Sen. Talbot Ross introduces legislation to strengthen General Assistance program and support Maine’s emergency shelters

Posted: April 07, 2025 | Health and Human Services, Senator Talbot Ross

AUGUSTA – On Monday, April 7, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, presented two bills to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services that would modernize and strengthen the state’s General Assistance (GA) program, an essential safety net for low-income Mainers. LD 1017, “An Act to Include Food Provided or Served at Emergency Shelters in General Assistance Reimbursement,” and LD 1029, “An Act to Ensure General Assistance for Housing Does Not Reduce Assistance for Other Basic Necessities and to Increase Presumptive Eligibility and State Reimbursement for General Assistance,” were the subjects of public hearings before the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.

“No one should have to choose between having a roof over their head and being able to afford food or medicine,” said Sen. Talbot Ross. “These bills are about ensuring that Maine’s General Assistance system works for the people who rely on it and for the municipalities that deliver it. Together, these bills strengthen local capacity to keep people housed, ensure shelters can be reimbursed for the meals they serve and give folks in crisis the time and support they need to get back on their feet. This is how we uphold human dignity while easing the burden on local government.”

LD 1017 addresses an inconsistency in how the GA program reimburses food costs. Under current law, food vouchers distributed by shelters are reimbursed, but meals served directly on-site are not. This bill would allow emergency shelters that provide food directly to residents to receive the same reimbursement, recognizing both the cost-effectiveness and necessity of this approach.

LD 1029 proposes three key updates to the GA program:

  • Increases state reimbursement to municipalities from 70% to 90%, expanding local capacity to support residents in need;
  • Ensures that rent assistance does not eliminate a person’s eligibility for other essential supports like food, diapers or prescriptions;
  • Extends the period of presumptive eligibility for those staying in emergency shelters from 30 to 180 days, allowing consistent support while individuals transition to stable housing.

Both bills await further action in committee.

Sen. Talbot Ross represents part of her hometown of Portland and Peaks Island in the Maine Senate.

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