Maine Morning Star

Maine Morning Star is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides coverage of state policies and political matters, focusing on their effects on the residents of Maine.

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Which issues will legislators push off until next year?

3 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

As the Maine Legislature approaches its anticipated last month of work, lawmakers are deciding which issues to defer until next year. Maine has a two-year legislative session, so it is routine for several bills to be carried over into the second regular session to afford lawmakers more time to deliberate, amend proposals and negotiate.
Proposal would exempt minors from reporting gender identity, sexual orientation on health forms

4 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

Last year, Maine lawmakers passed a law requiring health care providers to collect and record data on the sexual orientation and gender identity of their patients, which proponents said would help providers improve their quality of care. This year, a legislator is seeking to modify that requirement so that it no longer applies to minors.
Forget the motherhood medals — Maine parents need real support • Maine Morning Star

4 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | James Myall

by James Myall, Maine Morning Star May 12, 2025 President Donald Trump’s team is reportedly seeking ways to encourage Americans to have more children. They’ve looked at everything from baby bonuses to motherhood medals. Yet at the same time, policies perused by the president and his fellow Republicans are making life for parents harder and more expensive. Pronatalism can be a problematic idea, and it’s debatable how much we actually need to increase birth rates.
Voter ID effort likely heading to voters after lawmakers decline to advance bill

4 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

Alex Titcomb, campaign manager for the ballot question committee “Voter ID for ME,” described the initiative as a means to increase election security and transparency during a recent legislative public hearing. “On the note of transparency,” Veteran’s and Legal Affairs Committee co-chair Sen.
Bipartisan call to model child welfare oversight in Maine after New Hampshire

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to change oversight of child welfare in Maine to mirror the approach taken by its neighboring state. Assistant House Majority Leader Lori Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach) said she modeled her bill after the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate. , which has two Republican and seven Democrat cosponsors, would transfer Maine’s existing child welfare ombudsman into a new, independent agency with expanding responsibilities to advocate for Maine children.
A look back at some notable action in the Legislature this week

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Lauren McCauley

The House voted under the hammer to advance an emergency measure (LD 1948) that would make the funding in the two-year budget for MaineCare available more immediately (more on that here). The body first voted 69-63 to suspend the rules to bypass the committee process, which will also require Senate approval. Also, for an emergency to pass, it will ultimately require support of two-thirds of both chambers. There will be more on that to come.
Debate centers on fairness and safety during hearing on transgender sports bills

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

Lawmakers on the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee heard more than eight hours of public testimony Thursday on a package of Republican bills that would roll back protections for transgender students in schools. The proposals include measures to restrict access to bathrooms and locker rooms, limit participation in sports, and prohibit school staff from using students’ affirming names and pronouns without parental permission.
Labor committee opts to keep paid family and medical leave program in tact, for now

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

by AnnMarie Hilton, Maine Morning Star May 8, 2025 Heeding the advice from the Maine Legislature’s Democratic leadership, the Labor Committee is not endorsing proposals that would make substantial changes to the state’s new paid family and medical leave program. While voting on a series of bills related to the new benefit program Wednesday afternoon, the majority of the committee threw its support behind just two of them.
Legislature considers paths to afford Wabanki Nations more revenue from gambling

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Emma Davis

Among the many federal laws that do not apply to the Wabanaki Nations due to a land settlement act is one that offers federally recognized tribes the right to exclusively regulate and take in revenue from gambling on tribal lands.
Maine GOP lawmakers push suite of bills targeting trans students amid federal scrutiny

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

While Maine has so far remained steadfast in defending the rights of transgender students, state Republican lawmakers are pushing to roll back many of those protections — including access to bathrooms and locker rooms, participation in school athletics, and the use of affirming pronouns.