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Recently retired Hallowell Fire Chief James Owens, left, stands as members of the House applaud as he is recognized, with a legislative sentiment, during session Tuesday at the Maine State House in Augusta. Owens who retired last month after 9 years of service as Hallowell chief and 51 years of service as a firefighter overall. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
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Groups of people confer on the fourth and third floors under the dome Tuesday at the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
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Rep. Ken Fredette, R-Newport, speaks during a debate Tuesday at the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imagePeople watch from the gallery during a 2026 House of Representatives session at the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imagePeople walk in the third floor hallway between House and Senate chambers Tuesday beneath the dome of the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageBruce Gerrity, a lobbyist with Preti Flaherty, works on his smartphone Tuesday in a fourth floor hallway of the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imagePeople walk on several floors of marble staircases Tuesday at the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageSpeaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, speaks during a debate Tuesday in House chamber of the Maine State House in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageThe Maine State House in Augusta in March. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
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Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
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