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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Bill making it easier to restrain and seclude students passed by Maine lawmakers

2 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

Both chambers of the Maine Legislature advanced a version of a bill that would make it easier for school staff to restrain and seclude students, weakening a law passed in 2021 restricting the use of practices that experts say cause lasting trauma. Maine has historically led the country in its use of these practices, which include physically immobilizing students and placing them in small rooms, with educators predominantly using them on students with disabilities.
Maine Senate approves farmworker minimum wage bill

5 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

The Maine Senate supported a measure to guarantee agricultural workers state minimum wage. On Monday, the upper chamber voted 22-12 with a couple Republicans joining the majority party in the initial passage of LD 589. The legislation will next go to the House of Representatives for an initial vote and will need enactment votes from both chambers before it could be sent to Gov. Janet Mills for approval. Granting minimum wage to farmworkers has been a years-long effort in Maine.
Cost of living dominates concerns for Maine voters, poll finds

6 days ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

A new statewide poll found that Maine voters are overwhelmingly worried about the cost of living — more than any other issue by a wide margin. According to the poll from Pan Atlantic Research, 67% of respondents cited cost of living as their top concern. Immigration was second, with 39% identifying that as one of the top issues Maine is facing, while 33% said housing and 31% said high taxes are their top issues of concern.
A look at the latest bills Gov. Mills signed into law

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

As work has picked up in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate, so has the amount of legislation making its way to the governor’s desk. Each week, the clerk of the House of Representatives publishes a report of the bills that Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law and those that she has allowed to become law without the endorsement of her signature.
Citing ongoing lawsuit, committee opts to defer proposals to alter Maine’s 72-hour waiting period

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

Maine lawmakers will wait to take action on proposed legislation regarding the state’s 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases. The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to carry over , a proposal from House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) to repeal the law passed just last year that requires someone who sells a firearm to wait three days before delivering it to the buyer.
A look back at some notable action in the Legislature this week

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Lauren McCauley

It was a marathon week of voting. Debates were had, gavels were broken, and senators took a break from policy to discuss what sort of vehicle they would be if given the choice (Sen. Craig Hickman, a train; Sen. Mark Lawrence, a submarine; Sen. Joe Baldacci, a “big red firetruck,” etc.) In many cases, the Maine Senate and House of Representatives split over whether to support legislation.
Maine lawmakers give preliminary approval for student mental health funding

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

As the state continues to grapple with its record of not providing adequate behavioral health support for young people, a proposal to make funds available for schools to hire licensed behavioral and mental health experts has received initial backing from the Maine Legislature. The Maine House of Representatives passed LD 858 on Wednesday with 79 members voting in favor and 68 opposed. The Senate passed it without a roll call vote. The bill, sponsored by Rep.
With passage of two bills, Maine poised to expand testing private wells for PFAS

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | AnnMarie Hilton

Lawmakers passed two bills to expand testing for contaminants in private wells in the state. On Thursday, the Maine Senate passed LD 493, which will require landlords of residential buildings who have private wells to test the water for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS, every five years and share those results with the tenants. The bill does not require them to treat the water if contaminants are found.
Maine lawmakers hope to combat rising student homelessness with new housing assistance fund

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

A bill that would establish a fund to financially help students avoid homelessness passed both chambers of the Maine Legislature this week. The bill, LD 384, would allocate up to $750 per academic year to the family or guardian of a student at risk of homelessness for housing-related needs, which could include rental assistance, utilities, critical home repairs and transportation.
University system warns of uncertainty as $50 million in federal funds disrupted

1 week ago | mainemorningstar.com | Eesha Pendharkar

Nearly $50 million in federal funding to Maine’s public university system has been paused, withdrawn, or remains in limbo, leading to layoffs and uncertainty. The University of Maine System announced Wednesday that the future of 42 federally funded programs remains uncertain, with some awards terminated, others paused, and some inaccessible despite the university in some cases receiving no official notice of disruption.