AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci will consider a bill to study rail service options from Portland to Fryeburg.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, was passed in the Senate unanimously Wednesday, and passed in the House on Tuesday.

It is as emergency measure, so it will be enacted immediately after it is signed.

The bill instructs the Department of Transportation to consult with the New England Passenger Rail Authority to study cost options, and report back to the Legislature’s Transportation Committee next January with findings and proposed legislation.

Senate bill rejects deceptive practices

AUGUSTA – The Senate sent a bill to Gov. John Baldacci aiming to end deceptive insurance agency solicitations.The bill passed unanimously in both the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Tuesday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, outlaws people from using the name of a financial institution in a deceptive or misleading manner in insurance solicitations.

“Many people have complained about having received correspondence with a return address of their lending institution, addressed by name to them and containing personal information,” Sullivan stated in a news release. “It is simply deceptive and not the way to do business in Maine.”

Study on smokers gets the go-ahead

AUGUSTA – The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to study smoking cessation and treatment in the state. The resolve will next go to a vote in the House, then back to the Senate for a final vote.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study the best practice treatment and clinical practice guidelines for smoking cessation treatment, and report back to the Committee on Health and Human Services next January.

The Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Office of MaineCare Services will carry out the study.

Safe chemicals in schools approved

AUGUSTA – The Senate unanimously approved a resolve Wednesday encouraging the use of safe chemicals in schools. The resolve next goes to the House for approval.

The resolve directs the Department of Education to compile and distribute a list of safe chemicals used for cleaning and pesticides, and then take steps to encourage their use.

Next, it encourages the department to recognize schools committed to a “green cleaning program.” The resolve was sponsored by Sen. Philip Bartlett II, D-Gorham.

10-chance moose permit advances

AUGUSTA – The House approved a bill Wednesday creating a 10-chance moose hunting permit application for residents, although people will only be able to purchase one.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. James Hamper, R-Oxford, passed unanimously with no debate.

It next goes to the Senate for approval.

The proposed statute sets moose hunting permit applications as follows: $7 for a one-chance application, $12 for a three-chance application, $22 for a six-chance application and $35 for a 10-chance application.