In her State of the State address Thursday, the governor touted progress the state has made in fighting the pandemic while sounding caution about the uncertainties that lie ahead.
Gov. Janet Mills
Gov. Mills unveils $20 million plan for free tuition at Maine community colleges
About 8,000 students would be eligible under the program, funded by a one-time transfer to the Maine Community College System.
Gov. Mills’ State of the State address to focus on pandemic response, budget surplus
The high-profile speech comes as Mainers grow weary of pandemic restrictions and as Mills and her party hope to retain control of the Blaine House and both chambers of the Legislature in November’s elections.
Gov. Mills proposes electric bill credit for 90,000 low-income Mainers
The one-time, $90-per-customer credit, to be issued by the end of March, would help offset higher electricity rates.
Gov. Mills unveils $8 million plan to improve child protection in Maine
The plan would strengthen the office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman and add child protection caseworkers to cover weekends, nights and holidays, among other initiatives.
Mills administration cracking down on employer wage and hour violations
The state Department of Labor returned about $470,000 in unpaid wages to Maine workers in 2021, almost double the amount in 2019. Now it is naming violators online.
Bipartisan group of lawmakers asks Mills to raise pensions for retired state workers
People receiving benefits under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System got the maximum 3% cost-of-living adjustment last summer, but it wasn’t enough to cover the 5.4% rate of inflation.
Gov. Mills preparing utility accountability bill, with threat of consumer-owned option
The proposal could emerge as a competing alternative to the push for a statewide consumer-owned utility in Maine to replace CMP and Versant.
Portland to host National Governors Association’s summer meeting
Gov. Janet Mills had invited the group to Maine during the winter meeting held in Washington, D.C., last week.
Gov. Mills launches $10 million loan program for affordable single-family home construction
The Affordable Homeownership Program is expected to support construction of at least 150 new, single-family, affordable homes across Maine.