Legislative recap for Tuesday, June 17

After initially passing both chambers, members of the House and Senate opted to reconsider LD 229, which would increase the number of state tax brackets and add a top tier for high income earners, agreeing to send it back to the Taxation Committee. (Read more about this here).

Both the House and Senate took initial votes to back legislation (LD 1770) that would establish a task force to study the challenge of property tax reform. As an emergency measure, the bill must gain the support of two-thirds of each chamber to take effect immediately. (Read about the bill here).

Legislation (LD 1263) that would have created a Class A crime for aggravated trafficking of fentanyl when it results in an overdose is effectively dead after the chambers were unable to agree, with the Senate in support of an amended version and the House opposed. 

Following the Senate on Monday, the House Tuesday voted to pass a resolve (LD 244) directing the Department of Corrections to contract with a community-based organization to establish a transitional housing pilot program to provide for individuals recently released from correctional facilities.

An amended version of LD 1126, which would require serial numbers for so-called ghost guns that are assembled at home or those made with a 3D printer, passed both chambers after the Senate voted 17-18 to reject an effort to pass a different amendment on Tuesday that would only focus on guns used in a crime or in possession of a prohibited person.

With the House voting 77-70 and the Senate 19-15, both chambers backed a measure (LD 1189) that would allow an attorney for the state to determine whether to charge certain class E crimes — unusually punishable by up to six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine — as civil violations.

After the House voted 75-72 on Tuesday, both chambers have now passed legislation (LD 1937) that would require hospitals and hospital-affiliated providers to establish financial assistance programs for medical care. Critics said the bill would add to the burden on struggling hospitals, but supporters argued it would help low income Mainers access medical care without the burden of insurmountable debt. 

After both chambers initially backed a bill (LD 978) to increase the state’s General Assistance reimbursement for municipalities and Indian Tribes, the Senate voted to reconsider and send the legislation back to the health committee, which the House ultimately agreed to do. 

Both the House and Senate backed a provision (LD 1665) that would increase the property tax fairness credit.

LD 953, which sought to align Maine’s definition with the federal definition of a machine gun, was ultimately rejected by both chambers. Critics said they were concerned the change would prohibit any potential future bump stock bans.

With the House voting 75-72 Tuesday, both chambers now passed LD 1867, which prohibits financial institutions and merchants from using firearm codes to track purchases.

A majority of senators and representatives voted to allow Hemphill Farms in Presque Isle to sue the state (LD 1667) over allegations the Department of Conservation, Agriculture and Forestry improperly inspected their seed potato, which they say led to the spread of Bacterial Ring Rot among their customers.

The vast majority of the House (135-12) and Senate (21-14) backed a bill (LD 1228) that would clarify certain terms in the Automotive Right to Repair Laws passed by citizen’s initiative in November 2023. While some lawmakers who voted against the measure argued it was disrespecting the will of the voters, Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) argued it’s the role of the Legislature to implement the will of the voters. “While slogans win elections, they don’t make good law,” she said.

Nonconcurrence

Members of the House voted 77-69 in support of a proposal (LD 1270) to make the governor’s energy office a cabinet level department and later voted to pass a floor amendment related to labor standards. However, the majority of the Senate (16-19) opposed the measure and then tabled the bill. (Read more about this proposal here).

The House on Tuesday voted 81-67 in favor of LD 556, which would prohibit a municipality from banning a particular energy system or distributor, splitting from the Senate, which rejected the measure. Critics said the measure threatens home-rule and that municipalities should be able to ban dirty fuels. However, supporters argued people shouldn’t be told how to heat their homes.

The majority of the House voted in favor of legislation (LD 532) that would expand state law related to assault on emergency room workers to include all health care workers. The Senate later voted to indefinitely postpone the bill, leaving it in limbo.

House action

Members of the House voted 70-77 against passage of a bill ( LD 746) that would permit municipalities to impose a 2% sales tax on short-term lodging, if approved by referendum, to be used to fund affordable housing. (Read more about this bill here.)