Sen. Craig Hickman to chair the Committees on Veterans and Legal Affairs and Government Oversight for the 132nd Legislature

AUGUSTA — Senator Craig Hickman of Winthrop has been appointed by Senate President Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick to serve as Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs and Senate Chair of the Government Oversight Committee for the 132nd Maine State Legislature. 

The Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs oversees campaign finance, elections, voting rights, cannabis, liquor, gambling and veterans’ affairs.

“It is vital for our democracy to have free, fair and secure elections where all eligible voters can exercise their rights without obstruction,” said Sen. Hickman. “As a strong defender of voting rights, I take this part of my committee’s role very seriously. Additionally, as the son of a Tuskegee Airman, I know how important it is to invest in the people who have put on the uniform in service to our great nation. I look forward to working with all of my committee members, regardless of party, to provide our veterans with the services they need and deserve.” 

Sen. Hickman will also chair the Government Oversight Committee, a committee that evaluates government programs and keeps the state government accountable to the people.

“Our state government does a lot of great work for the people of Maine,” said Sen. Hickman. “However, we have a duty to ensure the government is serving the people the way the Legislature intended. As chair of this committee, I will continue to facilitate strong oversight of the executive branch. Heading into the 132nd Maine Legislature, I remain focused on evaluating how DHHS can address the issues it has had with providing services to so many children and families across this state. I will ensure our committee leaves politics and partisanship aside and maintains our promise to hold government agencies accountable to the people we represent.” 

Additionally, Sen. Hickman will serve on the Senate Standing Committee on Conduct and Ethics. It oversees any orders or complaints brought forward to the Senate, regarding a member of the Senate who may have breached ethics and code of conduct.

Lawmakers are assigned to committees by the presiding officers based on their interests, experience and professional background. Joint standing committees are composed of three senators and ten representatives. 

Sen. Hickman is serving his third term in the Maine Senate. In the 131st Maine Legislature, he was the Senate Chair of the Committee on Government Oversight and the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. Sen. Hickman was also a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Senate Standing Committee on Conduct and Ethics.  

Sen. Hickman represents Maine Senate District 14, which includes Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Wayne, West Gardiner and Winthrop. The Legislature is set to reconvene on Jan. 8, 2025.

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