Legislation introduced by Sen. Tipping included in budget passed by Maine Legislature, signed by Gov. Mills

AUGUSTA — Today, Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, applauded the inclusion of funding for free school meals for Maine students, increased support for the University of Maine System and the addition of workers at Dorothea Dix and Riverview Psychiatric Center to the 1998 Special Retirement Plan in the biennial budget proposal passed by the Maine Legislature last week and signed by Gov. Janet Mills.

The budget continues Maine’s nation-leading commitment to universal free school meals, which began in 2021 when the state became one of the first in the country to pass legislation ensuring every public school student, regardless of income, has access to free breakfast and lunch. Maine has the highest rate of child food insecurity in New England, with 1 in 5 kids in the state experiencing food insecurity.

“When the federal government began to threaten Maine’s universal school meals program, I worked with Full Plates, Full Potential to write a bill fully funding the state share of the program and requiring schools to maximize their federal funds,” said Sen. Tipping. “Before the Education Committee, we worked hard to find compromise. By the time it came to the Senate, it had unanimous support, passing 35 to zero. Not just the funding, which mirrored the Governor’s full proposal, but also the language of the bill addressing individual districts was added to the budget that passed last week.”

Without free school meals, 40 percent of Maine children would not be eligible to receive food at school. This $5.9 million investment keeps the promise that no child goes hungry during the school day, reduces stigma and helps families with the rising cost of living.

In addition to free school meals, the budget covers a 4 percent rise in operational costs for Maine’s higher education institutions including the University of Maine System, Community Colleges and Maine Maritime Academy to strengthen the world-class education offered in Maine.

“I’m grateful to see this increase in funding for the University of Maine by 4 percent each this year and next,” said Sen. Tipping. “Because of the advocacy of many university students and staff, through a campaign called ‘Fund Maine’s Future,’ this proposal from the Governor, mirrored in my bill, was fully included in the budget. It’s an important reversal of the funding trend of the last few decades, in which the state has consistently reduced funding for the greatest engines of education and prosperity in our state while costs to students have increased.”

The budget also adds certain Dorothea Dix and Riverview Psychiatric Center workers to the 1998 Special Retirement Plan, recognizing the high-risk, demanding nature of their work. This change ensures these frontline mental health professionals receive the retirement benefits they’ve earned, promoting retention, morale and stability in Maine’s mental health system. It’s a step toward fairness and reflects the value of their service to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

“This bipartisan bill had the full support of the Labor Committee, which I chair,” said Sen. Tipping. “Everyone on the committee had heard the awful stories of what these dedicated staff have gone through, including injury, abuse and a recent suicide. We worked together with them and their union to get the bill through both chambers. It became one of just a few new bills that were added to the budget this year.”

Sen. Tipping concluded: “You might think that being in politics right now would make you cynical, but experiences like these, where I can work with good people to advance good causes that actually make a difference, renews my faith in our democracy.”

These investments were included as part of a balanced, fiscally responsible two-year budget that lowers costs, protects Maine’s future and defends the rights and freedoms of Maine people. The first part of the budget, which funded baseline government services and avoided a government shutdown, was passed in March of this year. The Legislature passed the second part of the biennial budget — which funds initiatives that meet the needs of Maine people — on June 18, and the Governor signed it into law on June 20.

Part II of the biennial budget will take effect on September 24, 2025.

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