{"id":2658,"date":"2018-07-08T04:30:48","date_gmt":"2018-07-08T08:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=2658"},"modified":"2019-03-23T22:41:21","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:41:21","slug":"2018-me-legislature-roundup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/2018-me-legislature-roundup\/","title":{"rendered":"MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: Special Veto Day Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ next_background_color=”#00417f”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Quick Action” title=”Quick Action” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%82%%” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”809px” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”65px” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_align=”left” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#efb217″ background_color=”#00417f” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_starting_opacity=”20%” animation=”right”]<\/p>\n

The Maine Legislature is back in Augusta Monday to vote on veto overrides on 36 bills rejected by LePage last week\u2014including a bill to fund Medicaid expansion and a ban on the harmful practice of conversion therapy\u2014and to continue debate on bills to release clean elections funding and tax conformity. More info on the bills is below. Call your legislators TODAY and let them know how you want them to vote!\u00a0Leave a message for legislators with their names, your name and town, and that you want them to vote YES on LD 1894! House: 1-800-423-2900 and\u00a0Senate: 1-800-423-6900.\u00a0<\/strong>Find your legislators HERE<\/span>.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

SUM Admin Team C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n

Gov. Paul Lepage vetoed 48 bills last week, including a funding package for Medicaid expansion<\/a> and a ban on the dangerous and discredited practice of gay conversion therapy<\/a>. The Maine Legislature convenes Monday to vote on overrides of these and other vetoes, and to continue debate on a critical clean elections funding bill<\/a> and tax conformity. These and other bills have come out of\u00a0<\/span> a Special Session<\/span><\/a>, made necessary when <\/span>Republicans voted to end the session<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in early May without finishing their job. Among the bills vetoed by the governor are LD 924<\/a> and\u00a0<\/span>LD 925<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>spending packages<\/span><\/a> that raise wages for direct care workers, fund opioid use disorder treatment, elder care services, and other critical programs, while also rebuffing Republicans\u2019 attempts to cut the state\u2019s minimum wage. <\/span>(See how your legislators voted on LD 924<\/a> and LD 925<\/a>.)<\/b> Below are some of the bills we\u2019ve tracked this session and where they stand. (Read all of LePage’s vetoes HERE<\/strong>.<\/a>) Call your legislators and tell them how you want them to vote on clean elections, tax conformity, and on the veto overrides. And tell them to override the vetoes of LD 924 and 925!\u00a0Leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and how you want them to vote. House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900. Find your legislators HERE<\/span>.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jump to Bills that Passed or Died in the Regular Session<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jump to Bills Still to Debated in the Special Session<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VETO OVERRIDE VOTES<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Medicaid expansion.<\/span><\/strong> Last November Maine became the first state in the country to\u00a0expand Medicaid by voter referendum,<\/a>\u00a0and July 2, Medicaid expansion becomes the law of the land. Under the voter-approved expansion,\u00a070,000 Mainers\u2014including 3,000 veterans\u2014will gain access to critical health care and the state will receive a windfall of\u00a0$500 million new federal health care dollars<\/a>\u00a0and an estimated 6,000 new jobs. Despite this, Gov. LePage has stalled on funding the state\u2019s share of expansion.\u00a0The Legislature passed LD 837,\u00a0 a <\/span>$60 million bipartisan bill<\/span><\/a> that fully funds Medicaid expansion for the first year, using funds from a budget surplus and Maine’s share of the tobacco settlement. (See how your legislators voted.<\/b><\/a>) Read the\u00a0governor’s veto letter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>QUICK ACTION:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call MONDAY MORNING and leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and that you want them to OVERRIDE THE VETO ON LD 837! House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900.<\/strong><\/span> Find your legislators HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"A ban on conversion therapy.<\/strong><\/span> LD 912<\/a>,\u00a0An Act To Clarify the Scope of Practice of Certain Licensed Professionals Regarding Conversion Therapy. This bill would ban “conversion therapy”<\/a>\u2014any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The result of a year-long conversation with stakeholders, including EqualityMaine<\/a> and GLAD<\/a>, the legislation would apply to\u00a0counselors, doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other licensed health care professionals. If passed, Maine would be the tenth state to ban conversion therapy, which has been discredited by leading medical organizations<\/a>, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association. A\u00a0public hearing<\/a>\u00a0was held\u00a0February 14<\/span><\/span>\u00a0before the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and a\u00a0committee majority voted March 8 that the bill Ought to Pass<\/a>. However, some Republicans on the committee offered a different version of the bill as a minority report that would allow practioners to subject LGBTQ individuals to “talk therapy,” a practice condemned by groups such as the AMA and APA due to the psychological abuse such treatments have been shown to inflict. The committee’s vote was divided. The majority voted for the original version of the bill. But there are also two minority reports, both of which gut the bill and leave no protection for LGBTQ youth. The House and Senate passed an amended version of the bill that protects LGBTQ youth. (See how your legislators voted<\/b><\/a>.)\u00a0LePage vetoed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the bill, becoming the first governor in the country to do so. Read the governor’s veto letter<\/a>.<\/span>
\nQUICK ACTION:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call MONDAY MORNING and leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and that you want them to OVERRIDE THE VETO ON LD 912! House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900.<\/strong>Find your legislators HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b> \u00a0 \"\"<\/a>Red flag bill<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>LD 1884<\/a>,\u00a0An Act To Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals from Possessing Firearms. Like the Parkland shooter, many of those who commit suicide or homicide with a gun exhibit signs of their intentions, or \u201cred flags.\u201d LD 1884, a “red flag” bill,\u00a0would help reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence and other homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others.\u00a0A similar bill in Connecticut is credited with\u00a0averting 72 or more suicides<\/a>\u00a0last year. (Learn more in our<\/span><\/span> Call to Action<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong>)\u00a0The original version of the bill was defeated in both chambers. However, the Legislature did pass a minority report for LD 1884, that closed a loophole in a current law<\/a> that had allowed people undergoing outpatient progressive psychiatric treatment to buy a firearm.\u00a0(See how your representative voted.<\/strong>)\u00a0<\/a>Read the\u00a0governor’s veto letter<\/a><\/span>.
\nQUICK ACTION:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call MONDAY MORNING and leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and that you want them to OVERRIDE THE VETO ON LD 1884! House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900.<\/strong>Find your legislators HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Protections for people with disabilities<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0LD 1676, HP 1164:<\/a> An Act To Reestablish the Office of Advocacy within the Department of Health and Human Services. This bill would re-establish an office eliminated by the LePage administration in 2011<\/a> that investigates complaints from people k\u00a0 who had family members with developmental disabilities who were receiving state services. A public hearing<\/a> was held\u00a0 before the Committee on Health and Human Services Jan. 31. The committee’s vote was divided with the majority voting Ought to Pass. An amended version of the bill<\/a> passed the Legislature, giving the Maine Elder Death Analysis Review Team the power to investigate deaths and\/or serious injuries to people with Intellectual disabilities or autism who are receiving care from DHHS. See how your representative voted<\/a><\/strong> (the Senate passed with a voice vote with no roll call). Read the governor’s veto letter<\/a>.
\nQUICK ACTION:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call MONDAY MORNING and leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and that you want them to OVERRIDE THE VETO ON LD 1676! House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900.<\/strong>Find your legislators HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/span>School-Based Health Centers for Kids.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>LD 1710, HP 1190<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0An Act To Restore Maine’s School-based Health Centers. This bill would <\/span>restore funding for 15 <\/span>school based health centers (SBHCs)<\/span><\/a> that fell victim to last year\u2019s <\/span>Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) budget cuts<\/span><\/a>. A <\/span>public hearing<\/span><\/a> was held Jan. 18 before the Committee on Health and Human Services, which voted 8-3 that the bill OUGHT TO PASS.<\/a>\u00a0The House passed the bill (see how your rep voted<\/a>) <\/span><\/span>and the Senate passed without debate (meaning no roll call) and sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee for funding.Learn more in our Call to Actio<\/span>n.<\/b><\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The Appropriations Committee approved funding for the state\u2019s SBHCs, and it was included in the funding package (LD 925<\/a>) that the governor vetoed. Read the governor’s veto letter<\/a>.
\nQUICK ACTION:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call MONDAY MORNING and leave a message with your legislators’ names, your name and town, and that you want them to OVERRIDE THE VETO ON LD 925! House: 1-800-423-2900 and Senate: 1-800-423-6900.<\/strong>Find your legislators HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SPECIAL SESSION BILL UPDATE<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Clean Elections.<\/span><\/strong> LD 1894<\/a>,\u00a0An Act To Correct Errors and Inconsistencies in the Laws of Maine. A typo in in a budget bill passed last year is holding up distribution of funds<\/a> to state candidates who qualified as Clean Elections candidates. The error prevents the Maine Clean Election Fund from distributing funds after the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2018. Almost every candidate for the Maine House and Senate runs as a Clean Elections candidate, an initiative passed by voters more than 20 years ago that provides public funding to candidates who forgo private donations. The program, one of the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to limit special interest groups’ participation in elections. If the error is not corrected, Clean Elections candidates will not be allowed to raise private funds<\/a>, giving candidates funded by big-money groups a significant advantage.
\nQUICK ACTION: <\/b><\/span>House Republicans are refusing to pass the bill\u2014even those who are running as Clean Elections Candidates. If your representative is a Republican, call Monday morning at 1-800-423-2900 and leave a message with their name, your name and town, and that you want them to vote YES on LD 1894 to get special interest funding out of Maine politics! For good measure, call your Republican senator too, at\u00a01-800-423-6900. Find your legislators HERE.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>LePage tax scam.<\/strong><\/span> LD 1655<\/a>, An Act To Update References to the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Contained in the Maine Revised Statutes. This bill is LePage’s\u00a0proposal<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0conform state-level income taxation<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0the Trump tax cut law<\/a> that passed in December. Not surprisingly, his plans favor wealthy individuals and profitable corporations while ignoring critical public needs.\u00a0Among the\u00a0highlights<\/a>, some profitable businesses would avoid paying state taxes at all, and some of these would receive $18 million in tax breaks for capital investments made outside of Maine. In addition, the top 1% would receive an average tax break of $557, while the bottom fifth of Maine households would receive $1.\u00a0These kinds of tax benefits\u00a0don\u2019t create jobs or boost the economy<\/a>. LePage\u2019s tax scam\u00a0would result in a\u00a0loss of $88 billion<\/a>\u00a0in the state coffers over the rest of the 2-year budget cycle and even more in future years<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0A\u00a0public hearing was held March 15.<\/a>\u00a0The committee issued a majority report that the bill should pass, but Democrats offered an amendment that would offer tax relief for working families. Learn more in our call to action.\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>UPDATE: <\/b><\/span>\u00a0A final vote on a compromise version could come this week.<\/strong> It includes a tax credit for paid family leave, property tax relief, and retention of the personal exemption for working class families. However, it does not repeal the estate tax, so if the Legislature passes it, the governor has threatened to veto.
\nQUICK ACTION: <\/b><\/span>House Republicans are refusing to pass the bill\u2014even those who are running as Clean Elections Candidates. If your representative is a Republican, call Monday morning at 1-800-423-2900 and leave a message with their name, your name and town, and that you want them to vote YES on LD 1655 to get special interest funding out of Maine politics! For good measure, call your Republican senator too, at\u00a01-800-423-6900. Find your legislators HERE.<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Ban on Food Shaming.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>LD 1684:<\/a> An Act Forbidding Food Shaming, Food Denial and the Use of Food\u00a0as Discipline Involving Any Child in Maine’s Public Schools. This bill \u00a0bans \u201clunch shaming,\u201d<\/a> the practice of publicly shaming children with unpaid food bills, which occurs in schools around the country, including in some Maine schools<\/a>,. A public hearing<\/a> was held Jan. 17 and the HHS Committee voted 8-3 that the bill Ought to Pass.\u00a0The Senate passed the bill without debate (meaning no roll call) and the House passed it 83-64 (see how your rep voted<\/a>). For unknown reasons, the bill was placed on the Appropriations table.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Learn more in our Call to Actio<\/span>n<\/b><\/a>.
\n<\/span><\/strong>UPDATE:<\/span> <\/b><\/span>The bill was left on the Appropriations table when the session ended and was not taken up during the Special Session. Its fate is uncertain.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

BILLS THAT PASSED OR DIED DURING REGULAR SESSION<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"End domestic violence.<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Two bills held over from the last session would help reduce domestic violence. Both are now before the Appropriations Committee and will either be funded and sent on to the Senate for a final vote, or allowed to die on the table. The first, LD 524,<\/a>\u00a0strengthens current laws under which abusers can be prosecuted by creating the crimes of domestic violence aggravated assault, domestic violence elevated aggravated assault, and domestic violence elevated aggravated assault on a pregnant person. The bill also would make violating a protection from abuse order more than twice a Class C felony. The second bill,\u00a0<\/span>LD 525,<\/span><\/a> would provide first-ever state funding for Maine\u2019s <\/span>Batterer Intervention Program<\/span><\/a> (BIP), a domestic violence prevention initiative modeled after similar<\/span> evidence-based programs<\/span><\/a> around the country. Maine\u2019s program is certified by the Department of Corrections, runs for 48 weeks, and currently receives no state funding. A 2017 law increased court-ordered BIP participation, but also increased program costs. And domestic abusers who can\u2019t afford the weekly participation fee are still directed to ineffective no-cost programs or to no program at all. LD 525 provides funding for the program and subsidizes fees for abusers who can\u2019t pay. Both bills passed the House in 2017 and are on the Special Appropriations Table.\u00a0Learn more in our<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Call to Action<\/a><\/span><\/span>.
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/b>THE BILL IS NOW LAW:<\/span> <\/b><\/span>Although LD 524 was not taken up during the Special Session, the Appropriations committee approved funding for LD 525 and it passed both chambers<\/a> with a voice vote with no roll call and Gov. LePage signed it into law.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Access to life-saving Naloxone.<\/span><\/strong> LD 1892<\/a>,\u00a0An Act To Clarify the Prescribing and Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride by Pharmacists, would remove age restrictions on the sale of the life-saving, overdose-reversing drug naloxone (sold under the brand Narcan). The bill was passed unanimously<\/a> in the Senate and 132-7 in the House (see roll call)<\/a>, but was vetoed by Gov. LePage<\/a> on April 25. LePage has for years\u00a0fought attempts<\/a> by physicians, public health officials, and legislators to make naloxone available without a prescription.\u00a0In 2016, he vetoed a bill<\/a> to make the life-saving drug available without a prescription, but the Legislature overrode his veto. LePage then refused to release rules required for the drug to be dispensed until the Pharmacy Board agreed to raise the age of access to 21<\/a>. In April, the U.S Surgeon General issued an advisory<\/a>\u00a0calling on more people to carry naloxone. There were a record 418 overdose deaths in Maine 2017, but despite that figure and the surgeon general’s advisory, LePage continues to fight efforts to make naloxone available.
\nTHE BILL IS NOW LAW. <\/span><\/strong>The Legislature passed the bill overwhelmingly and then overrode LePage’s veto.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>See how your reps voted.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Child abuse prevention.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0LD 1874<\/a>, Resolve, To Ensure the Continued Provision of Services to Maine Children and Families, would provide $2.2 million in funding to a critical child abuse prevention program<\/a> that LePage wants to eliminate.\u00a0Maine\u2019s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced plans earlier this year to discontinue funding the\u00a0Community Partnership for Protecting Children<\/a>. The program\u00a0addresses underlying causes of child abuse<\/a>\u00a0in Maine through a network of social service providers, law enforcement, schools, and communities in\u00a012 counties<\/a>, by strengthening families and protecting children. The governor’s decision to cut the program came just days after the tragic death<\/a> of two young girls who were victims of child abuse. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and 139-5 in the House (see the roll call)<\/a>, but LePage vetoed it<\/a> last week. Learn more about the program in our Call to Action<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0
\nTHE BILL IS NOW LAW. <\/span><\/span><\/strong>The Legislature passed the bill overwhelmingly and then overrode LePage’s veto. <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>See how your reps voted.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Paid family leave.<\/span><\/strong><\/span> LD\u00a01587<\/span>,\u00a0HP 1091<\/span><\/a>\u00a0An Act To Provide Economic Security to Maine Families through the Creation of a Paid Family Medical Leave System. The bill, first introduced to the Legislature last year and carried over to the current session,\u00a0would create a paid family medical leave program<\/a> for Maine patterned after the unpaid family medical leave program existing in current law. It establishes a state-run program to which\u00a0eligible employees or self-employed people could voluntarily contribute no more than 0.5% of the employee’s or self-employed person’s wages to an account that they could later draw on during leave for various family-related medical issues. A public hearing was held Feb. 7<\/a>\u00a0before the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development. The committee issued a divided report, with the majority voting Ought to Pass. An amendment was later adopted and the bill that passed the Legislature calls for a study of paid family leave in Maine. There is no appropriations attachment. The bill passed 22-13 in the Senate and 80-66 in the House (see how your legislators voted).<\/a> Even though the final bill only calls for a study with no budgetary needs, the governor vetoed it<\/a>\u00a0anyway.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b>The Legislature passed the legislation, but sustained LePage’s veto.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>See how your reps voted.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"Transparency in prescription drug pricing.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0LD\u00a01406<\/span>,\u00a0SP 484<\/span><\/a>\u00a0An Act To Promote Prescription Drug Price Transparency. This bill requires that drug manufacturers disclose costs<\/a> for drug production, research and development and marketing and advertising, and gives the Maine Attorney General\u2019s office authority to investigate companies that fail to comply. Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC), which supports the legislation<\/a>, says it is a critical first step in identifying factors leading to steep hikes in drug prices. According to a 2016 report from the General Accounting Office<\/a>, more than 300 of the 1,441 established generic prescription drugs it analyzed had at least one price increase of 100% or more in 2010-2015. The Committee on the Judiciary held a public hearing on the bill last year, and the response was overwhelmingly positive<\/a>. The committee’s vote was divided<\/a> with the majority voting Ought to Pass and the minority recommended an a weakened version of the bill.\u00a0The bill passed both chambers<\/a><\/span> without debate, meaning there is no roll call.<\/span><\/span>
\nTHE BILL IS NOW LAW.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The bill became law without the governor’s signature.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Reducing child poverty.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 LD 1774<\/span><\/a>, An Act to Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments in Families for Tomorrow (LIFT 2.0), aims <\/span>to<\/span> increase access to training and education<\/span><\/a>, add more skilled people into Maine\u2019s shrinking workforce, and increase families\u2019 abilities to earn higher wages. Funds for LIFT 2.0 will come from existing federal programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). The bill would provide support for childcare, transportation, and job coaches. A public hearing<\/a> before the HHS Committee was held Feb. 14 and the committee voted that the bill Ought to Pass. The House could vote on the bill as early as Tuesday.
\nTHE BILL IS NOW LAW. <\/span>\u00a0The bill became law without the governor’s signature. <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0Learn more in our Call to Action<\/span><\/span>.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Sexual offender photo ban.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0LD\u00a01813<\/span>,\u00a0HP 1258<\/span><\/a>\u00a0An Act To Establish as a Class D Crime the Intentional Photographing of a Minor without Consent of the Minor’s Parent or Guardian by an Individual Required To Register as a Sex Offender. This bill would outlaw registered sex offenders<\/a> from photographing minors in public and posting those images online. It was introduced after reports surfaced<\/a> that a registered sex offender in Augusta had visited\u00a0local stores and took photographs of shoppers, mostly young girls, without their parents\u2019 knowledge or consent and posted the pictures on social media sites. A public hearing<\/a>\u00a0was held Feb. 26 before the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which voted unanimously<\/a> that the bill OUGHT TO PASS.
\nTHE BILL PASSED AND WAS SIGNED INTO LAW APRIL 4.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Protect preventive care.<\/b><\/span> LD 1476<\/span><\/a>, \u201cAn Act To Ensure Continued Coverage for Essential Health Care,\u201d would incorporate into state law federal requirements for coverage of essential health care provided under the Affordable Care Act. The bill would cover all preventive services recommended by the <\/span>U.S. Preventive Services task force<\/span><\/a>, including immunizations, cancer screenings, treatment for substance use disorder, and mental health services. The bill also requires coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products. Although the legislation was passed unanimously by the House and Senate, <\/span>Gov. Paul LePage vetoed it <\/span><\/a>on March 13. LD 1476 now returns to both chambers for a vote to override the veto.
\n<\/span>THE BILL IS NOW LAW:<\/span>\u00a0LePage vetoed the bill, but the House and Senate voted to override<\/a> his veto and the bill is now law. See how your representative<\/a> and senator<\/a> voted on the override.<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span>Cuts to Maine’s minimum wage.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>LD 1757, HP 1210:<\/a> An Act To Protect Maine’s Economy by Slowing the Rate at Which the State’s Minimum Wage Will Increase and Establishing a Training and Youth Wage. This bill would reduce the minimum wage from $10 an hour to $9.50 an hour<\/a>, repealing the living wage increase passed by the majority of voters in a citizen referendum in 2016, and also create a sub-minimum wage for teens. Learn more in our Call to Action<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong> THE BILL IS DEAD.<\/strong> <\/span>The bill died in\u00a0<\/span>“non-concurrencee”<\/a>\u00a0between the chambers, when the House and Senate voted to accept different reports from the committee. However,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>every Republican in the House and Senate except Rep. Karen Vachon (R-Scarborough) voted to cut Mainer’s wages.<\/strong> See how your legislators voted.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"DHHS Oversight<\/strong><\/span>. <\/span>LD 1435, HP 990<\/span><\/a> An Act To Ensure Transparency in the Distribution of Federal Block Grant Funds. This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to submit plans for expenditures of federal block grants to the Legislature\u2019s Joint HHS Committee before spending the funds. The legislation was introduced following the discovery that, under former commissioner Mary Mayhew, <\/span>DHHS misspent $13.4 million in federal funds<\/span><\/a> earmarked for low-income children. A <\/span>public hearing<\/span><\/a> was held during the last session, with widespread support from five nonprofit agencies and the National Association of Social Workers. The only testimony against the bill was delivered on behalf of DHHS in the LePage administration. The HHS Committee issued a divided report, with the majority voting Ought to Pass. The bill passed the House 102-43 (House roll call<\/a>) <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>and passed the Senate without objection (no roll call).
\n<\/span>THE BILL IS DEAD.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span>Gov. LePage vetoed the bill and the House voted against an override.<\/span> See how your legislators voted.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Legislation targets immigrants<\/span>.<\/b> LD 1904\/SP 732<\/span><\/a>. Last year, the <\/span>Norway chapter of ACT for America<\/span><\/a>, the largest <\/span>anti-Muslim hate group<\/span><\/a> in the U.S., <\/span>brought a bill to Rep. Heather Sirocki<\/span><\/a> (R-Scarborough) that targets immigrant women in Maine. The bill would ban a procedure that is already illegal in Maine and across the U.S., female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is universally condemned as a human rights violation and immigrant advocacy organizations in Maine and around the U.S. have <\/span>led efforts to end the practice<\/span><\/a>, protecting their daughters through education and discussion in their communities. As a result, there have been <\/span>no reported cases of FGM<\/span><\/a> happening in Maine. At a public hearing on Sirocki\u2019s <\/span>bill and competing legislation<\/span><\/a> sponsored by Rep. Barbara Cardonne (D-Bangor) and Rep. Charlotte Warren (D-Hallowell) in February, <\/span>district attorneys and clinicians testified<\/span><\/a> that current federal and state laws already provide for felony prosecution of anyone involved in performing FGM. Despite this evidence, the Committee on Criminal Justice is going ahead with legislation modeled after language proposed by a known hate group,\u00a0<\/span>ACT for America<\/span><\/a>. The bill offers no new penalty over what is already in federal and state law and runs the risk of further stigmatizing immigrant communities in Maine by suggesting they support FGM. The legislation has drawn opposition from immigrants rights organizations, the medical community, ACLU Maine, Maine Women’s Lobby, Maine Family Planning, and others.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD:<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>The bill died in\u00a0<\/span>“non-concurrencee”<\/a>\u00a0between the chambers, when the House and Senate voted to accept different reports from the committee. See how your legislators voted.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Protect Mainers\u2019 online privacy.<\/b><\/span> LD 1610<\/span><\/a>: An Act To Protect Privacy of Online Customer Personal Information. Held over from last session, this bill would prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) that receive state subsidies from selling customers\u2019 data without their permission. Sponsored by Sen. Shenna Bellows (D-Manchester), the bipartisan bill was <\/span>introduced in May 2017<\/span><\/a> in response to the passage of a <\/span>federal law<\/span><\/a> that allows companies like Verizon, Time Warner, and others to sell customers\u2019 private data without approval. LD 1610 would also ban ISPs from making customers pay a fee to protect their data and requires companies to take reasonable measures to protect customers\u2019 personal information. It also directs the Maine attorney general to study whether the state\u2019s unfair trade practices law could be used to ensure the future of <\/span>net neutrality<\/span><\/a> in Maine. The legislation sidesteps language that has landed other states\u2019 Internet privacy laws in the courts because the bill is limited to companies that receive taxpayer funds. A <\/span>public hearing <\/span><\/a>was held in May 2017. The <\/span>committee vote was divided <\/span><\/a>but the majority voted Ought to Pass. \u00a0<\/span>
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD:<\/b><\/span>\u00a0The bill died in “noncurrence” between the chambers, when the House voted to accept the majority report of Ought to Pass but the Senate accepted the minority report of Ought Not to Pass. See how your legislators voted<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Anti-Immigrant legislation would expand ICE.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0LD\u00a01833<\/span>,\u00a0HP 1275<\/span><\/a>\u00a0An Act To Facilitate Compliance with Federal Immigration Law by State and Local Government Entities. This bill\u00a0requires local law enforcement to disclose immigration status of residents, even when sanctuary policies are in place, and\u00a0direct all government entities in the state to support the enforcement of federal immigration laws, including ICE\u2019s\u00a0widely criticized<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0deeply troubling<\/a>\u00a0policies. Many law enforcement officials have found that when residents fear local police, crimes go unreported, and\u00a0communities become less safe<\/a>. LD 1833 is similar to legislation blocked last year<\/a> and is once again sponsored by Rep. Larry Lockman, who has a long anti-immigrant record, and recent racist statements about democrats being engaged in a\u00a0\u201cwar on whites\u201d<\/a>\u00a0caused Senator Susan Collins to state that she would\u00a0not endorse his re-election bid<\/a>. This time, Lockman has the backing of Gov. LePage, who submitted this as a governor’s bill. A public hearing was held March 15, with the majority of testimony opposing the bill, and the committee voted 7-3 that the bill Ought Not to Pass.\u00a0Learn more in our Call to Action<\/span><\/a>.<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span><\/span> THE BILL IS DEAD:<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The House and Senate accepted the majority report that the bill Ought Not to Pass, which killed the bill. See how your legislators voted<\/a>.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Limits on public referendums.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>LD 1726<\/a>: \u00a0An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Elections. This bill would <\/span>ban signature gathering for citizen initiatives at polling places on Election Day<\/span><\/a>. The public hearing on this bill was held in the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on January 3 and was <\/span>overwhelmingly opposed<\/span><\/a>. The committee issued a divided report, with the majority voting Ought to Pass.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD:<\/span> The Senate and the House approved different versions of the bill, with neither approving the other. The bill was placed in “Legislative Files” and is dead.
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span>No New Tax on Solar Power.<\/strong><\/span> LD 1444<\/a>: An Act to Prohibit Gross Metering (formerly An Act Regarding Large-scale Community Solar Procurement).\u00a0This bill prevents Central Maine Power from imposing a new tax on solar energy<\/a> made by Mainers for use in their own homes–electricity that never touches the electrical grid. The bill also increases solar power accessibility<\/a> by allowing up to 50 people to participate in a community solar project instead of the current arbitrary limitation of 9 people. The Maine Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill on March 1, passing it 28-5. See how your senator<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0representative<\/a><\/strong> voted.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0Gov. LePage vetoed the bill and although the Senate voted to override, the House did not. See how your senator<\/a> and representative<\/a> voted on the veto override.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/span>A fee on electric vehicles.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>LD\u00a01806<\/span>,\u00a0HP 1252:\u00a0<\/span><\/a>An Act To Ensure Equity in the Funding of Maine’s Transportation Infrastructure by Imposing an Annual Fee on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. This bill would impose an additional annual fee of $150 a year to register a hybrid motor vehicle in Maine and $250 a year to register a battery-electric motor vehicle. The bill unfairly\u00a0penalizes Mainers for choosing fuel-efficient vehicles<\/a> and would not meaningfully increase transportation funding. A public hearing<\/a> was held February 13 and a work session Feb. 22 before the Transportation Committee, which voted 6-5 Ought Not to Pass<\/a>.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0LD 1806 was defeated March 20<\/a> by the Senate 19-15. The bill is dead! See how your senator voted<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong>Guns on school grounds.<\/strong><\/span> LD 1761<\/a>,\u00a0An Act Regarding the Prohibition on the Possession of a Firearm on School Property. This bill would have allowed people to have firearms in their cars on school grounds<\/a> when they are dropping off or\u00a0picking up a student, as long as they remain in their vehicle and the gun is unloaded and in a locked container or gun rack. The legislation\u2014which is opposed by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition\u2014<\/a>is similar to a bill that was defeated last year<\/a>\u00a0and takes advantage of a loophole in the federal gun-free school law<\/a>. A public hearing<\/a> was held Jan. 24, with the majority of testimony opposed to the bill. The Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs voted 10-1 that the bill OUGHT NOT TO PASS. Because it received one vote, it will move to the House for a vote.
\nTHE BILL IS DEAD.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>LD 1761 was<\/span> defeated March 20<\/a>\u00a0by a unanimous vote in the House. The<\/span> bill is dead!<\/a> Learn more in our<\/span> Call to Action<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Changing the U.S. Constitution.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Two resolutions calling for a Constitutional Convention will come to the floor for votes soon.\u00a0<\/span>HP 1251,<\/span><\/a> Joint Resolution Making Application To The Congress Of The United States Calling A Constitutional Convention Under Article V Of The United States Constitution Limited To Proposing An Amendment To The United States Constitution To Require A Balanced Federal Budget and\u00a0LD O, HP 1232<\/a>, Joint Resolution Making Application to the Congress of the United States Calling a Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution Limited to Proposing an Amendment to Impose Congressional Term Limits. Although seemingly innocent, the resolutions could open the door to radical changes to the U.S. Constitution, possibly limiting federal jurisdiction in a host of areas, including overriding rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court.\u00a0The legislation in Maine and other states is modeled after legislation drafted by American Legislative Exchange Council<\/a> (ALEC), a secretive, corporate-funded group that encourages businesses to write legislation and pass it on to state lawmakers. ALEC gets much of its funding from businesses in the energy, pharmaceutical, mining, telecommunications and chemical industries. A similar resolution<\/a> was quashed last year. The Committee on State and Local Government\u00a0 issued divided reports on both resolutions, with the majority voting OUGHT NOT TO PASS. \u00a0
\nTHE RESOLUTIONS ARE DEAD:<\/span> Although the Senate passed both resolutions along straight party lines, the<\/span> House rejected them,<\/a>\u00a0so the\u00a0resolutions are dead! See how your senator and representative voted on<\/span> HP 1251<\/a> and<\/span> HP 1232<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

These Maine organizations also track legislation before the current Maine Legislature. Visit the pages below to learn about more bills in the current session.<\/p>\n