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 […]
Maine Legislature
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Republicans delay vote on hot-button labor bill until next session
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 […]
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Maine House gives first OK to voting changes
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 […]
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House gives first OK to Lewiston, Biddeford gambling projects
AUGUSTA — A 1,500-slot-machine facility planned for Lewiston’s former Bates Mill No. 5 took a step toward being approved by the Legislature on Monday. The House of Representatives voted 78-61 to directly authorize the project rather than send the proposal to voters. The vote came on the heels of the House’s landslide decision, 94-49, to […]
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Maine Senate moves against fetal rights bill
AUGUSTA — The Senate Monday voted down a bill that assigns a degree of legal standing to human fetuses and creates additional offenses for violent crimes against pregnant women. Five Republicans voted with the Democratic minority to defeat the measure, 18-15. The bill now goes to the House for a vote. Proponents argued that the […]
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Seeking to cut vernal pool buffer, LePage spurns warning of federal scrutiny, lawmaker compromise
AUGUSTA — The LePage administration is continuing its push to reduce the state’s buffer zone for vernal pools, despite warnings that the temporary wetlands could suffer irreparable harm. The Maine House of Representatives on Friday unanimously killed a bill that would slice the current 250-foot buffer to 75 feet. But at the behest of Gov. […]
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Gov. LePage signs bill banning texting while driving in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Texting while driving will soon be against the law in Maine. Gov. Paul LePage on Friday signed legislation that outlaws text messaging while driving. The law takes effect 90 days after the present legislative session ends. Violators will pay fines starting at $100. LePage says that all too often, drivers are […]
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Union advocates say amended right-to-work bill has insidious consequences
AUGUSTA — The legal counsel for Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday that a controversial bill that would change the state’s ability to collect fees from nonunion, public-sector workers would bring so-called “fair share” back to the negotiating table in collective-bargaining talks. But labor advocates say the bill, LD 309, would tilt the scales against the […]
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Violence-to-fetus bill faces debate in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Senate has put off a debate on a bill to outlaw violence against a fetus. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Debra Plowman, of Hampden, was set for debate on Thursday but the Senate did not take it up. The Senate next meets Friday and the bill could come […]
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Maine Senate rejects cell phone warning bill
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Senate has rejected a bill calling for cell phone safety notifications, leaving its prospects for passage in doubt. Senators voted 20-13 on Thursday to reject the bill, which comes up a year after Maine lawmakers rejected a different bill requiring warnings about cellular phone use, and days after the […]