Five big issues looming over the final days of Maine's legislative session

Yahoo

2 days ago

Jun. 1—Some of the thorniest and most divisive policy issues of the session stand between Maine lawmakers and their plan to adjourn on June 18.
While the biggest outstanding item on the agenda is finalizing a two-year state budget, other major issues remain unresolved, as well.
Here's a look at what lies ahead.
TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, he issued two executive orders targeting people who are transgender, including an order prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls sports.
Those orders put Maine in the administration's crosshairs because the state allows transgender athletes to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity — a stand state officials say is consistent with Title IX, which grants equal opportunity to females in education and sports, and with the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.
That dynamic led to a high profile confrontation between Gov. Janet Mills and Trump at the White House, efforts by the Trump administration to cut Maine's funding, the censure of Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, for a social media post identifying a transgender high school athlete, a U.S. Supreme Court intervention, and a hotly contested and emotional debate in the State House, where Republicans have offered a slate of bills that would restrict participation by transgender athletes and students.
None of those have yet been taken up by the full Legislature.
Lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee deadlocked 6-6 on two bills that would eliminate funding from school districts that allow transgender girls to participate in girls sports.
Democratic Rep. Dani O'Halloran of Brewer joined Republicans in backing LD 233, sponsored by Richard Campbell, R-Orrington, and LD 1134, sponsored by Sen. Sue Bernard, R-Caribou.
Two other bills were voted "ought not to pass" by the committee, but still face floor votes.
LD 868, sponsored by Rep. Liz Caruso, R-Caratunk, which would have required sports to be male, female or coed and required students to use restrooms and changing rooms consistent with their gender assigned at birth, was narrowly defeated in committee, 7-5. And LD 1432, sponsored by Rep. Mike Soboleski, R-Phillips, which would have removed gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act, was opposed, 11-2.
CHILD CARE
The budget presented by Gov. Janet Mills proposes rolling back some recent investments in child care, including stipends to attract workers, but pending legislation would boost support for the struggling industry.
Child care advocates presented a show of force early in the session, calling on lawmakers to protect the investments targeted by Mills. And while lawmakers are still negotiating the budget, additional standalone bills have been working through the Legislature.
One of those bills, LD 1955, is sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick. It calls for $1 million a year in child care provider stipends, plus a onetime appropriation of $3.8 million and an annual appropriation of $2 million to help qualifying families pay for child care.
HOUSING
The affordable housing shortage in Maine has been front and center again this session.
LD 1829, sponsored by House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, aims to make it easier to build housing in communities by reducing minimum lot requirements, loosening regulations on in-law apartments or accessory dwelling units, streamlining municipal review for smaller housing developments, and allowing a single-story high bonus for qualified affordable housing.
Lawmakers have also taken up bills that would provide funding to allow residents of mobile home parks to purchase those parks when offered for sale.
Mobile home residents own their homes, but not the land underneath them. In recent years, parks have changed hands, leading to an increase in lot fees, and increasing the housing instability of of tenants.
IMMIGRATION
Immigration enforcement has been another focus of the Trump administration that spilled into the Legislature this year.
Lawmakers are still considering bills that would define the relationship between federal authorities and state, county and local police.
One bill, LD 1656, sponsored by Soboleski, would prohibit any restrictions from being placed on assisting with federal immigration enforcement.
But two Democratic bills — LD 1259, sponsored by Rep. Ambreen Rana, D-Bangor, and LD 1971, sponsored by Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland — take the opposite approach.
Rana's bill would prohibit state and local law enforcement from entering into contracts for federal immigration enforcement, while Dhalac's bill would go further by adding additional restrictions on state and local law enforcement's ability to enforce immigration laws, while emphasizing the rights of detained immigrants.
TAX BILLS
With state revenues flattening, lawmakers are considering a range of proposals to support state programs and provide tax relief to families.
One bill likely to come to the floor is LD 1089, sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell. It would create a so-called millionaire's tax to support K-12 education. Adding a 4% surcharge to incomes above $1 million could generate over $100 million a year, according to advocates who celebrated the positive committee recommendation.
Copy the Story Link