It was a very busy session for the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Technology (EUT) – having about 25 pieces of legislation that needed public hearings, work sessions, and votes. The Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) had a smaller workload, but it was still busy given the complexity of some issues. There were about 12 pieces of legislation to work through. Let’s highlight some of the work in each committee.

The Legislature approved the Governor’s supplemental budget bill, now known as Public Law c. 635, An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, the General Fund, Other Special Funds, to Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023, sponsored by Rep. Teresa Pierce (D-Falmouth).

Voting mostly along party lines, the Maine House of Representatives (76-53) and the Senate (22-11) 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 and worked hard against the bill, but unfortunately, it passed.

Every now and then, a bill comes from out of nowhere to become the “it” bill of the legislative session – one that consumes significant time and effort from lobbyists and lawmakers alike. This session that bill was LD 1945, An Act to Regulate the Use of Biometric Identifiers.

While the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage and Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS) may have had a busy second session overall, it was their action – and that of the full legislature in the closing weeks of the session – that will make the biggest difference to Maine businesses when it comes to future health insurance costs … and not in a good way.

LD 1894, An Act To Support Municipal Broadband Infrastructure through Incentives and Competition, was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills. This legislation was introduced by Sen. Eloise Vitelli (D-Sagadahoc). The Maine State Chamber testified in opposition to LD 1894 at the public hearing. Since then, it has been amended a couple of times, and while the Maine State Chamber still has concerns with the final product, it is better than when it was first introduced.