Laws championed by Sen. Deschambault take effect

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

“During this session, my colleagues and I were able to debate and vote on important legislation that will help Maine and Mainers bounce back from the pandemic,” said Sen. Deschambault. “Despite the challenges, we came to Augusta and did the work that was expected of us – now it’s time for that work to take effect and start making people’s lives better.”

As chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Sen. Deschambault spent much of this session working to pass new laws to update the Silver Alert program to include missing endangered persons, improve information sharing by criminal justice agencies with government agencies responsible for investigative child or adult abuse, require the use of propane and natural gas detectors and modify the rulemaking process for establishing county and municipal jail standards.

Other laws championed by Sen. Deschambault, who also serves as a member of the Government Oversight Committee, included proposals to empower municipalities to build affordable housing and keep survivors of domestic violence safe. Maine lawmakers also passed a law sponsored by Sen. Deschambault to help municipalities support affordable housing and housing services for people who are experiencing homelessness. The law lets municipalities use tax increment financing for planning and funding affordable housing projects.

Maine lawmakers also passed a law to better protect survivors of domestic violence by making it a Class C crime to violate orders that are similar to protection orders. The proposal was inspired by one of Sen. Deschambault’s constituents, who expressed concern about the safety of her niece, who had recently sought protection from the courts after being assaulted by her partner. This new law will ensure that protective measures designed to keep Mainers safe are effective and ensure violators face serious and appropriate consequences.

This year, lawmakers 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 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 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

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