Nearly one in six positions in state government is vacant due to the state’s inability to recruit and retain workers at the current pay rates.
Maine State Legislature
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Senate advances bill to partially decriminalize prostitution
Gov. Janet Mills has yet to announce a stance on the bill that would eliminate the crime of engaging in prostitution but maintain penalties for those who solicit sex workers.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Legislature considers changing Maine license plate design from chickadee to 1901 flag
Bill LD 1965, ‘An Act to Authorize the Secretary of State to Provide a New General Issue of License Plates,’ will give Maine’s primary license plate a new look if approved.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers consider bill to remove criminal statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse
The measure would remove time limits to prosecute childhood sexual abuse cases, but wouldn’t apply retroactively. Opponents say the proposal interferes with important safeguards for the accused.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Local & State, News
Proposal to create lodging for Maine state legislators criticized as self-serving amid housing shortage
Sponsored by a Portland state representative, the bill aims to save money while providing legislators with a place to stay while doing the public’s business in Augusta.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Towns challenge new Maine law meant to ease housing crisis
Legislation that promotes accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, statewide is set to take effect July 1. Municipalities say that’s not enough time to comply.
Posted inLocal & State
Bill would hide home addresses of congressional candidates
Maine lawmakers consider measure to keep residential addresses off campaign paperwork for contenders for U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine Crime, News
Maine attorneys coming back to court-appointed rosters
The Maine Legislature’s recent hike in pay for court-appointed private criminal defense attorneys is aimed at combating a chronic backlog of cases clogging up the state’s courts.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Efficiency Maine may add electric bikes to its rebate program
Boosters say more e-bikes will help Maine meet climate action goals and help Mainers get around.
Posted inHealth, Local & State
Number of Mainers who died from a drug overdose last year outpaced record set in 2021
Significantly impacting fatal overdoses is the introduction of xylazine and nonpharmaceutical tramadol. Both drugs showed up on toxicology reports for the first time in 2021, almost always in combination with fentanyl.