revenue to offset the cost of stabilizing the property tax bills for eligible homeowners who are 62 years of age and older. Cosponsoring this legislation are Sen. Chip Curry (D-Waldo), Sen. Tim Nangle (D-Cumberland), Sen. Joe Rafferty (D-York), Sen. Cameron Reny (D-Lincoln), Rep. Victoria…

One Bangor Democrat has now proposed exempting new cars from Maine’s annual vehicle safety inspections, making the legislative push to axe the requirement a bipartisan issue after a Sanford Republican introduced a similar measure earlier this year. Under the latest proposed bill, cars would not be required to undergo an annual safety inspection for the first three years after it is manufactured. That said, this exemption would be nullified if the vehicle were involved in a crash or natural disaster, as well as if the car is sold to another owner. LD 661, sponsored by Rep. Amy J. Roeder (D-Bangor),…

Supplemental appropriations took center stage Tuesday afternoon as lawmakers debated what has become a highly controversial piece of legislation. By early Tuesday evening, state lawmakers had yet to come to an agreement on how to move forward. Later that night, lawmakers voted along party lines to allow the spending bill to advance without Republican support, a departure from Leadership’s original strategy for the proposal. Although Republicans are a minority in both the House and Senate, their support was initially seen as crucial by those looking to allow state agencies access to supplemental funding before the late spring. While the proposed…

Republican lawmakers are making a push to repeal Maine’s new mandatory Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program, which went into effect last month. This program, enacted last year as part of a spending bill, has imposed a one percent payroll tax on most working Mainers and their employers to fund paid leave for all employees statewide, with benefits not scheduled to begin until May of 2026. Mainers began contributing to the program on January 1 of this year, sixteen months ahead of when benefits are first scheduled to become available. Should either of the bills introduced by Republican lawmakers…

In December, Maine saw an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent, representing little change from the previous month, according figures released by the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL). Also largely consistent with November’s statistics was Maine’s workforce participation rate, which came in at 60.2 percent. Labor force participation rates are representative of the proportion of working-age individuals who are either employed or actively searching for work. Although there are a number of different ways to calculate the labor force participation rate, the MDOL arrives at its statistics by considering all individuals over the age of 16. Consequently, retirees and other elderly…

Two Democratic lawmakers are attempting to prevent Maine business owners from having a say in when their employees take leave under the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The program, enacted last year as part of a spending bill, has imposed a one percent payroll tax on most working Mainers and their employers to fund paid leave for all employees statewide, with benefits starting in May of 2026. The law and related rules underlying this program currently require that employees’ leave must be scheduled in such a way that it does not create “undue hardship” for their employers.…

As many as a half dozen bills so far are on the table in Augusta during this legislative session aimed at providing state-level property tax relief to Maine homeowners by increasing and expanding the homestead exemption in a variety of ways. By lowering the tax-assessed value of Mainers’ homes, the homestead exemption helps to reduce the total property tax bill for which homeowners are responsible. Currently, the homestead exemption allows Mainers to take $25,000 off the total tax-assessed value of their homes. While some of the proposed bills would increase the value of this exemption for all Maine homeowners, others…

Republican lawmakers in Augusta have introduced a bill that would reverse the changes made by a controversial abortion law signed into law just shy of two years ago. The 2023 law, known as LD 1619, allowed women to have an abortion “after viability” if it is deemed “necessary in the professional judgment of a physician.” Previously, Maine law prohibited abortion after the point of viability except in cases where the life or health of the mother was in jeopardy. With these changes in place, Maine currently has one of the nation’s least restrictive abortion policies. LD 682, sponsored by Sen.…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced Thursday that twelve insurance policies have been approved as substitutes for the new state-run Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. An updated list of private plans eligible for substition will be maintained on the MDOL’s website at: www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/employerresources/ListofApprovedandCertifiedInsuredPlans.pdf. Under this mandatory program, Maine workers will be eligible beginning in the spring of 2026 to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, as well as to bond with a newborn baby or newly adopted child. Also eligible for leave are those who are experiencing a serious…

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) alerted providers last week that unless lawmakers approve the proposed supplemental spending bill for FY25, many MaineCare payments will temporarily be withheld. This supplemental spending bill, known as LD 209, has proven to be controversial among lawmakers as it makes its way through the legislative process. One of the largest line items in the bill is a nearly $118 million appropriation from the General Fund for MaineCare, Maine’s Medicaid program, which is currently underfunded. According to the statements released this past week by DHHS, any delay in the receipt of this…

A question on whether Maine should require some form of valid identification in order to vote, or voter ID, will officially be on the ballot this year in Maine, as the Secretary of State has now certified the petitions collected and submitted as part of a grassroots effort to let Mainers decide if some form of credible verification of a voter’s identity should be required at the polls. Led by Dinner Table Action Executive Director Alex Titcomb and Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), the effort to get a voter ID question on the ballot was accomplished with minimal funding and hundreds…

Maine lawmakers may soon be calling on the United States to convene an Article V convention to amend the nation’s Constitution. Should this effort be successful, amendments concerning term limits for members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices, as well as campaign finance reform, could potentially be on the table. If enough state legislatures issue similar requests, Article V of the Constitution requires that a convention be held. In order for one to be called, thirty-four state legislatures — representing at two-thirds of the nation — must pass requesting applications. Although the resolutions now before the Maine State Legislature specify…

As you prepare your annual return, you may already be sensing what a national financial website has found for yet another year in its comparison of how much Americans are taxed in each state: Mainers shoulder some of the nation’s highest tax burdens, according to a recent study conducted by personal finance website WalletHub. The rankings released Tuesday are based on the ratio of residents’ tax bills to the average price of the taxed item. Using this ratio, Maine was found to have the fifth highest vehicle tax rate and eighteenth highest property tax rate in the nation. Other methods…

When you run for office without the backing of a political party, it can seem like a steeper climb so shouldn’t independents be allowed a leveling advantage when it comes to financing their campaigns? Two Democratic lawmakers are looking to increase the campaign contribution cap for unenrolled candidates running for office in Maine. Under state law, candidates are limited by caps in the amount of money from any given individual or political action committee (PAC) during an election. LD 390 — An Act to Raise the Contribution Cap for Unenrolled Candidates — sponsored by Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland) and cosponsored…

A Democrat lawmaker has proposed allowing candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State to participate in the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA), which provides taxpayer funding for qualifying candidates, should these become popularly elected positions under the state constitution. LD 454 — An Act to Allow Candidates for Secretary of State or Attorney General to Participate in the Maine Clean Election Act — was sponsored by Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot). If approved, this bill would give candidates running for these key constitutional offices the right to access public campaign financing. Because the Attorney General and Secretary of State are…

A group of Republican lawmakers are looking to end the controversial practice of same-day voter registration in Maine. Rep. Barbara A. Bagshaw (R-Windham), together with eight Republican co-sponsors, are pushing legislation that would reinstitute time limits on when voters must register to vote in order to participate in a given election. “I recently had favorable communication with four town clerks from municipalities in Maine who support eliminating Election Day voter registration at the polls,” Rep. Bagshaw told the Maine Wire.” “They felt that, administratively, it would be a lot easier on them to manage and we discussed a potential compromise,”…

The annual tradition of visiting an auto mechanic to get an inspection sticker could come to an end if a group of Republican lawmakers succeed in repealing Maine’s auto inspection requirement. Under a bill introduced by Rep. Ann Fredericks (R-Sanford), the mandatory safety inspection requirement would be repealed for the majority of cars that are driven by Mainers on a daily basis. “Other states have already abolished this antiquated requirement that is an inconvenience,” Fredericks said. From Frederick’s perspective, advancements in safety standards and auto-making technology mean that annual inspections should no longer be necessary for most personal vehicles, as…

An automotive trade association based out of Washington D.C. has sued Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey over the enforcement of a “right to repair” law approved by voters in 2023. The complaint alleges that enforcement of the law right now would violate the Constitution’s Due Process Clause, as well as the Supremacy Clause. It is also argued that the law is currently unenforceable due to alleged violations of the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (APA) by Attorney General Frey. Question 4 — approved by 65.3 percent of voters — required car manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems, as well as allow…

Maine may gradually increase its current limit on charter schools if lawmakers pass a Republican-led bill introduced in late January. Several Republican lawmakers have proposed a bill that would increase the state’s limit on charter schools by one every time that it is reached, allowing for a continually greater number of these schools to operate simultaneously in Maine. Charter schools are independently run public schools that are free of charge for students to attend. Sometimes, these institutions may have a specific educational focus, — such as technology, the arts, or ecology — while others maintain a more traditional academic scope.…

Springing forward and falling back may soon be a thing of the past in Maine if lawmakers advance either of the proposals introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford). While one bill would allow the state to observe Eastern Standard Time (EST) year round, the other would establish Daylight Savings Time (DST) as the official setting for the state’s clock, pending federal approval. DST refers to the time setting adopted by most states in the spring, when clocks are set an hour ahead. Right now, Mainers — like Americans in most U.S. states, with the exclusion of Hawaii, parts of Arizona,…

A Republican lawmaker has proposed amending Maine’s constitution to clearly state that only United States citizens may vote in state and local elections. Earlier this month, Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) introduced LD 175, titled Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Ensure That Only Citizens of the United States May Participate in Elections. If approved, this resolution would allow Mainers to decide if they wanted to amend the state’s constitution to include language specifying that only U.S. citizens have the right to participate in state and local elections. This would replace the constitution’s existing wording, which states that…

Are you frustrated with the unorthodox was Mainers elect federal officials or do you think it works well? Members of the public will have the opportunity on Monday, February 3 to make their voices heard on a new bill that would repeal the state’s controversial ranked choice voting (RCV) system. The hearing is set to begin at noon in State House Room 437 and will be hosted by the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. Testimony may also be submitted online at www.mainelegislature.org/testimony. LD 234 — An Act to Eliminate Ranked-Choice Voting — was sponsored by Rep. Richard H. Campbell (R-Orrington) and…

A medical ambulance plane carrying a young child and her mother crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday night in a neighborhood near the Roosevelt Mall. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a total of six people, including a doctor, paramedic, pilot, and co-pilot, were aboard the plane at the time of the crash. There were no survivors. The plane erupted in a fireball as it crashed to the ground just thirty seconds after taking flight. The debris field was extremely large and several nearby homes caught fire as a result of the incident. JUST IN: New video of the plane…

Several of the tax increases and changes included in Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) proposed biennial budget are set to have a public hearing on Monday, February 3. Among the proposals up for discussion are increased taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, changes to the state’s cannabis taxes, and the imposition of a five and a half percent sales tax on streaming service subscriptions. The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 1pm in State House Room 228. Testimony can also be submitted virtually at www.mainelegislature.org/testimony. Earlier in the day, starting at around 11am, relevant state departments and agencies will…

Democrat lawmakers in Augusta have introduced a bill that would impose a three percent sales tax on hotel rentals in order to increase the amount of state funding available for public schools. If approved, an additional three percent sales tax would levied on the cost of renting a room in a hotel or other lodging place beginning on January 1, 2026. Under current law, hotel rentals are already subject to a nine percent sales tax, also known as a lodging tax. The supporters of the proposal intend for the additional funds to be “credited directly” to the Maine Department of…

An effort is underway to give Maine citizens the right to elect their constitutional officers, including the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. Currently, lawmakers in the House and Senate are responsible for selecting individuals to fill these critical roles, with votes held every two years during the Legislature’s First Regular Session. Nationwide, Maine is one of only a handful of states to this, making it the exception rather than the rule. A group of Republican lawmakers, however, have now proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution that would allow Mainers to popularly elect who serves in…

Officials announced Thursday morning that there not believed to be any survivors from the crash that occurred late Wednesday night in the Washington D.C. area as a passenger was on final approach to the Reagan National Airport. An American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas collided midair around 9pm Wednesday with a military Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River. There were 60 passengers and 4 crew members aboard the flight involved in the crash, and the helicopter carried three U.S. soldiers. Information is slowly becoming available about the victims of this tragedy. Six of those on the plane had ties…

Maine elementary and middle school students are continuing to struggle academically, according to the 2024 Nation’s Report Card. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card — has been used to gauge students’ level of academic achievement since 1969. NAEP describes itself as “the largest nationally representative, continuing evaluation of the condition of education in the United States.” Maine’s fourth graders are having an especially hard time in both reading and math, performing worse in comparison to both prior years’ scores and their counterparts nationwide. Eighth graders in Maine also had a poor…

An American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas crashed in the Washington D.C. area Wednesday night near the Reagan National Airport after colliding midair with a military Blackhawk helicopter. American Airlines has said that 60 passengers and 4 crew members were aboard the flight involved in the crash. As of 11:30pm Wednesday night, officials have not publicly confirmed any injuries or fatalities in connection with the crash. Washington D.C. police launched a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River in conjunction with other emergency response agencies. Footage of the scene shows a massive response to the incident with what…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) released two guides Monday for employers looking to opt out of the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program in favor of using their own private plan, though concerns about an overlap in payments and a challenge to the constitutionality of the new benefit persist. MDOL’s guides come just a couple weeks after the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works sued the agency, alleging that the rules it adopted late last year to govern the program are inconsistent with the law establishing the program. While the law guarantees that businesses…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) delivered her 2025 State of the Budget Address to a joint session of the Maine Legislature Tuesday night. In order to reach the chamber, though, the governor had to skirt a crowd of Mainers who had gathered to protest her proposed budget just outside its doors. Demonstrators told the Maine Wire that they had expected to be able to silently protest from the chamber’s upper gallery, but found out they would not be able to do so when they arrived. Unlike in prior years, on Tuesday night the gallery was closed to the public during Tuesday’s…

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt of New Hampshire held the Trump Administration’s first official press briefing Tuesday afternoon. At just 27 years old, Leavitt is now the youngest White House Press Secretary in United States history. Leavitt studied communications and political science at Saint Anselm College, a Catholic institution in her home state of New Hampshire, where she was regularly involved with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. While a student, Leavitt interned at Fox News during the 2016 election cycle. After graduating, she began working for President Donald Trump (R) under former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. After leaving…

The United States Supreme Court is set to consider the constitutionality of the nation’s first religious charter school. Originating in Oklahoma, this case focuses on St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School and its application for public funding through the state’s charter school program. Although charter schools operate independently from the public school system, they are funded with taxpayers’ dollars and are free for any student to attend. Oklahoma’s top court stuck down the school’s application to participate in the charter program this past June, arguing that charter schools must be non-sectarian — or non-religious — due to their relationship…

Republican lawmakers have proposed creating a minimum “student wage” in Maine, allowing employers to pay some high school students a lower rate than is currently mandated by state law. Under this legislation, students could be paid at a rate half that of the current state minimum wage — or $7.33 an hour — for at least two years while they are in high school. Once students graduate from high school — regardless of how long they have been employed — they must be paid Maine’s standard minimum wage of $14.65 an hour. LD 112 — An Act to Promote Opportunities…

Maine lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would incrementally increase the state’s property tax homestead exemption over the next several years. By lowering the tax-assessed value of Mainers’ homes, the homestead exemption helps to reduce the total property tax bill for which homeowners are responsible. Currently, the homestead exemption allows Mainers to take $25,000 off the total tax-assessed value of their homes. Under the proposed legislation, this would increase by $10,000 annually beginning in 2026 until it reaches a total of $95,000 in 2033. At this point, the homestead exemption would continue to increase annually in accordance with the…

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s Secretary of Defense in a vote held late Friday night. With three Republicans opposing Hegseth’s nomination — including Sens. Susan Collins (R), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — Vice President J.D. Vance stepped in to break the tie. This is only the second time in this nation’s history that the vice president has had to cast a tie breaking vote for a cabinet nominee, the first being when then Vice President Mike Pence voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education in 2017. #BREAKING: U.S. Senate CONFIRMS Pete…

Some Maine students are granted the ability to attend a public school outside of their home district through what is known as a Superintendent Agreement. Although current state law requires these contracts to be reviewed annually, a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this month would allow these agreements to automatically be renewed each year. While these agreement could still be terminated under certain circumstances — for example, if a student is not regularly attending class or is consistently disruptive — making renewal automatic would ease the process for many Maine families making use of this program. LD 218 — An Act…

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s (R) Executive Order redefining birthright citizenship. This comes just days after several lawsuits were filed against the president for allegedly violating the Fourteenth Amendment and federal law by declaring that the children of those who are in the country illegally or temporarily are not guaranteed United States citizenship. Whether or not the children of illegal aliens, visa-holders, and those with pending asylum claims will automatically become U.S. citizens will depend on how courts — potentially including the U.S. Supreme Court — ultimately interpret the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Senior U.S.…

A group of Democratic lawmakers have put forward a plan to restructure Maine’s income tax brackets, a proposal that will result in higher taxes on the state’s individuals who earn more than $144,500 per year. LD 229 — An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates — was sponsored by Rep. Ann Higgins Matlack (D-St. George). The progressive tax scheme is also cosponsored by Rep. Anne P. Graham (D-North Yarmouth), Rep. Lori K. Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach), Rep. Julia A.G. McCabe (D-Lewiston), Rep. Amy J. Roeder (D-Bangor), and Rep.…

Lawmakers in Augusta will be considering a proposal to establish “hope accounts” for Maine students who either are home-schooled or attend a private school. These hope accounts would allow parents who do not send their children to public school to use a portion of funds that would otherwise have gone to their local school districts for alternative education-related expenses, such as home-schooling materials or private school tuition. The Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program — proposed by a group of Maine Republican lawmakers — is similar to other education savings account (ESA) programs that have already been implemented in seventeen states…

A group of Maine Republicans have introduced legislation that would withdraw the state from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among the states that could bring about sweeping changes to how the President of the United States is elected. If enough states were to join the Compact, it would effectively override the electoral college by guaranteeing that the winner of the national popular vote would always be elected president, regardless of who earned the most electoral votes. In April of last year, Gov. Janet Mills (D) allowed the Compact to become law without her signature, officially making Maine…

The State of Maine, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine (ACLU Maine), have filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration over an Executive Order signed Monday redefining birthright citizenship. “That’s a big one,” President Donald Trump (R) said as an aide handed him the Executive Order. “We’re the only country in the world that does this,” said President Trump. “It’s ridiculous.” Donald Trump just signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.This is one of the most important issues he can pick a fight on. It will be challenged immediately, and we need to stand…

A group of Republican lawmakers in Maine are hoping to repeal Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) this legislative session. LD 234 — An Act to Eliminate Ranked-Choice Voting — was sponsored by Rep. Richard H. Campbell (R-Orrington) and cosponsored by Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata (R-New Gloucester), Rep. Irene A. Gifford (R-Lincoln), Rep. Randall Adam Greenwood (R-Wales), Rep. Abigail W. Griffin (R-Levant), Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield), Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips), and Rep. Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington). In the wake of the November 5 election — during which a number of critical state, local, and federal races were on the ballot — ranked choice voting…

A federal judge has denied a Belfast church’s request to halt the sale of a former University of Maine (UMaine) property after the school reneged on their initial decision to sell to the church. Calvary Chapel Belfast’s legal team has subsequently signaled that they intend to continue fighting the school’s ability to sell the former Hutchinson Center to another buyer while their case is pending before the courts. Federal Judge Stacey Neumann ruled against the church Friday morning, denying their request for a temporary restraining order that would halt the sale of the property to another buyer while the church’s…

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works (BIW) have sued the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) over their rules implementing the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. In the lawsuit, the Chamber of Commerce, which represents large businesses in Maine, and BIW, a subsidiary of defense contractor General Dynamics, allege that portions of MDOL’s recently announced rules contradict the law that established the new program. Separately, BIW argues that the new program represents a violation of Maine businesses’ constitutional rights. The emerging legal battle stems from a program that was the brainchild of Senate President…

The Biden Administration has awarded Maine a $22 million grant for the state’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub. In October of 2023, the organization was designed as one of thirty-one Federal “Tech Hubs,” opening the door for additional funding opportunities going forward. According to Gov. Janet Mills (D), the Tech Hub was designed to “accelerate development of new materials and products derived from wood that can bolster critical industries like housing, eliminate the use of toxic materials, and replace imported plastics and other materials derived from fossil fuels.” This latest round of funding builds upon around $1 million worth…

Maine lawmakers have proposed doing away with the cost-of-living adjustment for the state’s minimum wage this legislative session. Under the proposed Republican-led legislation, the state minimum wage would be set at $14.65 per hour and all references to cost-of-living increases would be removed. LD 206 was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin) and cosponsored by Rep. Joshua Morris (R-Turner), Sen. Jim Libby (R-Cumberland), Sen. Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), and Rep. Sheila A. Lyman (R-Livermore Falls). Under current State Law, the hourly minimum wage must be increased in accordance with the cost of living as of…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has again proposed implementing a tax on streaming service subscriptions in Maine that would raise the cost of most popular entertainment streaming by 5.5 percent. Although lawmakers ultimately rejected the governor’s efforts to include a streaming service tax in the supplemental budget signed into law in 2024, Gov. Mills has again include such a provision in her latest proposed biennial budget. [RELATED: Streaming Service Subscriptions May Soon Be Taxed in Maine] If approved, Mainers would be required to pay a 5.5 percent tax on the cost of their streaming service subscriptions. Among other updates to the…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) released her proposed biennial budget Friday, accompanied by a 129-page piece of enacting legislation. Among these pages are a number of tax increases and higher fees, as well as a new tax on subscription-based streaming services and new fees assessed against health care providers. Below, the Maine Wire breaks down some of changes that Gov. Mills has suggested making to the taxes and fees assessed by the Maine State Government in her latest proposed biennial budget. Proposed Tax Increases Under Part E of Mills’ proposed budget legislation, the tax rate for cigarettes would be increased from…

Maine will be sending two firefighting crews to California to help battle the devastating fires that continue to ravage the state. The two crews will consist of eight Forest Rangers and twelve volunteer firefighters. These first responders will spend two weeks in California assisting in the “response and recovery efforts.” These Mainers are expected to arrive in California by Tuesday evening to begin offering support. “In times of emergency and crisis, states step up to help one another and that is what we are proud to be doing here,” Gov. Janet Mills (D) said in a statement Monday. “Our highly…

Maine leaders have decided that the state will not be increasing the minimum legal catch size for lobsters this July as was originally expected. Following a meeting in Augusta this past Thursday where dozens of lobstermen voiced strong opposition to the rule change, Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher issued a statement announcing the decision. “Last night, after hearing loud and clear from Maine lobster industry members that they are unified in their opposition to a proposed rule change that would increase the minimum gauge size starting in July of this year, with approval from Governor Mills…

A federal court in Kentucky has blocked the Biden Administration’s effort to redefine the term “sex” in Title IX to include expressions of “gender identity.” Chief Judge Danny Reeves argues in his ruling that the updated Title IX regulations exceed the Department of Education’s authority, violate the Constitution, are the result of “arbitrary and capricious” agency action. First enacted in the 1970s, Title IX represents a landmark piece of civil rights legislation designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program receiving federal funding. Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday morning in the case concerning a potential ban of the popular, Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. Justices are expected to rule quickly in this case, as the app is set to be banned in U.S. app stores in just a matter of days. The deadline for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to comply with the law’s divestiture requirement is January 19, just nine days after the Justices heard the case. During roughly two-and-a-half hours worth of oral arguments, the Justices appeared somewhat skeptical of the arguments made by TikTok and on behalf…

Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec) has sponsored a bipartisan bill that would grant the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC) the right to receive otherwise confidential records in order to carry out their responsibilities. This legislation has been cosponsored by a number of both Democrats and Republicans, including: Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata (R-New Gloucester), Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York), Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), Sen. Jill Duson (D-Cumberland), Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin), Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), Rep. Mark John Blier (R-Buxton), Rep. Adam R. Lee (D-Auburn), and Rep. Holly B. Stover (D-Boothbay). In late December, the Maine Supreme Court blocked the GOC from obtaining…

A bipartisan bill imposing an “impact fee” on megayachts has been introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) and co-sponsored by Rep. Grayson B. Lookner (D-Portland). The fees collected under this law would go toward supporting harbor infrastructure and public transit. Under the proposed legislation, “megayachts” are defined as “privately owned pleasure vessel[s]” that are over 150 feet in length. Exempted from this definition are a large range of vessels, including those used to fishing, research, construction, or military purposes. More specifically, commercial fishing vessels, commercial cruise vessels with over 20 passengers, commercial scientific research vessels, marine salvage or construction equipment…

The first bill of Maine’s 132nd Legislature is a governor’s bill aimed at implementing the recommendations from the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commissions established in response to this past winter’s devastating storms. The proposed legislation has been cosponsored by both the Republican and Democratic members of the State Legislature’s leadership. If approved, this bill would establish a new grant program for homeowners, as well as a fund to improve disaster communications and provide matching funds for federal disaster programs. This legislation would also create the State Resilience Office to support efforts to reduce damage from severe storms and floods.…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has proposed elevating the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to a cabinet-level department as part of her upcoming biennial budget proposal. In a press release published Thursday, Gov. Mills suggested that establishing a Maine Department of Energy Resources “would allow for a more integrated, comprehensive, and consistent approach to the planning and management of Maine’s energy system, helping Maine more effectively prioritize affordable and reliable energy for all Maine people and businesses.” According to her statement, making this move would be a “budget neutral initiative.” Mills goes on to explain that Maine is one of only a…

Oral arguments were heard Tuesday in the cases filed by two Maine Christian schools — St. Dominic Academy in Auburn and Crosspoint Church, which runs Bangor Christian School — against the state for allegedly violating their freedom of religion. The controversy at the center of this case surrounds a 2021 amendment to the Maine Human Rights Act that did away with certain exemptions for religious schools that receive funding through the state’s longstanding Town Tuitioning program. Town Tuitioning, first launched in 1873, allows students residing in districts without a public school to attend the public or private school of their…

After a year in which many Mainers were burdened with skyrocketing property tax bills, state lawmakers are poised to consider a bill giving senior citizens an additional measure of relief. Introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), LD 7 — An Act to Increase the Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Residents 65 Years of Age or Older — would increase the value of the homestead exemption to $75,000 for Mainers 65 and up. Currently, the max value of the homestead exemption is set at $25,000. Under the proposed law, seniors would qualify for the increased exemption if they have resided in…

Maine lawmakers have officially begun submitting bills for the new legislative session scheduled to begin Wednesday, and among these are a number of proposed laws concerning the state’s education system. These proposed pieces of legislation cover a wide range of subjects, including cursive writing, a new higher education grant program, teachers’ salaries, and public school enrollment for military-connected students. The Maine Wire breaks down some of the first education bills set to come before lawmakers in the new legislative session. LD 21 — An Act to Update the Provision of Law Concerning Student Codes of Conduct in Order to Reflect…

President Joe Biden (D) signed the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) — authored by Sens. Susan Collins (R) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) — into law Sunday. The SSFA will repeal two provisions currently in place — Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that reduce the amount of Social Security benefits for which public employees and their spouses are eligible. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives approved this bill by a margin of 327-75, while Senate lawmakers passed it 76-20. These changes will be applicable for benefits paid after December 2023. Source: Social Security AdministrationPIA –…

Going into the first session of the 132nd Legislature, lawmakers have already submitted two bills aimed at rolling back restrictions on the bags available to Mainers at the grocery store. While one proposed bill aims to do away with the five cent fee on paper grocery bags, another seeks to repeal the law regulating grocery bag usage in its entirety. LD 56 — An Act to Remove the 5 Cent Fee for Bags in Retail Stores — was sponsored by Rep. Michael H. Lemelin (R-Chelsea) and amends Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1611 sub-§3 to remove the provision requiring retail establishments…

Over the past few years, Maine’s child welfare system has come under fire for its failure to protect the state’s most vulnerable children. The Child Welfare Ombudsman’s 2024 Annual Report describes these continued shortcomings and offers recommendations for improvement. Contracted with the Governor’s Office and overseen by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, the Child Welfare Ombudsman is responsible for assisting Mainers in resolving “concerns and complaints” with Maine’s Child Protective Services Department of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Ombudsman also publishes an annual report that details the findings of their investigations, as well as…

Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Heather Johnson will be stepping down from her position on March 1 of this year. Johnson was first appointed by Gov. Janet Mills (D) in 2019 and since then has been described as a “driving force” behind the governor’s “efforts to strengthen, grow, and diversify Maine’s economy.” “It has been an honor to serve Governor Mills and Maine people as Commissioner of Economic and Community Development,” Johnson said in a statement Monday. “Together, despite historic challenges, we have a built stronger, more inclusive Maine economy. I know there is always…

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has officially been reelected as Speaker of the House, allowing lawmakers to move forward with their other critical responsibilities. Several lawmakers delayed casting their votes for Speaker until the end of the first round Friday, leaving Johnson’s fate uncertain throughout the initial rundown of representatives. Those initially remaining silent on their votes were: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). All six ultimately supported Johnson. Three Republicans initially voted against Johnson, including: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. Ralph…

Maine lawmakers are set to receive a 61 percent higher salary than their predecessors when they reconvene next week. This comes as a result of legislation included in the most recent budget signed into law raising lawmakers’ compensation from $28,000 for a two-year term to $45,000. Legislators will receive $25,000 for the first session and $20,000 for the second session. Beginning in 2026, after Gov. Janet Mills (D) is termed out of office, the governor’s salary will also rise, increasing from $70,000 annually to $125,000 annually. The governor’s expense account will also quadruple from $10,000 to $40,000. These changes represent…

The FBI issued an update Thursday on the terrorist attack that took place in the early hours of the day on January 1 in New Orleans on Burboun Street. Officials have indicated that there is “no definitive link” at this time between this attack and the Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks and camping fuel driven by 37-year-old Matthew Alan Livelsberger that was involved in an explosion outside of Trump Tower in Las Vegas on the same day. Although initial reports were unclear as to whether or not there were multiple people involved in the New Orleans attack, it is now…

Beginning Monday, Maine childcare facilities are no longer permitted to use baby gates under most circumstances. Under the new guidance from the Maine Fire Marshall’s Office, baby gates can only be used to protect children from hazards, such as fireplaces or stoves. An October 18 communication from the Fire Marshall explained that “means of egress” must be “continuously maintained free of all obstructions or impediments” in case of fire or another emergency, and “any type of barrier including, but not limited to gates, is an impediment to free movement in the means of egress.” According to this memo, it was…

Beginning on Wednesday, January 1, Maine’s minimum wage will go up to $14.65 per hour — a fifty cent increase over 2023 — in order to keep pace with the cost of living. Under current State Law, the hourly minimum wage must be increased in accordance with the cost of living as of August the previous year, rounded to the nearest five cents. In addition to this, the new tip wage has been set at $7.33 per hour, up from $7.08, such that it remains at fifty percent of the minimum wage. The amount of tips earned per month in…

President-elect Donald Trump (R) has endorsed Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to again serve as Speaker of the House for the upcoming Congress. Lawmakers are set to reconvene later this week, and electing a Speaker will be their first priority. Without a Speaker in place, the House cannot move forward with critical business, including election certification. The move has caused considerable consternation among conservative commentators, including some of the president-elects most ardent supporters, who viewed Speaker Johnson’s handling of the pre-Christmas spending package as a massive betrayal of Trump’s priorities. In a statement posted to Truth Social Monday morning, president-elect Trump…

Many of Maine’s elected officials have issued statements following the death of former President Jimmy Carter at the age of 100, with Gov. Janet Mills ordering Maine flags to remain at half-staff in honor of the 39th American president. “President Carter led a remarkable life centered around service to others,” said Gov. Janet Mills (D). “As a peanut farmer, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, Governor of Georgia, President of the United States, respected statesman and humanitarian, and a humble Sunday School teacher, President Carter spent his life working to make our world a better place.” “He was the moral conscience of…

A Maine legislative committee has been blocked by the state’s highest court from requiring a state agency to turn over confidential records concerning the deaths of four children in 2021. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) cannot be compelled to give certain child protective files to the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC). DHHS declined to turn over these records citing confidentiality, prompting the GOC to ask the Superior Court to enforce compliance with a subpoena. After this request was denied, the GOC appealed to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court.…