AUGUSTA – State representatives and senators submitted nearly 600 bills labeled as emergencies since the first legislative session ended in June. They range from choosing a new state flower to banning the sale of energy drinks to minors, to creating new boating laws in the wake of a double fatality.

Legislators may put in as many bills as they want in the first part of the two-year session, but the second half, which begins in January, is reserved for carry-over bills and “emergency legislation” approved by the Legislative Council – House and Senate leaders. The council will consider those bills today.

The following are among the bills filed by Central and Western Maine lawmakers, who put in a combined 100 bills.

Lyme disease

Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, is working on four bills to raise awareness of and combat Lyme disease in the state.

He wants to change the way it is detected and reported. If it is detected and treated right away, he said, it can be cured. If not, the person will have a lifetime of symptoms, he said.

“It’s around more than people realize, and we don’t really understand it yet,” Bryant said.

One bill would appropriate funds to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the purpose of prevention and outreach for the disease because there is no state or federal funding. Another bill will change the definition of the disease to include more people who are affected, which Bryant says will give state officials a more accurate picture of the extent of the disease.

Bryant is also working on two bills with his brother, Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham, to reduce the deer tick population.

Out-of-state waste

Lewiston Reps. Elaine Makas and Richard Wagner, both Democrats, want to seal loopholes in laws regulating out-of-state waste going to Maine landfills.

A law passed earlier this year prevents municipally operated landfills from accepting out-of-state waste.

Sometimes, however, out-of-state waste gets relabeled as in-state waste as it is transferred between waste facilities in Maine, the lawmakers say. The result is that some Maine facilities that are prohibited from taking out-of-state waste are, in reality, accepting it.

The legislation proposed by Makas and Wagner would limit the amount of out-of-state waste that can be relabeled and transferred.

Big box stores

Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, has submitted two bills to counter a new Maine law regulating big-box stores.

The Informed Growth Act, enacted earlier this year, requires retail developments of 75,000 square feet or larger to have an impact study and cover any other municipal costs involved. It was born out of concerns from small communities that big-box stores would drive small retailers out of business.

But Hastings said the law is ill-advised and takes power away from municipalities. “It flies in the face of home rule,” he said.

Hastings’ first bill seeks to repeal the law, which passed by one vote in the Senate.

A separate bill would keep the law in place, but allow communities to opt out if they welcome big-box developments.

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