AUGUSTA — Before the most recent legislative session expired last week, lawmakers neglected to pass a bill that would have appropriated more than $1 billion in funds for public schools. The Maine School Management Association, which represents superintendents, sent out a notice Tuesday urging members to contact lawmakers and ask them to find a way […]
Maine Legislature
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Legislature criticized for failing to address opioid crisis
Drug addiction specialists and advocates for treatment programs are criticizing the Legislature for, once again, failing to take any major steps to address Maine’s opioid crisis despite record-setting death tolls caused by overdoses in the state. But lawmakers and some advocates said they hope a few key opioid-related measures can be salvaged from the political fires consuming […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Legislature criticized for not addressing opioid crisis
Drug addiction specialists and advocates for treatment programs are criticizing the Legislature for, once again, failing to take any major steps to address Maine’s opioid crisis despite record-setting death tolls caused by overdoses in the state. But lawmakers and some advocates said they hope a few key opioid-related measures can be salvaged from the political fires consuming […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
From Medicaid expansion to pot sales, State House stalemate leaves key issues unresolved
AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature faced an uncertain future Thursday as State House political leaders began pointing fingers and laying blame for a late-night stalemate over adjournment that left dozens of key bills in an unprecedented limbo. At a minimum, lawmakers are expected to return no earlier than May 1 to take up bills vetoed […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine House Democrats keep bills alive after legislative extension fails
AUGUSTA — In a bizarre series of political maneuvers early Thursday morning, House Democrats managed to keep alive dozens of important bills that do everything from funding the administrative costs of Medicaid expansion to cutting taxes. But in a show of resistance, minority House Republicans repeatedly blocked a longer extension of the legislative session and […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Medical marijuana reform bill advances
A bill to reform the state’s medical marijuana program appeared headed to Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday. The second major piece of cannabis legislation to pass both houses of the Legislature in as many days would expand the number of people who can qualify for a medical marijuana card, increase the number of state-licensed dispensaries […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Divided legislative panel endorses ‘red flag’ gun bill for Maine
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee split Tuesday on a bill that would allow a judge to order individuals to temporarily surrender their guns if they are deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. On a 7-4 vote, Judiciary Committee members endorsed the bill, which would allow police or family members to seek a […]
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Bill to launch recreational marijuana market is on its way to Paul LePage’s desk
The Legislature is sending a bill to launch the adult-use marijuana market to Gov. Paul LePage Tuesday. LePage now has 10 days to take action on the bill – sign it, allow it to go into law without his signature, or use his gubernatorial veto to try to kill it, which is what the two-term […]
Posted inLocal & State
LePage says he will veto retail pot bill
Gov. Paul LePage plans to veto the recreational marijuana bill once it reaches his desk because it would not combine Maine’s medical and adult-use marijuana programs. The two-term Republican has problems with having two regulatory systems and tax structures for different uses of the same plant, according to his press secretary, Julie Rabinowitz. If the […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine lawmakers: State unemployment filing system still not fixed
With an official investigation of the Maine Department of Labor looming, state legislators say they are still hearing from constituents that the new unemployment filing system is leaving them in the dark without their benefits. Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, and Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, both members of the legislative committee that has called for the […]