Hi Friends,
The full House and Senate met in session last week: two of the most exciting outcomes were the passage of the supplemental budget (the budget for now through the end of the fiscal year on June 30 (learn more here)), and the passage of LD 2, establishing racial impact statements for Maine (The BDN has an excellent editorial here). Congrats to all who worked so hard on these important bills.
The American Recovery Act was signed into law last week, with significant affects for Maine families, including 40 million dollars to support childcare, a Child Tax Credit that could slash child poverty, support to reopen schools, to ensure equitable vaccine roll-out, direct support for working families, and so much more. What the bill *doesn’t* include is a permanent system of paid leave, so we continue to fight for that at the state level. Here’s a great round-up of feminists on the plan’s details.
We are partnering with Suit Up Maine and other organizations to sponsor a trans ally-ship training with Maine TransNet - *tonight*! Register here!
Finally, this week the March for Paid Leave is lifting up family caregiving. Did you know that low-income, BIPOC, and female family caregivers are more likely to lose income due to unpaid caregiving responsibilities? Follow along on our social media, or share your story to join the March for Paid Leave!
In solidarity,
The Maine Women’s Lobby Team
How To… Use the Lobby Bill Tracker
The Lobby Bill Tracker has over 200 bills – this short How-To will help you find what you’re looking for, fast!
Hearings and Work Sessions
*A PH is a Public Hearing; a WS is a Work Session. Not sure about the difference? Check out our How To on this topic.
LD 616 - An Act To Increase Accountability for Wage Violations (sponsor: Collings). Committee: L&H. PH 3/15 10am. This bill would set a fine of $500 for a first violation of wage and hour violations, and a subsequent fine of $500 - $2,500.
LD 441 - An Act To Expand Adult Dental Health Insurance Coverage (sponsor: Brooks). Committee: HCIFS. PH 3/18 10am. This bill would require any health insurance provider to include comprehensive dental health care.
LD 600 - An Act To Require Insurance Coverage for Certified Midwife Services (sponsor: Brenner). Committee: HCIFS. PH 3/18 10am. This bill would require insurance to provide coverage for certified midwife services, in addition to certified nurse midwife services.
LD 622 - An Act To Prohibit Marriage of Any Person under the Age of 18 (Sponsor: O'Connell). Committee: JUD. PH 3/18 10:01am. This bill would prohibit the state from issuing a marriage license to anyone under the age of 18.
LD 599 - An Act To Require Coverage for Certain Ultrasound Exams (Sponsor: Miramant). Committee: HCIFS. PH 3/18 10am. This bill would require any insurance carrier to cover the cost of ultrasounds deemed necessary by a physician.
LD 698 - An Act to Provide Stable Funding and Support for Child Care Providers (Sponsor: Pebworth). Committee: HHS. PH 3/18 1pm. This bill allows DHHS to use up to 25% of certain block grants to support high quality childcare contracts for underserved areas of the state.
LD 706 - RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Lower the Voting Age to 16 Years of Age (Sponsor: O’Neil). Committee: VLA. PH 3/19 9am. This bill would amend to Constitution to lower the voting age (for Maine elections) to 16. If it passes, it would have to be voted on by the citizens in referendum.
LD 439 - An Act To Amend the Provisions Concerning the Crime of Gross Sexual Assault (Sponsor: Maxmin). Committee: CJPS. PH 3/22 10am. This bill amends the Gross Sexual Assault crimes for children under 14, to indicate that the ‘actor’ (person committing the crime) must be at least three years older. This is intended to ensure that consensual sexual activity of those under 14 is not criminalized.
LD 607 - An Act To Restore Overtime Protections for Maine Workers (Sponsor: Talbot Ross). Committee: L&H. PH 3/22 10am. This bill increases the number of people who would be eligible for overtime pay, by raising the “exempt” level from $33K/year to $55K/year (phased in by 2024).
LD 664 - An Act To Strengthen the Integrity of the Maine Clean Election Program (Sponsor: Collings). Committee: VLA. PH 3/22 10am. This bill requires any claims of fraudulent election activity to be handed over to a commission for review, even if the candidate steps down.
LD 625 - Resolve, Directing a Review of Crucial Needs and Gaps in Responding to and Preventing Sexual Trauma in the Military. (Sponsor: Reilly). Committee: VLA. PH 3/22 9am. This bill requires the Maine Adjutant General to conduct of review of implementation of recommendations made related to military sexual trauma response, to identify gaps, and report back to the Legislature.
LD 343 - An Act To Set Aside Funds from Federal Block Grants for Certain Communities. (Sponsor: Talbot Ross). Committee: HHS. PH 3/24 10am. This bill requires that Maine DHHS set aside 20 percent of all federal block grants for vulnerable communities, and at least 12 percent for federally recognized Tribes.
A range of bills addressed at tax fairness and equitable taxation will be heard in the TAX committee on 3/16 at 1:00pm.
Bill Bites: Thursdays 12:15-12:45
Join us for weekly 30-minute live-casts to get you the low-down on the issues that matter most to you. Sign up to get the Zoom link here!
March 18: Quinn Gormley from Maine TransNet and Gia Drew from EqualityMaine will chat about anti-trans bills and youth sports.
March 25: Rep. Fay and Jess Maurer of the Maine Council on Aging will discuss ways to support the direct care workforce.
In Case You Missed It: Betsy Sweet of Moose Ridge Associates spoke about the ins and outs of how the state builds and passes the annual budget. You can find the recording here.
The full Bill Bites Playlist is on our YouTube channel. What bills do YOU want to learn more about? If you’re an advocate or legislator, what bills do you want to share please let us know at destie@mainewomen.org.
Legislative & Policy Events
April 15, 2021, 12:00 – 1:30 PM: Join us for the tenth annual Justice for Women Lecture, featuring an amazing lineup of activists from around the world for an engaging discussion on the impact of climate change on indigenous women. The event is free but registration is required.
March 24, 12:00 – 1:00pm: Maine People's Alliance is hosting a ‘Letters to the Editor’ training. Join fellow change-makers for an interactive training on writing and submitting letters to the editor. Register here.
We are founding members of Mainers for Tax Fairness, a new coalition fighting to invest in strong communities by cleaning up Maine’s tax code to ensure everyone pays their fair share. If you missed the kickoff, the recording is here.
In solidarity,
Maine Women's Lobby