Laws championed by Sen. Heather Sanborn take effect
AUGUSTA — A series of non-emergency laws sponsored and championed by Sen. Heather Sanborn, D-Portland, that support Maine children, seniors, families and small businesses, took effect on Monday Oct. 18. Highlights include new laws to provide access to lifesaving insulin and property tax relief, expand access to quality child care and ban corporate contributions to political candidates.
“I knew how much work we as Maine legislators had ahead of us when we convened last winter, because I had lived the pandemic struggles of small business owners and parents,” said Sen. Sanborn. “Despite the odds being stacked against us, I’m incredibly proud of the accomplishments we were able to make. Between helping businesses and workers bounce back, and continuing our efforts to expand access to health care, we made a real difference in the lives of Maine people this year.”
As chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services, Sen. Sanborn spent much of this session working to pass new laws that remove barriers that stand between Mainers and the medications and care that they need. She sponsored a new law that expands access to lifesaving HIV-prevention medication by requiring state-regulated insurers to cover the medication and the associated testing and bloodwork. The law also establishes a process where, under certain conditions, a participating pharmacist will be able to dispense up to a 60-day supply of HIV-prevention medication to someone without a prescription from a physician.
Sen. Sanborn also fought for additional measures to expand access to care and lower the cost of prescription medication. She sponsored a law that guarantees Mainers’ right to telehealth services by adding explicit language in each of the health care licensing board statutes. This method of care has proven to be critical during the pandemic. Sen. Sanborn was also key in the success of new laws to establish the Office of Affordable Health Care, strengthen transparency in drug pricing, and create the insulin safety-net program.
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.
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