Legislature’s Second Regular Session Concluded on Thursday, April 18

The Maine Legislature’s Second Regular Session was statutorily scheduled to adjourn on Wednesday, April 17.  After working through the night and into the early morning the Legislature finally adjourned on Thursday, April 18.  Having convened in early January to take up approximately 760 bills which included those carried over from the First Regular Session as well as new measures accepted by the Legislative Council which consist of all the legislative leadership from the two major political parties.

In future newsletters, we will include a clearer picture of all that transpired over the past few months and the subsequent changes to Maine laws.  For now, please know that the Legislature adopted and sent to the Governor 257 bills, 203 bills were killed in legislative committees or by one of the two legislative bodies (House or the Senate).  And as of today, 6 bills have been returned to the Legislature unsigned and vetoed by the Governor, while 7 were passed and still awaiting action from the Governor.

There are approximately 300 bills that were left pending with no final disposition.  At a future date, the Legislature will vote to either sustain or overturn the Governor’s vetoes.

Maine Tourism “Things to Do” Calendar

Summer is officially on its way and the Maine Tourism Association is here to help you find the perfect event for the entire family! By clicking here you can see the Maine Tourism Association's “Things to Do” calendar of events.  There are even filters to narrow your search based on region, category, and specific cities. This weekend alone you can find events going on at Sunday River, Northwood Outfitters, Crab Apple Whitewater Inc., and much more! 

Maine State Chamber of Commerce Webinar

It is no secret that a lot went on during the 131^st Legislative Session, and it may be difficult to navigate how new laws that have been enacted will affect you, your work, and your family. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with their Labor and HR Policy committee, will be holding a “deep dive” into the past session’s policy issues, and a detailed explanation of the proposed changes to Maine’s Paid Family Medical Leave legislation. This webinar will help explain non-compete laws, workers’ compensation systems, and wage & hour laws. Businesses across the state are invited to participate in the webinar to help navigate new and changing legislation. For more information and to register for the webinar, click here.

National Day of Prayer at the State House

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance designated by the United States Congress and held on the first Tuesday of May when people are asked, “to turn to God in prayer and meditation” The National Day of Prayer shares common roots with the celebration of Thanksgiving; both were national proclamations establishing a day of prayer. In the New England Colonies under British rule, President Abraham Lincoln as the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863 established traditional observance. President Harry S. Truman established the spring observance in 1952 as the National Day of Prayer.

Brown Tail Moth Seasonal Update

The Maine Forest Service, and Forest Health and Monitoring staff are conducting weekly development checks and scouting for disease outbreaks at ten sites throughout the infested areas of the state. This year, the sites are Bangor, Belfast, Bridgton, Brunswick, Dover-Foxcroft, Hancock, Lincoln, Newport, Turner, & Unity. On Monday, April 15^, they received their first report of newly emerged brown-tail moth caterpillars (BTM.)

As BTM caterpillars become active, they will feed on the buds and newly emerged leaves of host plants. They will continue feeding on maturing leaves and grow larger through the end of June. Even though the caterpillars are small at this time of year, their hairs readily, break off and can cause irritating rashes to exposed skin.

To learn more about BTM patterns, life cycles, management, pesticides, & human health concerns please click here, to visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s “Knock Out Brown tail “FAQ’s

Legislative Office: 207-287-1440