MONDAY

9 a.m.

State and Local Government Committee; public hearing; room 214; Cross Building

L.D. 106, “An Act to Abolish the Trustees of Public Cemeteries for the City of Waterville.” This emergency bill gives the responsibilities for the care and upkeep for public cemeteries to the city, eliminating the Trustees of Public Cemeteries.

10 a.m.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee; public hearings; room 436; State House

Advertisement

L.D. 40 “An Act to Protect a Private Memorial Placed in a Public Right-of-way” Prohibits the destruction of a private memorial in a public right of way to mark the site of a grave.

L.D. 59 “An Act Relating to the Unlawful Cutting of Trees” Requires repeat offenders of unlawfully cutting trees to obtain a bond and seek approval from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry before being able to harvest trees again. It also makes knowingly and unlawfully cutting trees a class D misdemeanor.

L.D. 76 “An Act to Provide Funding to the State Board of Corrections for Certain County Jail Debt” Gives the state board of corrections $9.1 mllion for the next two years to pay past and future county jail debts.

Taxation Committee; public hearing; room 127; State House

L.D. 65 “An Act to Reduce the Income Tax on Capital Gains” Changes tax rate on income from sale of assets held for more than one year to 3 percent.

L.D. 73 “An Act to Exempt Persons 65 Years of Age or Older Whose Income is Below the Poverty Line from Paying Property Taxes on Their Homes” Exempts people 65 years of age or older living below the poverty line from property taxes.

Advertisement

L.D. 107 “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Permit the Legislature To Provide a One-year Period of Penalty Relief for Withdrawal of Forest Land from Current Use Valuation” Provides a one year penalty relief period where forest land may be withdrawn at current valuation with no penalty if it has been taxed at current value for at least five years and at least half the owner’s land is taxed at current valuation. This is available once every five years.

1 p.m.

Taxation Committee; public hearing; room 127; State House

L.D. 119 “An Act To Exempt from the Use Tax $1,000 of Internet Purchases from Out-of-state Sellers” Eliminates sales tax liability on $1,000 of annual Internet purchases from out-of-state sellers.

L.D. 126 “An Act To Provide a Sales Tax Exemption to Incorporated Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations” This bill provides a sales tax exemption for sales to incorporated nonprofit performing arts organizations.

L.D. 136 “An Act To Connect Benefits Provided under the Circuit Breaker Program with the Payment of Property Taxes” Provides that people seeking benefits under the Circuit Breaker Program determine if their property taxes are paid at the time of application. If not, the benefit must be endorsed by the municipality, and the municipality may withhold the taxes owed for the year the benefit is issued. Municipalities may only withhold more than the amount of taxes owed with written permission of the beneficiary.

Advertisement

Education and Cultural Affairs Committee; public hearings; room 202; Cross Building

L.D. 6 “An Act To Prohibit a Requirement That a Superintendent Reside in the School Administrative Unit” Emergency bill prohibits school boards from requiring a superintendent reside in a municipality within the school district.

L.D. 112 “An Act To Make Changes to the Educators for Maine Program” Makes some types of teacher certification eligible for loan forgiveness by including them in Educators for Maine Program.

L.D. 113 “An Act To Make Changes to the Maine College Savings Program” Adds financial education to the list of permissible NextGen fund uses.

State and Local Government Committee; public hearing; room 214; Cross Building

L.D. 134 “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature” Amends the Maine Constitution so that the House has 101 members and the Senate has 25 members.

Advertisement

2 p.m.

Taxation Committee; work sessions, room 127; State House

L.D. 9 “An Act To Allow the Maine Potato Board to Have Access to Information Regarding the Potato Tax” Emergency bill gives Maine Potato Board access to potato tax records.

L.D. 10 “An Act To Provide a Property Tax Exemption for Family Burying Grounds” This bill exempts family burying grounds of a quarter-acre or less from property taxation.

L.D. 50 “An Act To Exempt Fuel Used in Small Commercial Aircraft from Fuel Sales Tax” Eliminates fuel tax on light aircraft flown for profit.

TUESDAY

Advertisement

1 p.m.

Health and Human Services Committee; work session; room 209; Cross Building

L.D. 8 ” Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Provide Coverage under the MaineCare Program for Home Life Skills Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autistic Disorder” Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to add the teaching of home life skills to adults with intellectual disabilities or Autistic disorder as a covered MaineCare services.

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee; public hearings; room 206; Cross Building

L.D. 63 “Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Allow Veterans with Lower Limb Loss To Obtain ‘Any-deer’ Hunting Permits” Directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue an any-deer hunting permit to veterans who have lost all or part of one or more lower limbs for the districts that have any-deer hunting permit allocations.

L.D. 79 “An Act To Allow a Junior Hunter To Shoot Any Deer on Opening Day of Hunting Season” Allows a person with a junior hunting license to hunt deer with a firearm or bow and arrow on opening day of regular deer hunting season.

Advertisement

L.D. 84 “An Act To Expand Turkey Hunting” Eliminates turkey permit requirements, allowing the hunting of turkey with a big or small game hunting license; provides electronic or telephonic registration of turkeys and requires the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish spring and fall hunting seasons for all daylight hours; fall must include the month of October; bag limit of two per season, and in spring the turkeys must be male.

L.D. 98 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Study Issues Related to Bear Hunting and Management” Requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to study bear hunting and the management of the bear populating and report to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by Jan. 15.

L.D. 99 “An Act To Allow Hunting for Deer with a Crossbow during the Expanded Archery Season” Allows a person to hunt with a crossbow during an expanded archery deer hunting season.

L.D. 101 “An Act To Allow a Junior Hunter To Take One Antlerless Deer without an Antlerless Deer Permit” Allows valid junior hunting license holders to take one antlerless deer without a permit. In later years that person must obtain an antlerless deer permit.

Insurance and Financial Services Committee; public hearings; room 220; Cross Building

L.D. 44 “An Act Regarding Pharmacy Provider Audits” Limits the amount that may be recouped in pharmacy audits, prohibits the collection of amounts due as a result of an audit until audit is finished, limits access by pharmacy auditors to certain recorders, requires advance notice of an audit and requires random sampling of pharmacy transactions.

Advertisement

L.D. 70 “An Act To Require Full Disclosure by Insurance Carriers Using Credit Ratings” Requires an insurer provide the consumer of their credit rating and its impact on rates and coverage.

L.D. 133 “An Act To Allow an Operator of a Motor Vehicle To Show Proof of Insurance by Electronic Means” This bill provides that evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility may be presented in electronic form.

Judiciary Committee; public hearings; room 438; State House

L.D. 46 “An Act To Protect Maine Business Names” This bill requires the Secretary of State to disregard certain words, symbols and numbers when determining whether the name of a business is distinguishable from the names of other businesses.

Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee; public hearings; room 208; Cross Building

L.D. 103 “An Act To Correct an Inconsistency in Maine’s Apprenticeship Laws” Repeals a provision that is in conflict with changes establishing minimum wages under the Maine Apprenticeship Program.

Advertisement

L.D. 117 “An Act To Change the Composition of the Board of Dental Examiners” Changes the membership of the Board of Dental Examiners to 2 members of the dental profession, 2 dental hygienists, 2 dentists and 3 representatives of the public.

Transportation Committee; public hearing; room 126; State House

L.D. 66 “An Act To Require That Motorcyclists Wear Helmets” Requires all operators and passengers of motorcycles wear protective helmets and corrects cross-references.

WEDNESDAY

9 a.m.

Health and Human Services Committee; public hearings; room 209; Cross Building

Advertisement

L.D. 62 “An Act To Provide Additional Funding for Respite Care for the Elderly and for Adults with Disabilities” Adds $460,000 for the next two years for the Department of Health and Human Services to fund respite services for the adult day program.

L.D. 77 “An Act To Require Health Care Practitioners To Distribute Free Samples of Medication in Certain Circumstances” Requires health care practitioners to distribute free samples of medicines to a patient in to test the reaction and effectiveness of the treatment depending on availability, appropriateness and timeliness.

L.D. 95 “Resolve, To Create the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children” Establishes Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children which study issues of child sexual abuse in Maine and recommend policies and submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee.

L.D. 132 “Resolve, To Provide Organic Infant Formula through the Maine Women, Infants and Children Program” Requires the Maine Women, Infants and Children Program to offer organic infant formula, as the sole product or as a choice if it meets program requirements and is available at equal or lesser cost of non-organic formula.

State and Local Government Committee; work session; room 214; Cross Building

L.D. 48 “An Act To Streamline the Publication of Municipal Reports” Requires municipal reports to be published in both hard copy and digital on a public website. Requires requests for hard copies be made two weeks prior to printing.

Advertisement

10 a.m.

Transportation Committee; work sessions; room 126; State House

L.D. 11 “An Act To Allow Vehicles Engaged in Snow Removal or Sanding Operations on Public Ways To Use Preemptive Traffic Light Devices” Emergency bill adds snow removal and sanding vehicles contracted by municipal, county or state agencies to the list of vehicles that can use emergency traffic signals switches.

L.D. 12 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Add a Reference to the Katahdin Trail to the Sign for the First Newport Exit on Interstate 95 North” Directs the Department of Transportation to amend the exit sign at Newport to refer to Katahdin Trails.

L.D. 13 “Resolve, Directing the Maine Turnpike Authority To Place Signs Directing Motorists to Berwick Academy” Directs the Maine Turnpike Authority to place signs on northbound and southbound exits closest to Berwick Academy; requires Berwick Academy to pay for signs.

L.D. 21 “An Act To Amend the Motor Vehicle Laws Governing Requisite Tire Size” Removes the requirements that overall diameters of a tire be within 2 inches of the range of sizes recommended by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle.

Advertisement

L.D. 52 “An Act To Improve the Safety of School Buses” This bill requires that school buses purchase after Jan. 1, 2017, be equipped with bumpers that conform to the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for bumpers on semitrailers.

L.D. 57 “An Act To Exempt Occupants of Antique Autos from Seat Belt Requirements” Exempts the driver of passengers of an antique auto form having to wear seat belts.

Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee; public hearings; room 437; State House

L.D. 69 “An Act To Strengthen Financial Disclosure Laws for the Legislative and Executive Branches of State Government” Changes the minimum value of gifts that must be disclosed for Legislators and executive branch employees to $200, provides that former executive employees in a major policy-influencing position may not accept compensation for employment during the year immediately following the termination of their employment as an executive employee to a person that engages in a business activity that is regulated by the state or quasi-state agency where they were employed.

L.D. 110 “An Act To Limit Political Contributions by Public Employee Labor Unions” Prohibits a public employee labor union from making contributions to a candidate in a state primary or general election for statewide office.

L.D. 121 “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Operation of Tournament Games by Charitable Organizations” Allows charitable organization to hire nonmembers to conduct tournament games and their compensation is limited to 20 percent of the gross revenue from entry fees. Increases maximum entry fee to $220, $225 and $250.

Advertisement

1 p.m.

Education and Cultural Affairs Committee; public hearings; room 202; Cross Buildings

L.D. 61 “An Act To Amend Standards for Participation in Certain Public School Services by Students Who Are Home-schooled” Provides students receiving home-schooling are eligible for subsidies for post-secondary courses and are eligible for special education services in the same manner that students in private schools are.

L.D. 91 “An Act To Raise the School Construction Bond Cap” This bill increases the major capital maximum debt service limit for school construction projects for the next two years to $1.26 million.

L.D. 92 “An Act Relating to Private School Student Participation in Public School Co-curricular, Interscholastic and Extracurricular Activities” Eliminates the requirement that resources and services are available to students in private school recognized by the Department of Education by limiting the public school principal or their designee in denying participation to situations where the school can’t reasonably accommodate the student.

Health and Human Services Committee; public hearings; room 209; Cross Building

Advertisement

L.D. 78 “An Act To Expand Transitional Assistance for Families” Expands eligibility to TANF by changing the upper limit of financial eligibility to 200 percent of the federal poverty line, time period during which payment premiums for transitional Medicaid is not required to nine months and extends the period of eligibility for transitional Medicaid to six months. Extends transitional transportation benefits to 18 months, expands financial eligibility to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and expand transitional food assistance to $75 per month.

L.D. 87 “An Act To Improve Community Mental Health Treatment” Requires the DHHS to develop programs to provide housing for people with chronic mental illness to ensure psychiatric rehabilitation, improve rehabilitation and recovery of those people.

L.D. 88 “An Act To Update the Maine HIV Advisory Committee” Reviews and updates the structure and duties of the Maine HIV Advisory Committee.

State and Local Government Committee; work session; room 214; Cross Building

L.D. 49 “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Payment of Fees to Registers of Deeds” Makes automated check payments follow the same rules as other payment methods.

L.D. 82 “An Act To Establish a People’s Veto Process for Actions of County Commissioners” Establishes a people’s veto for the actions of county commissions.

Advertisement

Transportation Committee; public hearings; room 126; State House

L.D. 17 “An Act To Require Motorists To Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks” Requires operators of a motor vehicle to stop and yield to right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing within marked crosswalks.

L.D. 68 “An Act To Prohibit the Use of a Handheld Mobile Telephone while Operating a Motor Vehicle” Prohibits the use of handheld mobile telephones while operating a motor vehicle, except law enforcement officers, corrections officers, firefighters, drivers of authorized emergency vehicles, holders of commercial driver’s licenses, physicians, municipal public works personnel, Maine Turnpike Authority personnel and state transportation personnel, including all employees and contractors of the Department of Transportation during the scope of their employment.

L.D. 75 “An Act To Ensure Pedestrian Safety in Roundabouts” This bill requires the Department of Transportation to install a crosswalk at a high-use roundabouts on a state highway at least 150 feet from the edge of the roundabout.

Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee; work sessions; room 437; State House

L.D. 15 “An Act To Amend the Authorized Hours during Which Liquor May Be Sold and Purchased” Allows liquor license holders to sell or deliver liquor from 5 a.m. on any day until 1 a.m. of the following day except in areas where liquor may not be sold on Sunday.

Advertisement

L.D. 24 “An Act To Reduce the Number of Labels of Wine a Retailer Must Stock To Conduct a Wine Tasting” Changes the number of wine labels to hold a wine tasting to 45 labels.

Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee; public hearing; room 211; Cross Building

L.D. 114 “An Act To Amend the Charter of the Portland Water District” Requires the Portland Water District to charge the same rate for use of water to its customers that reside in Standish as other towns.

THURSDAY

1 p.m.

Environmental and Natural Resources Committee; public hearing; room 216; Cross Building

Advertisement

L.D. 7 “An Act To Equalize the Premiums Imposed on the Sale of Motor Vehicle Oil” Equalizes the premium for all motor vehicle oil, regardless of container size, to 35 cents per gallon.

Health and Human Services Committee; work sessions; room 209; Cross Building

L.D. 20 “An Act To Fully Fund the Homemaker Services Program” Provides $3 million for the next two years for the Department of Health and Human Services to expand coverage under the independent support group, AKA the homemaker services program.

L.D. 22 “An Act To Promote Equity in Business Opportunity for Tobacco Specialty Stores” Allows tobacco specialty stores licensed after Jan., 2007, to serve food and drinks.

L.D. 23 “An Act To Lower the Cost of Copies of Medical Records” Reduces the maximum amount that a hospital may charge for copies of medical records for the first page from $10 to $5.

Insurance and Financial Services Committee; work sessions; room 220; Cross Building

Advertisement

L.D. 70 “An Act To Require Full Disclosure by Insurance Carriers Using Credit Ratings” Requires an insurer provide the consumer of notice of their credit rating its impact on rates and coverage.

L.D. 133 “An Act To Allow an Operator of a Motor Vehicle To Show Proof of Insurance by Electronic Means” Provides that evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility may be in electronic form.

Labor Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee; work sessions; room 208; Cross Building

L.D. 1 “An Act To Amend the Maine Workers’ Compensation Act of 1992” Clarifies a number of Workers’ Compensation Board procedures and rules; extends the deadline on predetermination requests to 30 days; makes board decisions on predetermination requests final; eliminates outside review of employment rehabilitation requests; extends reinstatement petitions for small business to two years; makes employers reimburse insurers if the employer causes a late first injury filing.

L.D. 35 “An Act To Amend the Law Concerning the Membership of the Maine Economic Growth Council” Changes the legislative membership on the Maine Economic Growth Council to on Democratic senator, one Republican senator, one Democratic representative and on Republican representative.

2 p.m.

Advertisement

Education and Cultural Affairs Committee; public hearing; room 202; Cross Building

L.D. 93 “An Act To Require Public Secondary Schools To Offer a Course in Gun Safety and Handling” Requires public secondary schools to offer an optional firearms safety and handling course.

FRIDAY

10 a.m.

Taxation Committee; work sessions; room 127; State House

L.D. 65 “An Act to Reduce the Income Tax on Capital Gains” Changes tax rate on income from sale of assets held for more than one year to 3 percent.

Advertisement

L.D. 73 “An Act to Exempt Persons 65 Years of Age or Older Whose Income is Below the Poverty Line from Paying Property Taxes on Their Homes” Exempts people 65 years of age or older living below the poverty line from property taxes.

L.D. 107 “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Permit the Legislature To Provide a One-year Period of Penalty Relief for Withdrawal of Forest Land from Current Use Valuation” Provides a one year penalty relief period where forest land may be withdrawn at current valuation with no penalty if it has been taxed at current value for at least five years and at least half the owner’s land is taxed at current valuation. This is available once every five years.

L.D. 119 “An Act To Exempt from the Use Tax $1,000 of Internet Purchases from Out-of-state Sellers” Excludes tax liability $1,000 of annual Internet purchases from out of state sellers.

L.D. 126 “An Act To Provide a Sales Tax Exemption to Incorporated Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations” This bill provides a sales tax exemption for sales to incorporated nonprofit performing arts organizations.

L.D. 136 “An Act To Connect Benefits Provided under the Circuit Breaker Program with the Payment of Property Taxes” Provides that people seeking benefits under the Circuit Breaker Program determine if their property taxes are paid at the time of application. If not, the benefit must be endorsed by the municipality, and the municipality may withhold the taxes owed for the year benefit is issued. They may only withhold more than taxes owed with written permission of the beneficiary.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.