AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – A bill to impose restrictions on the sale of solid pills containing common ingredients in methamphetamine faces further legislative votes after winning a preliminary vote of approval Monday in the state Senate.

The bill, similar to legislation passed or proposed in dozens of other states, is seen as a way to prevent methamphetamine manufacturing in Maine.

Attorney General Steven Rowe, a strong supporter of the legislation that’s co-sponsored by more than half of the Legislature, said methamphetamine has already arrived in Maine, so the bill’s passage “is not a moment too soon.”

The bill controls pseudoephedrine products such as Sudafed. Pills will have to be kept behind pharmacy counters and obtained from a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician, but a prescription is not necessary.

Single-dose packets could be sold without involvement of a pharmacist, as long as the packets are displayed in sight of employees. The bill does not restrict the sale of gel caps or liquid pseudoephedrine products.

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Bill seeks to remove light requirement for plows

Eds: LD 1379

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – A bill sent to Gov. John Baldacci on Monday seeks to undo a newly imposed law that required some snow plow trucks to be equipped with special lights.

Last session, a law was passed requiring that vehicles used for plowing snow on private ways use rotary flashing lights when entering a public road and engaged in a plowing activity. A bill that received final Senate approval Monday would repeal that law.

During a brief debate, Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, reminded lawmakers that the bill imposing the light requirement was heavily debated last session. Martin said he hopes nobody puts a bill in next year seeking reimbursements for plow owners who went out and bought special lights.

Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, responded that he’s seen plenty of plow trucks without the special lights this past winter.

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New law will allow more flexibility in probation

Eds: LD 1505

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Gov. John Baldacci ceremonially signed into a law a bill that will give Maine judges and prosecutors more flexibility in granting probation for criminal offenders.

The bill makes a number of technical changes to a major overhaul of state sentencing laws that was passed a year ago. Last year’s law shortened sentences for some offenses while tightening probation rules to ease probation officers’ bulging caseloads.

The biggest change in this year’s revision allows district attorneys and judges more flexibility in allowing probation, an issue that prosecutors say was overlooked when the sentencing law was passed last year.

Monday’s mock bill signing coincides with the final meeting of a special commission that looked for ways to ease prison overcrowding and revise Maine’s sex-offender laws. Under study next will be mental health issues in the state’s prison system.