The Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted down a bill that would have compelled Maine not to cooperate with law enforcement from states that have banned gender-affirming care who are investigating people who have sought such treatment here. LD 1735, a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Laurie Osher of Orono, was a top priority…
In the face of growing assaults on sexual and reproductive healthcare across the country, a new law aimed at extending access to abortion later in pregnancy and a series of other reforms concerning reproductive rights went into effect on Wednesday. “We celebrate today. The hard work of advocates, faith leaders, patients, medical providers and lawmakers…
Amid increasing attacks nationally on the rights and humanity of trans people, members of Maine’s LGBTQ community, accompanied by family members and supporters, came to the State House Tuesday to ask lawmakers to support a package of bills they say would improve their lives. “Our folks have been really stressed out about what’s going on…
In response to sky-high prices combined with a dearth of affordable units, advocates introduced a slate of housing justice bills this legislative season, the combined force of which they hope will begin to address the state’s affordable housing crisis that has put many Maine renters in an expensive bind. Proponents say the measures are necessary to…
Amid the attacks on abortion rights by a Republican-led U.S. House and state legislatures across the country in the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Maine’s Democratic leaders on Tuesday introduced a slate of legislation aimed at expanding reproductive rights and freedoms. The announcement comes six days before what would have been the…
This week, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows found that 25,323 of the 66,398 signatures collected by a conservative petition campaign to bar noncitizens from voting in local elections were invalid — “a staggering sum,” the Bangor Daily News reported. Getting about a third of their signatures thrown out left the initiative well short of the…
This week, Esther, Ben and Mike handicap the behind-the-scenes race for Secretary of State and recap a recent public forum where the six candidates shared their views. Also: Ryan Fecteau will be the new Speaker of the Maine House and other Democrats have ascended to legislative leadership. What will this mean for a unique legislative…
Six candidates for Maine secretary of state largely agreed during an online public forum Tuesday evening that while the state has made progress on making voting accessible, more needs to be done, although some were more full-throated in their support for reforms than others. The forum, which was hosted by the ACLU of Maine, the…
The Democratically-controlled Legislative Council decided Friday to take up a bill in the coming session that would establish a pilot program to provide long-term housing for a number of Mainers without homes, who instead regularly cycle through the state’s emergency rooms, shelters and jails. The 10-member leadership council voted 9-1 in October not to advance…
The Maine People’s Alliance’s 2019 legislative scorecard launched online Tuesday, with 38 legislators earning perfect scores for advancing progressive values with votes they made during the first session of the 129th legislature. In an email announcing the scorecard’s launch, MPA co-director Amy Halsted said it is a “chance to make clear how our state lawmakers voted on some…