Maine Legislature

Shawn Esler has served as Waterville's fire chief since 2018.

The number of so-called "concept draft" bills, which are often little more than a title, has increased significantly in the Maine Legislature in recent years. But some interest groups, lawmakers and journalists have raised transparency concerns about the vague bills.

Scores of new laws passed by the Legislature earlier this year took effect on Friday.

Late filings of campaign finance reports are not unusual. But staff at the Maine Ethics Commission said the Building the Maine House PAC run by Rep. Dick Campbell of Orrington has a lengthy history of not complying with deadlines.

If confirmed by the Maine Senate, Sara Gagne-Holmes would take over the Maine Department of Health and Human Services at a time when the state's largest agency faces multiple challenges, including within child welfare programs.

State lawmakers had attempted to push back the referendum until 2026 to allow a special commission to come up with an alternative design. But the bill to delay the vote fell victim to late-session tensions with Gov. Janet Mills.

The 35 bills will die on the vine as a result of the procedural showdown between Maine's Democratic governor and Democratic leaders in the Legislature.

Governor Mills' vetoes were successful. The highest profile bill would have banned bump stocks and other modifications that allow a semi-automatic gun to fire more like a fully automatic weapon.

The House and Senate will likely take up the additional initiatives on Friday as lawmakers gather for potentially one final time to vote on several vetoes from Gov. Janet Mills.

Among the six vetoes that legislators will consider are bills that would ban rapid-fire gun modification devices and to increase income taxes on the wealthiest Mainers.