Rep. Ben Collings of Portland introduced the bill as a placeholder intended to keep a tribal gambling proposal in the wings after state lawmakers act on a tribal sovereignty bill expected to come out in the next few weeks.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny Overton is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she has covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut, and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Posted inLocal & State
Cost of helping farmers manage PFAS is rising, now at $81 million
A five-year plan to help farmers includes $37 million for direct financial support, $25 million to buy contaminated farms, $11 million for agricultural research, and $7 million on medical testing and monitoring.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers consider adding right to bodily autonomy to Maine Constitution
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Craig Hickman, has raised a host of possible scenarios that likely would need to be sorted out by the courts if the amendment were to pass.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Lawmakers move to delay start of first-in-the-nation PFAS law
A legislative committee has endorsed a bill to delay the deadline for reporting the presence of PFAS in products sold in Maine.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Lawmakers hear proposal to fix Maine’s broken child care system
The bill would tackle the state’s child care shortage by increasing monthly stipends for child care workers and relax the income limits for families to apply for a state subsidy.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics, Schools and Education
Lawmakers consider panel to better integrate New Mainers into public schools
The 16-member panel would build on the lessons learned by communities with sizable New Mainer populations, such as Portland and Lewiston.
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers clash over bill to delay out-of-state trash ban
Supporters say Maine needs the trash to solve its sludge disposal crisis, but critics say the state-owned landfill should be reserved for in-state waste and accused the operator of prioritizing profits over solving the problem.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Anti-abortion bills draw advocates back to Maine’s State House
While the crowd was much smaller than the one that packed the Capitol for Monday’s abortion debate, lawmakers heard several hours of testimony Friday on bills proposed by abortion opponents.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Legislature moves to eliminate sales tax on diapers
Advocates say the tax hurts low-income families who struggle to afford diapers, which can sell for $45 a package at grocery stores.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Abortion hearing continues through the night, ends Tuesday morning
Legislative committees held hearings on five abortion bills, including Gov. Janet Mills’ proposal to expand access later in pregnancy with a doctor’s approval.