Legislation
Most of my work and time Legislature has been related to my service on the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, which is responsible for developing the state budget, which I consider my primary legislative activity. I have worked hard to promote sound fiscal policy, protection for the vulnerable, and especially, support programs that benefit Maine's cities and their residents. A healthy Portland means a healthy Maine.
129th LEGISLATURE (2018-20)
BILLS FOR WHICH I WAS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR:
LD 521(HP378) An Act To Amend the Archives and Records Management Law (Enacted and Signed by the Governor)
LD 610(HP438) An Act To Provide Funding for Maine Public (partially funded in the state budget)
LD 611(HP439) An Act To Provide Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Operations of State Government (carried over to next session)
LD 745(HP550) An Act To Support the Northern New England Poison Center (passed but carried over to next session for funding considerations)
LD 746(HP551) An Act To Allow Municipalities To Determine the Duration of Development Districts Funded by Assessments (Enacted and Signed by the Governor)
LD 799(HP587) An Act To Increase Faculty in Nursing Education Programs (passed but carried over to next session for funding considerations)
LD 1129(HP818) An Act To Clarify Certain Provisions of the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act (Enacted and Signed by the Governor)
LD 1283(HP925) Resolve, To Advance College Affordability by Convening a Task Force To Recommend a Sustainable Funding Model for Maintaining Maine's Public Higher Education Infrastructure (Enacted and Signed by the Governor)
LD 1322(HP957) An Act To Provide Equitable Tax Treatment to State-licensed Marijuana Businesses (passed but carried over to next session for funding considerations)
128th LEGISLATURE (2016-18)
BILLS FOR WHICH I WAS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR:
LD 391(HP282) An Act To Provide Funding for Maine Public
LD 836(HP585) An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Build Maine's Workforce Development Capacity by Modernizing and Improving the Facilities and Infrastructure of Maine's Public Universities
LD 837(HP586) An Act To Provide Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Operations of State Government
LD 842(HP591) Resolve, To Support Home Health Services
LD 970(HP683) An Act To End Homelessness by Expanding Housing Support Services
LD 1094(HP768) An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Review of Subdivisions
LD 1435(HP990) An Act To Ensure Transparency in the Distribution of Federal Block Grant Funds
LD 1596(HP1100) An Act To Establish the Cannabis Advisory Commission
LD 1778(HP1224) Resolve, Regarding Medicaid Reimbursement for Rehabilitation Hospitals
BILLS THAT I CO-SPONSORED:
LD 32(SP11)An Act To Increase the Size of Grants under the Maine State Grant Program
LD 43(SP23)Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Higher Education Attainment and Completion Goals
LD 116(HP84)An Act To Increase Funding for Multimodal Transportation
LD 162(HP120)An Act To Improve Care Provided to Forensic Patients
LD 173(HP129)An Act To Reduce Food Insecurity
LD 197(HP153)RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Explicitly Protect against Sex Discrimination
LD 263(HP196)An Act To Provide Additional Assistance for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Receiving Food Supplement Program Benefits
LD 266(HP199)An Act Regarding Funding for Children's Behavioral Health Day Treatment
LD 281(HP214)An Act To Amend the Percentage of Votes Needed for Condominium Governance
LD 312(SP100)An Act To Support Workforce Development by Increasing Engineering Capacity
LD 347(SP113)An Act To Support Death with Dignity
LD 391(HP282)An Act To Provide Funding for Maine Public
LD 436(HP316)An Act To Allow Intermediate Driver's License Holders To Drive between Midnight and 5:00 a.m. for School Activities
LD 453(SP155)Resolve, Regarding Insurance Coverage for Alternative Therapies for Addiction and Recovery
LD 542(HP386)An Act To Increase Railroad Freight Safety
LD 648(HP462)An Act To Expand the Types of Nonprofit Organizations to Which Surplus Property May Be Sold by the State
LD 689(HP480)An Act To Confer Categorical Eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Applications
LD 691(HP482)An Act To Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children
LD 692(HP483)Resolve, To Provide Meals to Homebound Individuals
LD 708(HP499)An Act To Use Taxes on Nonmedical Marijuana and Increase the Tax on Cigarettes To Partially Offset the 3% Income Tax Surcharge
LD 750(HP530)An Act To Provide $500,000 of Matching Funds over 4 Years through Appropriations and Allocations To Preserve Rural Heritage and Living History Pertaining to Science and Technology in Penobscot and York Counties
LD 805(SP250)An Act To Streamline the Municipal Review Process When Dividing a Structure into 3 or More Dwelling Units and To Amend the Process for Recording Subdivision Variances
LD 839(HP588) Resolve, To Address Substance Use and Addiction in County Jails
LD 842(HP591) Resolve, To Support Home Health Services
LD 873(HP622) An Act To Adopt Tiny House Standards in the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
LD 910(HP638) An Act To Encourage Living Kidney Donation in Maine
LD 919(HP647) An Act To Establish the Summer Success Program Fund
LD 970(HP683) An Act To End Homelessness by Expanding Housing Support Services
LD 1094(HP768) An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Review of Subdivisions
LD 1109(SP363) An Act To Improve General Assistance Reimbursements
LD 1142(HP805) An Act To Repeal the Laws Establishing the Cumberland County Recreation Center and To Transfer Authority to Cumberland County
LD 1193(HP830) An Act To Ensure the Cost-efficiency of Contracting out Services by the State
LD 1230(HP852) An Act To Allow a Local Option Sales Tax on Meals and Lodging
LD 1248(HP871) An Act To Improve Public Transportation in Maine
LD 1308(HP905) An Act To Create a Bridge to Self-sufficiency for Vulnerable Segments of the Population by Providing Incentives to Employers
LD 1326(HP920) An Act To Reduce Morbidity and Mortality Related to Opioid Misuse
LD 1375(HP954) An Act To Prevent Overdose Deaths and Infectious Diseases by Establishing Safer Drug Use Facilities
LD 1435(HP990) An Act To Ensure Transparency in the Distribution of Federal Block Grant Funds
LD 1467(SP513) An Act To Expand Competitive Skills Scholarships and Strengthen Maine's Workforce Development Programs
LD 1548(HP1066) An Act To Establish the Let's Grow Maine Program
LD 1550(HP1068) An Act To Tax Sugar-sweetened Beverages To Fund Programs To Provide Resources for Veterans and Others
LD 1596(HP1100) An Act To Establish the Cannabis Advisory Commission
LD 1778(HP1224) Resolve, Regarding Medicaid Reimbursement for Rehabilitation Hospitals
127th LEGISLATURE (2014-16)
BILLS FOR WHICH I WAS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR:
LD 845 (HP579)
An Act To Address Unmet Public Transportation Needs.
This bill would have provided an ongoing appropriation to the Department of Transportation of $3,000,000 beginning in fiscal year 2015-16 to support scheduled and nonscheduled public transit services statewide. Even many of the most rural states have transit budgets that are far in excess of Maine's, and like many areas within the domain of transportation, there have not been funds available in recent years to adequately meet the demand for these services. The funds must be distributed to public transportation providers statewide to better meet the need for such services. The bill passed both houses, but later died for wont of funding.
BILLS THAT I CO-SPONSORED:
LD 36(HP34)An Act To Increase the Minimum Wage
LD 75(SP23)Resolve, To Strengthen Health Care Services for Maine Residents Affected by Neurodegenerative Diseases
LD 99(SP36)An Act To Stabilize the Faculty and Programs at the University of Southern Maine
LD 102(SP39)An Act To Strengthen the Craft Beer Industry
LD 111(HP83)An Act To Ensure That Defendants Receive Proper Notification in Foreclosure Proceedings
LD 127(HP85)An Act To Preserve Programs in Allied Health at Kennebec Valley Community College
LD 187(SP62)Resolve, To Expand Dental Care in the State by Extending the Pilot Program for Dental Hygienists
LD 193(SP68)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
LD 194(SP69)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Encourage Access to Workforce Training and Job Creation
LD 271(HP189)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Intermodal Transportation Facilities
LD 300(SP115)An Act To Appropriate Funds To Help Restore the Historic Wood Island Life Saving Station in Kittery
LD 344(SP127)An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Confidentiality of Library Records
LD 373(SP141)An Act To Allow a Moose Permit To Be Transferred to a Family Member
LD 381(SP149)An Act To Change the Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements To Extend the Time between Inspections
LD 398(HP264)An Act To Allow Consumers of Cable Television To Purchase Channels Individually
LD 423(HP290)An Act To Require Child-resistant Packaging for Nicotine Liquid Containers
LD 455(SP184)An Act To Prohibit Deceptive Practices Regarding Negotiable Instruments
LD 471(HP310)An Act To Improve Childhood Vaccination Rates in Maine
LD 594(SP211)An Act To Allow the Creation of a Local Option Sales Tax by Referendum
LD 653(HP434)An Act To Increase Consumption of Maine Foods in All State Institutions
LD 664(HP445)Resolve, To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Submit a State Plan Amendment To Allow Community-based and Other Health Care Providers To Be Reimbursed by MaineCare
LD 847(SP296)An Act To Permit Hair Braiding without a Barbering or Cosmetology License
LD 981(HP678)An Act To Establish a Veterinary School
LD 1053(HP722)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Stimulate Investment in Innovation by Maine Businesses To Produce Nationally and Globally Competitive Products and Services
LD 1066(HP735)An Act To Provide for the Licensing of a Casino Owned by the Maliseet Tribal Government on Tribal Lands in Aroostook County
LD 1069(HP738)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Upgrade Municipal Culverts at Stream Crossings
LD 1121(SP393)An Act To Fund the Cold Case Homicide Unit in the Department of the Attorney General
LD 1205(HP823)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support the Independence of Maine's Seniors
LD 1208(HP826)An Act Concerning Pavement Sealing Products
LD 1212(HP830)An Act To Support Transparency in Government through the Maine Capitol Connection Channel Program
LD 1270(SP452)An Act Regarding Patient-directed Care at the End of Life
LD 1291(HP877)An Act To Promote Food Self-sufficiency for the People of the State
LD 1383(SP512)An Act To Attract Young People to Maine by Expanding the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program
LD 1494(HP1017)An Act To Revise Oil Spill Reporting Standards
LD 1640(SP667)An Act To Provide Emergency Repair Funding for the Restoration of the Official State Vessel, the Schooner Bowdoin
126TH LEGISLATURE (2012-14)
BILLS FOR WHICH I WAS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR:
LD 1460 -
An Act To Update and Clarify the Laws Governing the Operation of Bicycles on Public Roadways
This bill was a project I worked on with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine in conjunction with the Maine State police - it helps to assure rights of cyclists as legitimate traffic on public roads (and assuring that they are taking on the same responsibilities as other traffic), allowing them to use the travel lanes when the shoulders are damaged and unsafe to ride on, assuring them of a three-foot safety margin when cars pass them, and providing some extra standards for clarity on how bikes and cars operate together on the same road. As a cyclist, I was delighted to work on this modest but significant improvement, which ultimately received a unanimous vote from Transportation was passed into law (albeit without the Governor's signature).
LD 160 -
An act to amend the laws pertaining to Archaeological Sites
This assures that the exact locations of sensitive archaeological sites, as designated by the Maine State Museum and Historic Preservation Commission (with which I worked on this bill) can be kept confidential and protected from treasure hunters and others who might dig or "treasure hunt" at these sites. It also coordinates with the state's Indian tribes to assure that native artifacts are cared for and curated appropriately. I am a former museum professional, and know that these issues, while appearing to be kind of esoteric, have real significance to the tribes and to our ability to care for our cultural heritage. Once an archaeological site is disturbed, it can never be returned to its original state - these are the definition of nonrenewable resources. This bill was passed and signed into law by the Governor.
LD 1720
An Act To Improve the Operations of the Office of the Attorney General
This was a bill that I submitted to help with various issues at the AG's office- especially staffing and reimbursement issues in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner and funding for additional domestic violence prosecutors. The bill "died", but we were able to successfully address some of its components in one of our supplemental budgets.
BILLS THAT I CO-SPONSORED:
LD 90 (SP41)An Act To Strengthen Maine's Workforce and Economic Future (full text here)
LD 178 (HP138)Resolve, To Provide Consistency in Rules of the Department of Education Regarding Visual and Performing Arts Requirements for High School
Graduation105.(full text here)
LD 259 (HP196)An Act To Allow a Person Who Owns a Slaughterhouse To Slaughter Poultry for Other People.(full text here)
LD 378 (HP253)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Complete Renovation of a Pier at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.(full text here)
LD 441 (SP173)Resolve, Directing the Public Utilities Commission To Develop a Plan To Reform Water Regulation.(full text here)
LD 469 (HP319)An Act To Allow the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Investigate Price Fixing of Lobster.(full text here)
LD 476 (HP326)Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To Develop a Policy To Reduce Food Waste in All State-funded
Institutions.(full text here)
LD 552 (HP371)An Act To Expedite Court Proceedings by Providing Funds for Additional District Court Personnel.(full text here)
LD 671 (HP463)An Act To Protect Charter Schools by Requiring Them To Be Operated as Nonprofit Organizations.(full text here)
LD 718 (HP490)An Act To Protect Maine Food Consumers' Right To Know about Genetically Engineered Food and Seed Stock.(full text here)
LD 962 (HP676)An Act To Increase Access to Higher Education.(full text here)
LD 1052 (HP745)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Improve Intermodal Infrastructure.(full text here)
LD 1212 (HP857)An Act To Prohibit Coal Tar Pavement Products.
LD 1229 (HP868)An Act To Regulate and Tax Marijuana.(full text here)
LD 1230 (HP870)An Act To Improve Access to Oral Health Care.(full text here)
LD 1289 An Act To Create an Animal Abuser Registry.(full text here)
LD 1361 An Act To Strengthen the Teaching of Writing and Mathematics and Improve Maine High School Graduates' College and Career Readiness.(full text here)
LD 1409 (HP1005) An Act To Promote Tourism and Foster Economic Development.(full text here)
LD 1453 (SP537)An Act To Increase the Transparency of Charges and Expenses of Hospitals That Receive State Funding.(full text here)
LD 1492 (SP557)An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Strengthen Maine's Economy and Communities.(full text here)
LD 1602 (HP1174)Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested and
Grown along the Maine Coast.(full text here)
LD 1638 (SP629)An Act To Improve Educational Outcomes for Students in Poverty in Maine's Public Schools.(full text here)
LD 521(HP378)An Act To Amend the Archives and Records Management Law