As the work of the 131st Legislature wraps up, The Maine Monitor decided to look back at what was accomplished this session, and what was left undone.
The legislature adjourned in the early-morning hours of April 18, and Gov. Janet Mills now has just a couple more days — until Tuesday, April 30 — to sign or veto the late-session bills sent to her desk.
Much of the conversation this session focused on gun reform, following the October mass shooting in Lewiston that left 18 Mainers dead.
Though the “red flag” bill introduced by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, never made it to a full vote, a number of gun reform measures did make it through the legislature: one strengthening the “yellow flag” law; one initiating a 72-hour waiting period; and one banning bump stocks.
Lawmakers also looked at measures related to tribal sovereignty, paramilitary training camps, reproductive rights, substance abuse, affordable housing, child welfare, fair wages, data privacy, offshore wind, and more.
As a newsroom, we decided to look at 21 bills that moved through the legislature this session. Some generated a lot of controversy and coverage; others received little attention. Some bills passed, some died, and some remain in limbo on the Senate’s special appropriations table, where bills go if they raise funding questions.
The legislature could return for a special session to take up unresolved matters — that remains to be seen.
Our goal was to break down a selection of bills that intersect with our coverage areas and make them easy for you to understand — no law degree or policy expertise required.
Click on each bill in the list below for an explanation of what the legislation does, its current status, a sense of the debate and where to go for more information.
Public safety
L.D. 2224: An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine’s Firearm Laws and Mental Health System
L.D. 2238: An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases
L.D. 2086: An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms
Elections & campaign finance
L.D. 2232: An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures
L.D. 1966: An Act to Allow Candidates for District Attorney to Participate in the Maine Clean Election Act
Energy & utilities
L.D. 2261: Designating New Motor Vehicle Emissions Rules as Major Substantive Rule
Environment
Health care
L.D. 227: An Act Regarding Legally Protected Health Care Activity in the State
L.D. 780: Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Protect Reproductive Autonomy
L.D. 779: An Act to Create a Separate Department of Child and Family Services
Labor & housing
L.D. 1639: An Act to Address Unsafe Staffing of Nurses and Improve Patient Care
L.D. 2273: An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agricultural Workers
Education
L.D. 974: An Act to Establish Minimum Pay for Educational Technicians and Other School Support Staff
