On March 22 the Maine State Senate voted 31 to 3 – joining the Maine House of Representatives, which had previously voted 76 to 53 – in rejecting the “ought to pass as amended” motion on LD 1337, An Act To Increase Affordable Housing And Decrease Property Taxes Through An Impact Fee On Vacant Residences. Known as the “Camp Tax,” LD 1337 was sponsored by Rep. Christopher Kessler (D-South Portland).

As of publication deadline, the Maine House of Representatives has voted mostly along party lines (76-53) to enact LD 1129, An Act Relating to the Valuation of Improved Real Property,  sponsored by Rep. Ann Matlack (D-St. George). The Maine State Chamber testified in opposition to LD 1129 at the public hearing.

Imagine a place that will build unity and pride for our country. A place that is part national monument, part historical adventure, part immersive tech-driven museum, part architectural wonder. A place that will make history. 

On Friday, March 11, representatives from Northern Light, Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC), United Technologies Center, Hancock County Technical Center and Bridge Academy Maine gathered at EMCC to sign an agreement creating a high school nursing pathway for students taking allied health programs at United Technologies Center in Bangor and Hancock County Technical Center in Ellsworth.

This week, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance (MMSA), and Science is US released a set of policy recommendations to help bolster the state’s STEM education and workforce and to encourage policymakers to reprioritize science and engineering. The policies complement and support the Maine Economic Development Strategy and its focus on talent and innovation as a pathway to the state’s economic development and growth. The full policy guidelines can be found here.

Earlier this week, the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) committee had a public hearing and work session on LD 259, An Act To Increase Waste Handling Fees Imposed on the Landfilling of Municipal Solid Waste and Construction and Demolition Debris. This bill was carried over as a concept draft, which was amended by Rep. Ralph Tucker (D-Brunswick) in advance of the public hearing. LD 259 proposes to increase the disposal fee at a landfill of municipal solid waste and municipal solid waste ash from $1 per ton to $5 per ton and to increase the landfill disposal fee imposed on construction and demolition debris (CDD) and residue from the processing of CDD from $2 per ton to $10 per ton.