Laws championed by Sen. Maxmin take effect

AUGUSTA — A series of non-emergency laws sponsored and championed by Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, that support Maine children, seniors, families and small businesses, took effect Monday, Oct. 18. Highlights include new laws to provide access to lifesaving insulin, provide property tax relief, expand access to quality child care and ban corporate contributions to political candidates.

“Looking back on my first session as a state senator, I’m proud of the laws we passed to help support our communities as we recover from the effects of the pandemic,” said Sen. Maxmin. “But I’m even more proud of the many different voices and points of view that came together to craft the best legislation possible. Working alongside so many individuals and businesses in our community made our efforts this year all the more meaningful and successful. I’m tremendously grateful for everyone’s input, for their advocacy and for trusting me to complete this work.”

As a member of the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee and the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Sen. Maxmin spent much of this session working to pass new laws that protect Maine’s environment and preserve our natural resources. Sen. Maxmin supported an array of measures to help remove PFAS, the harmful so-called “forever chemicals,” from our environment and to support Maine farmers in mitigating the risk these chemicals pose to their farms and livelihood. Sen. Maxmin also co-sponsored a law to help Maine farmers maintain healthy and fertile soil by establishing the Maine Healthy Soils Program and supported Maine’s lobster industry by extending funding for the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative.

To reform the campaign finance system, Sen. Maxmin sponsored a law to ensure that candidates for office weren’t unfairly enriching themselves by using political action committees to pay for personal expenses. Sen. Maxmin also sponsored a law to allow more people guilty of low-level, non-violent crimes positively contribute to their communities rather than serve jail time.

Other laws championed by Sen. Maxmin this year include proposals to create the Office of Affordable Health Care that will make evidence-based policy recommendations to state lawmakers about how to lower the cost of health care for Maine people. Sen. Maxmin also supported measures to lower the property tax burden for Maine seniors and veterans to allow them to remain in their homes and parts of their communities.

This year, lawmakers also made good on longstanding commitments to Maine people and municipalities. Lawmakers funded K-12 education at 55 percent for the first time since Maine voters mandated it at the ballot box in 2004 and signed off on a plan to fully restore revenue sharing by 2023. Maine lawmakers also voted to send $300 as a “hazard bonus” to eligible Maine workers who worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

All non-emergency laws take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die unless otherwise specified.