Action 76 – MAINE legislation week of 3/24 – 3/28

Tips for weighing in on Legislation

1. Find the text of any bill at: https://legislature.maine.gov

2. Maine Legislative Committee schedules change frequently. Please check Committee Schedules

3.You can submit testimony in writing or online, or virtually via Zoom or in person in Augusta (have 20 copies of your written testimony available to be distributed to Committee members). Be sure to submit testimony or call BEFORE the public hearing. 

4. Put your reps on speed dial, or at least in your address book so you don’t have to go look them up every time.

 Monday March 24

10 AM. Public hearing, State and Local Government Committee (no Hancock Co. legislators)

LD 702: designates Jan 6, 2021 as a “day to remember” and to preserve witness accounts.  See Action 72 for why this “anti-memory-hole bill” could be important. (Read Orwell’s 1984)

 Wednesday March 26

9:30 AM, Public Hearing on multiple Gun related bills, before the Judiciary Committee (Sen. Haggan is the only Hancock Co. legislator on this committee)

LD 677 An Act to Update the Statutory Definition of "Machine Gun" and Prohibit Possession of a Rapid-fire Device.  Remember that ridiculous nonsense in June of last year when the Supreme Court. declared that bump stocks were not machine guns under federal law?  This bill would correct that at the state level. Also to be discussed:  LD 1109 which would prohibit large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, LD 1126 which would require serial numbers on ghost guns, and also LD 424, LD 829, LD 998 and LD 1049.

 Wednesday March 26

10 AM, Taxation committee (Hancock Co: Nicole Grohoski, Gary Friedmann and Russell White)

LD 1089 “Millionaire Tax” and LD 1047 “Unearned Income Surcharge”. Two bills to begin the difficult process of making the tax system less regressive.  Information at https://mainersfortaxfairness.org/action/ (Gary Friedmann is a co sponsor of both bills)

 Friday March 28 9:30 AM, Public hearing on LD 975/HP 635

An Act to Repeal Laws Allowing Abortion and to Criminalize Abortion

Judiciary Committee (Haggan again ~ let him know what you think!) This bill creates criminal liability for everyone involved in an abortion – the woman and her doctors, nurses, midwifes, perhaps the Hospital administration.  Other mischief in this bill: a “person” is defined at the moment of conception, which would be before it’s even a blastocyst. (Does this mean an ectopic pregnancy an act of matricide?) Weirdly, the bill also repeals certain crimes of violence against a pregnant person.  Submit Testimony against this ignorant, cruel and regressive legislation.

Work Sessions

 You can observe work sessions, but there is no public testimony.  If you have something to say about any of the following bills, contact your representative.

March 25

LD 837 An Act to Require the Office of the Public Advocate to Implement the State's Climate Action Plan – March 25th 1 PM before the Energy, Utilities and Technology.(Nicole Grohoski)

LD 112 An Act to Promote Opportunities by Establishing a Student Wage – March 25th 2 PM before the Labor Committee (no Hancock Co legislators)

March 26

LD 827 An Act to Allow the Sale of Polymer-coated Cookware That Is Authorized for Food Contact by the United States Food and Drug Administration March 26th 1 PM before Environment and Natural Resources Committee. (no Hancock Co legislators)

SP 357 – LD 830 An Act to Protect Maine's Scenic Beauty by Requiring Solar Panel Fields to Be Hidden from View – March 26th 1 PM before Environment and Natural Resources Committee. (no Hancock Co legislators)

HP 34   An Act to Fund Free Health Clinics – March 26th 10 AM before Health and Human Services Committee (Marianne Moore from Hancock Co)

March 27

LD 593 An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine's Future Program - March 27th 1:30 PM before Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.  (no Hancock Co legislators)

NOTE:

We owe a big debt of gratitude to Jonathan Albrecht who fearlessly and voluntarily wades into the giant sea of bills that have been proposed, fishes out the most significant ones, and provides context. Thank you Jonathan!