Inside Augusta
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Lawmakers fund cessation efforts but retreat on more sweeping tobacco taxes and regulations
With the 130th Maine Legislature’s second session completed, except for a veto day...
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Extra day of session results in substantial legislative spending spree
Both chambers of the Maine Legislature met on April 25 for the final...
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Lawmakers extend session one day, Mills’ utility accountability bill revived with new amendment
Lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and Senate met on April 20...
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Lawmakers enact budget agreement, House rejects Gov. Mills’ utility accountability proposal
Both the House of Representative and the Senate convened on April 19 for...
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Lawmakers closing in on final deals on budget, housing and utility accountability measures
With only three days left in the 130th Legislature’s second session, both the...
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Lawmakers reach budget agreement, approve House Speaker’s housing bill
The Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) met late on the evening...
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Lawmakers rush to finish work with one week left in second session
With one week left in the legislative session and work on the supplemental...
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Speaker Fecteau offers last minute amendment to affordable housing bill
On April 7, the Maine Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee voted 8 to...
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Legislature approves sale of spirits at stadiums, indefinitely postpones inspection fee hike
The Maine Senate on April 7 voted to indefinitely postpone a bill that...
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‘Pine Tree Amendment’ fails to garner enough support in House to amend state constitution
The House of Representatives on April 5 failed to pass a bill that...
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Both parties outline spending priorities with less than three weeks until adjournment
The 130th Maine Legislature is currently scheduled to adjourn its second session on...
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Legislature passes bill to keep open veterans’ homes, Senate tables bill to double inspection fee
A bill to keep veterans’ homes in Machias and Caribou open was passed...
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Why are Maine lawmakers letting special interests nickel-and-dime us on vehicle inspections?
Mandatory motor vehicle inspections already cost Mainers $14 million and countless hours of...
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Maine House votes to double annual fee on motor vehicle inspections
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate met on March 29 for...
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Senate tables measure to expand RCV to municipal elections
During a joint session of the Maine Legislature on March 24, the Senate...
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Disagreement between Speaker Fecteau, Senate President Jackson prevents hearing on gas tax suspension
A disagreement between the presiding officers of the Maine Legislature––House Speaker Ryan Fecteau...
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Lawmakers debate name changes, liquor laws and local election procedures during Tuesday session
Both chambers of the Maine Legislature convened on March 22 for the first...
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Appropriations Committee Democrats sink plan to accelerate disbursement of direct relief checks
During a work session on a bill proposing to return surplus money to...
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Gov. Mills’ final supplemental budget plan increases value of relief checks to $850
Gov. Janet Mills unveiled her change package to the supplemental budget on March...
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Bill to allow hunting on Sunday shot down in committee
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) voted against a...
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Senate defeats bill to prohibit mandatory COVID-19 shots for 5 years
For the sixth time during the 130th Maine Legislature’s second session, the House...
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Former state auditor Matt Dunlap ‘not sure’ if he’ll pursue post again next year with new credentials
Approximately five months after being forced to vacate the position of state auditor,...
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Tobacco provisions stripped from bill in HHS Committee to repurpose the Fund for a Healthy Maine
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) voted to advance...
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Legislative Council votes to make masks optional at State House starting March 7
Maine’s Legislative Council voted unanimously on March 3 to change its requirement that...
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Mills admin recommends optional masking in schools, childcare settings starting March 9
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Maine Department of...
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Lawmakers spar over State House pandemic protocols during Wednesday’s session
The Maine Legislature convened on February 23 to debate several pieces of legislation,...
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Legislative Council admits 12 new bills into the second session
The Legislative Council met on January 27 and considered after-deadline bill requests to...
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Lawmakers sustain Mills’ veto on bill allowing farm workers to unionize
Members of the Maine Legislature’s House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Janet...
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Governor Mills to deliver State of the State address, supplemental budget to legislature next month
Maine Gov. Janet Mills will deliver the State of the State address on...
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Legislature holds hearing on proposal to return unappropriated surplus revenue to taxpayers
The Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee held a public hearing Wednesday...
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Legislative Republicans in the dark on Gov. Mills and Democrats’ supplemental budget priorities
When the 130th Maine Legislature reconvenes for its second session in January 2022,...
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Legislature launches pilot program to assess racial impact of pending legislation
In March 2021, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill into law requiring the...
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Dunlap vacates state auditor position after narrowly missing exams to obtain auditor credentials
At midnight on October 1, the position of state auditor will become vacant....
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Maine Legislature accepts new redistricting plans, approves legal action on federal lobster rules
The Maine Legislature convened on September 29 and approved new maps for federal...
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Legislature to debate all new district maps approved by Apportionment Commission
Hours ahead of its September 27 deadline, the Apportionment Commission met for the...
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Redistricting commission in agreement on three of four new district maps, final meeting upcoming
Maine’s Apportionment Commission voted to approve new district maps for Maine’s House of...
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Legislative Council votes to reinstate face mask policy at State House, file brief in lobster lawsuit
Maine’s Legislative Council voted to reinstate its COVID-19 Prevention Policy, which requires face...
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Redistricting commission approves county commissioner maps, more votes to come with deadline looming
The Apportionment Commission held a public hearing on September 20 to hear public...
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DMR briefs legislature on impact of NOAA’s new lobstering rules, options for appeal
On September 14, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Marine Resources met and discussed...
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Redistricting commission preparing to release maps, hold public hearing
The Apportionment Commission, which is responsible for using the 2020 census data to...
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Legal and legislative challenges to Gov. Mills’ vaccine mandate are piling up
There are a growing number of legal challenges to Gov. Janet Mills’ requirement...
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Maine’s redistricting committee off to a slow start
Maine’s Apportionment Commission, which is responsible for using the 2020 census data to...
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Lawmakers pen letter in opposition to Gov. Mills’ vaccine mandate
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced a new vaccine requirement for healthcare workers on...
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Government Oversight Committee endorses report to clean up Maine ballot initiatives
During its August 11 meeting, the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) voted unanimously to...
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Matt Dunlap ‘confident’ he’ll meet state auditor requirements by statutory deadline
When former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap was sworn in as the state...
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Maine’s ARPA spending package becomes law without legislative compromise
On July 19, the Maine Legislature voted to approve a plan for spending...
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Legislature sustains Gov. Mills’ veto of CMP takeover bill
Though the bill is dead, voters may still see the question LD 1708...
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Mills signs packaging bill, vetoes state takeover of private utilities
Gov. Janet Mills just missed the mark on two controversial and misguided pieces...
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Civil asset forfeiture reform bill becomes law without Mills’ signature
A bill that would strengthen protections against civil asset forfeiture, sponsored by Rep....
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Governor Mills’ steady stream of vetoes continues
Gov. Mills recently issued vetoes for seven pieces of legislation approved by the...
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Governor Mills issues her first vetoes of the 130th Legislature
The governor’s office recently posted veto messages for seven bills rejected by Gov....
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Governor Mills signs bills on energy, telemedicine and remote meetings into law
Bills passed by the Maine Legislature during its recently convened special session have...
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Healthcare group asks Gov. Mills to veto prescription drug price control bill
The Maine Legislature recently passed LD 1117, a bill that would prohibit excessive...
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Gov. Mills announces ‘Vaccinationland’ lottery sweepstakes
On June 16, Gov. Mills announced the creation of a sweepstakes for Mainers...
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Battle over consumer-owned utility pits Gov. Mills against her legislative allies
If a bill recently approved by the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Energy, Utilities...
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State legislatures returning to in-person sessions
After more than a year away, the Maine Legislature returned to the State...
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The dizzying pace of Governor Mills’ executive orders
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is on pace to exercise her executive authority almost...
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Seven lawmakers stripped of committee assignments after entering State House without masks
Seven Maine lawmakers were stripped of their committee assignments on Monday by House...
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Democrats oppose emergency power reform bills along party line votes
Governor Janet Mills’ reign over Maine people doesn’t appear to be ending anytime...
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Protect Mainers’ privacy by ending the MIAC
“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge...
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Will Maine make it easier for skilled professionals to relocate here?
On Tuesday, lawmakers on Maine’s Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement, and Business Committee held...
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Reisman: Poking the green hornets’ nest
Last week I poked the green hornets’ nest by testifying in support of...
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Potential budget deal reached in Senate, House rejects terminating Mills’ state of emergency
The Maine Legislature convened in person on Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center...
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Lawmakers convening Wednesday to debate supplemental budget, state of emergency
Maine lawmakers will convene in-person in Augusta this week for the first time...
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Teachers don’t need to be vaccinated for Maine schools to reopen safely
Governor Janet Mills updated Maine’s statewide vaccination plan Wednesday to make teachers and...
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Bangor area residents launch ballot initiative to reform governor’s emergency powers
A new citizens initiative was approved for circulation in Maine on January 25,...
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After trying to oust Maine Capitol Police chief, Senate Democrats defend free speech on social media
More than 70 elected Maine Democrats, including 13 of 21 Democratic senators, signed...
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How would banning flavored tobacco products impact Maine’s budget?
This week, the anti-tobacco organization “Flavors Hook Kids” held an online news conference...
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Mills unveils new compromise on PPP issue, tax conformity
Maine Governor Janet Mills issued a press release Tuesday outlining a proposed path...
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Adding insult to injury: Governor Mills and the PPP
The Paycheck Protection Program, part of the federal CARES Act passed last year,...
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Fake concept drafts don’t belong in a virtual legislative session
Much of the Maine Legislature’s regular business looks different this year. The Clerk...
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New letter defends Chief Gauvin’s free speech rights
After Maine Democrats sent a letter to the state’s top public safety official...
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First bills of the 130th Legislature released for public consumption
Last week our team offered a preview of the First Session of the...
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Gov. Mills’ business relief package too little, too late for many small businesses
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday the creation of a new small business...
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Committee proposes turning state takeover of CMP into study
On Friday, Maine’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology committee voted 8-1 to amend a...
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Economic Recovery Committee urges Gov. Mills to spend $1.1 billion to revive Maine’s economy
Last week, Governor Janet Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee released recommendations urging the administration...
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Gideon and Jackson’s failure to define scope of work puts special session in jeopardy
Senate President Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon began polling...
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Coronavirus, Governor Mills, and the Constitution
Governors and bureaucrats are picking and choosing which parts of the Constitution they...
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Pressure mounts on Speaker Gideon, President Jackson to reconvene the Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature may soon reconvene three months after lawmakers adjourned the 2020...
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Lawmakers express bipartisan frustration over labor commissioner’s absence
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle voiced frustration last Thursday after Department...
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Governor Mills and selective science
This piece was originally published in the Portland Press Herald Businesses throughout Maine...
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Maine Senate Republicans ask the presiding officers to convene the Legislative Council
The leaders of the minority Republicans in the Maine Senate on Wednesday sent...
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The governor is shifting COVID-19 costs to counties
On May 15, Governor Mills issued an executive order delegating authority to the Commissioner of...
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The governor shouldn’t be acting alone
Maine citizens are becoming increasingly divided. It didn’t have to be this way....
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New legislative proposal would curb emergency powers of Maine’s chief executive
In a press statement released late Monday afternoon, House Minority Leader Rep. Kathleen...
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Gov. Mills announces changes to her plan to reopen Maine
Governor Janet Mills announced changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy Friday...
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For how long will Maine be under a civil state of emergency?
On March 15, Maine Governor Janet Mills declared a civil state of emergency enabling her...
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Governor Mills signals changes are coming to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy
Governor Janet Mills alluded to forthcoming changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s...
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The Legislature must reconvene to rein in the governor’s emergency powers
On Saturday evening, the Republican leaders in the House and Senate, with the...
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Governor Mills issues order to stop evictions, foreclosures during coronavirus shutdown
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order Thursday that effectively prevents the...
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Gov. Mills announces plan to open two alternative care sites, floats postponement of June primary election
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Maine grew by 20 overnight to...
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Governor Mills extends state tax filing deadline, deems firearm retailers ‘non-essential’ businesses
Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday she is extending the state of Maine’s income...
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Gov. Mills issues new mandate for nonessential businesses to close for two weeks
Maine Governor Janet Mills and Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center...
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Maine Legislature acts on COVID-19, gives Gov. Mills broad authority to respond
The Maine Legislature adjourned Tuesday evening after a marathon session where the body...
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Maine Legislature to adjourn Tuesday due to coronavirus
The Maine Legislature will prematurely adjourn Tuesday in response to the coronavirus, Maine’s...
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Proposed bill would boost salaries of Maine’s governor, lawmakers and judges
Lawmakers on Maine’s State and Local Government Committee held a public hearing Monday...
