AUGUSTA — The Legislature voted Tuesday to enact a bill that would allow certain-sized towns to decide whether to follow the state law that mandates minimum energy efficiency and building standards for construction projects. The House voted 76-71 and the Senate voted 21-12 to increase the population threshold for municipalities that can choose not to […]

AUGUSTA — The Legislature is on the verge of passing a bill that doubles the individual private campaign contribution limits for gubernatorial candidates. Opponents say the late-session move will increase the role of special interest money and corporate influence in the next governor’s race and immediately benefit the incumbent, Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, LD […]

AUGUSTA — The Senate voted Tuesday against direct authorization of a proposed 1,500-slot-machine facility planned for Lewiston’s Bates Mill No. 5. Senators voted 13-20 against authorization and reasserted their decision last week to send the project to referendum. While the House of Representatives last week voted to approve the project, the Senate’s decision Tuesday increases […]

AUGUSTA — The Senate moved Friday to delay a vote on a bill that removes workers’ right to unionize at the DeCoster-owned Quality Egg Farm in Turner. The move comes with five days left before the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn, meaning the bill may die in committee. That outcome will depend on whether the […]

AUGUSTA — Proponents of a 1,500-slot-machine facility planned for Lewiston’s former Bates Mill No. 5 were crestfallen Thursday after the Maine Senate voted 17-16 to send the project to referendum rather than to authorize it outright. The decision followed the Senate’s identical 17-16 vote to directly authorize a planned Biddeford racino and a partner facility […]

AUGUSTA — With strong backing from the Republican majority, the Senate on Wednesday rejected a late attempt by the LePage administration to reduce the state’s buffer zone for vernal pools, temporary wetlands known for helping sustain larger animals such as deer and bears in the spring. The Senate voted 29-6 against a floor amendment that […]

AUGUSTA — The Legislature has moved decisively against a controversial bill that would have prevented transgender individuals from filing complaints against schools and other public institutions for restricting access to bathrooms and locker rooms. Passage of LD 1046 was rejected by the House, 61-81, in a late Tuesday night vote that saw 15 Republicans break […]

AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday voted on three controversial bills that would loosen state restrictions on places where concealed-weapon permit holders can carry guns. The House voted 88-59 to give first approval to LD 1347, which would allow concealed-weapon permit holders to carry firearms in state parks and historic sites. The […]

AUGUSTA — The on-again, off-again bill that put organized labor on high alert is now off-again. For now. The Legislature’s Labor Committee unexpectedly voted 11-1 Monday to hold over until next session a bill that would end the state’s collection of fees, or “fair share,” from nonunion, public-sector workers. The fees are transferred to the […]

AUGUSTA — The House of Representatives Monday gave preliminary approval to a pair of bills that will change how and when Mainers vote. The House voted 74-70 along party lines to approve LD 1376, a bill backed by Republican leadership and Secretary of State Charlie Summers that eliminates Maine’s 38-year-old, same-day voting registration and bans […]