Maine Legislature

The Legislature's Judiciary Committee now plans to hear testimony on the issue starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

The Democratic co-chairs of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee have argued that, despite a state law requiring a hearing, the best and most direct way to hear from the public is to allow the issue to go to voters this fall in a referendum.

House Speaker Ryan Fecteau joined the call to preserve cost-of-living increases for CNAs, home health aides and other workers to avoid worsening the existing staffing shortage.

Libby was censured for criticizing a transgender high school athlete in a social media post. Her punishment was upheld in two preliminary rulings but a recent order to restore her voting rights by the U.S. Supreme Court may have changed the trajectory of the case.

Supporters say the current 17-day waiting period means some terminally ill patients suffer needlessly despite qualifying for medication to end their own lives.

The bill creating an annual day of remembrance on the anniversary of the 2021 riots comes as President Donald Trump attempts to rewrites the history of the attacks.

The Democrats who control both chambers of the Legislature have also rejected multiple Republican-sponsored bills to rollback or scrap the paid leave program altogether before it kicks in next January.

The Democratic leaders of a legislative committee say a public hearing isn't required under Maine's Constitution. But that runs contrary to state law, which requires lawmakers to hold hearings on citizen-initiated ballot questions.

Maine already has a "yellow flag" law allowing police to seek a court order forcing someone to give up their guns if they pose a danger to themselves or others. But a ballot initiative headed to voters this fall would institute a broader "red flag" law in Maine.

Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill into law this week, joining a handful of other states seeking to shield doctors from harassment and potential lawsuits.