129TH MAINE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE HEARING NOTICES
Hearings on LDs
Legislative committees will hold public hearings as listed. Please note that there may be additions or changes to this schedule and bills will not necessarily be heard in the order listed. For further information, contact the Legislative Information Office at 207-287-1692 or check schedules on the web at http://legislature.maine.gov/calendar/#Calendar. You may testify at the public hearing or submit written testimony. Written testimony should be sent to the appropriate committee at: 100 SHS, Augusta, Maine 04333-0100. Persons with special needs who wish to attend a Legislative hearing and require accommodations should notify the Legislative Information Office as soon as possible: 207-287-1692, TTY 207-287-6826, FAX 207-287-1580, webmaster_lio@legislature.maine.gov.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
Sen. Jim Dill, Senate Chair, Rep. Craig Hickman, House Chair
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 214
LD 199 "An Act To Create the Water Resources Planning Committee"
LD 333 "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Dangerous Dogs and Nuisance Dogs To Allow for Flexibility in Protection Dog Training"
LD 556 "An Act To Protect Animals in Unattended Vehicles"
LD 620 "An Act Regarding Licensing of Land-based Aquaculture Facilities"
LD 723 "An Act To Enhance Resource Management of Submerged Lands beneath Impounded Waters"
LD 782 "An Act Relating to Animals in Pulling Events" CONTACT: Dylan Sinclair, 287-1312
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Sen. Catherine Breen, Senate Chair, Rep. Drew Gattine, House Chair
Public Hearing: 10:00 am Wednesday February 20th and 12:30 pm Thursday February 21st Room 228 State House LR 2406 "An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government and To Change Certain Provisions of Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019" (The LD number has not yet been assigned).
The proposed budget initiatives and language may be viewed on the Bureau of the Budget's website:
http://www.maine.gov/budget/ Look for General Fund Recommended Supplement Budget 2019. "Part A" contains supplemental appropriations and allocations for fiscal year 2018-19; "General Fund Bill Language FY 2019" contains language Parts B through G. Details of this schedule may be viewed at: http://legislature.maine.gov/ofpr/129th-afa-committee-information/9599; Hearing audio at: http://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/AFA
Wednesday February 20, 2019: This day's hearing will be held in three blocks. Each block will have a separate sing-up sheet.
10 AM (Initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology): Executive Department (Public Advocate); Language Part "G"; Public Utilities Commission and Language Part "E"
11:00AM (Initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs): ; Cultural Affairs Council, Historic Preservation Commission and Library.
1:00 PM Initiatives and language parts fall under the jurisdictions of the Joint Standing Committees on: Appropriations and Financial Affairs (Administrative and Financial Services); Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Land Management & Planning); Judiciary (Judicial Department); Marine Resources (Bureau of Policy and Management and Marine Patrol); Taxation (Property Tax Review, State Board of)
CONTACT: Marianne MacMaster 287-1316
Thursday February 21, 2019:. This day's hearing will be held in three blocks. Each block will have a separate sing-up sheet. NOTE THE UNUSUAL START TIME.
12:30 PM (Initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs): (Secretary of State, Bureau of Administrative Services and Corporations)
1:00 PM Initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Disaster Assistance); Corrections, Department of Language Part "D"
3:30 PM Initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services: (Health and Human Services, Department of and Language Parts "B", "C" and "F")
CONTACT: Marianne MacMaster 287-1316
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Sen. Susan Deschambault, Senate Chair, Rep. Charlotte Warren, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 10:00 AM, State House, Room 436
LD 215 "An Act To Increase the Reimbursement Rate for Ambulance Service Paid by the Department of Corrections"
LD 316 "An Act To Protect Adults 66 Years of Age and Older from Financial and Other Types of Exploitation through Theft by Deception"
LD 324 "An Act Regarding Forfeiture of Assets of Persons Convicted of Certain Criminal Restraint Offenses, Aggravated Sex Trafficking Offenses and Sex Trafficking Offenses"
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 1:00 PM, State House, Room 436
LD 263 "An Act To Prohibit Certain Sex Offenders from Establishing Residence in Certain Multiunit Residential Buildings in which Minors Reside"
LD 353 "An Act To Classify Recovery Residences as One-family Dwellings for the Purposes of the Fire Code"
LD 430 "An Act To Establish and Promote a System of Safe Disposal of Expired Marine Flares" CONTACT: Cynthia Fortier, 287-1122
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Sen. Rebecca Millett, Senate Chair, Rep. Victoria Kornfield, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 10:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 208
LD 247 "An Act To Increase the Amount of Time School Counselors and Social Workers Spend Providing Students Direct and Indirect Counseling"
LD 406 "An Act To Establish Regional School Leadership Academies"
LD 662 "An Act To Count Study Abroad toward Secondary School Credit" CONTACT: Jayne Deneen, 287-3125
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENERGY UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
Sen. Mark Lawrence, Senate Chair, Rep. Seth Berry, House Chair
Public Hearing: Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 211
LD 658 "Resolve, To Direct a Plan for Energy Independence for Maine"
LD 694 "An Act To Amend the Charter of the Town of Madison's Department of Electric Works"
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 211
LD 434 "An Act To Price Carbon Pollution in Maine"
LD 674 "An Act To Improve the E-9-1-1 System"
LD 743 "An Act To Create Local Options in E-9-1-1 Protocol Mandates" CONTACT: Abben Maguire, 287-4143
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Sen. Brownie Carson, Senate Chair, Rep. Ralph Tucker, House Chair
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 10:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 216
LD 61 "An Act To Improve the Maine Bottle Redemption Process"
LD 87 "An Act To Increase the Bottle Redemption Deposit"
LD 93 "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bottle Redemption To Counterbalance for Redemption Centers the Increase in Minimum Wage"
LD 248 "An Act To Increase the Handling Fee for Beverage Containers Reimbursed to Redemption Centers"
LD 338 "An Act To Allow Flexibility in the Deposit Labeling of Metal Returnable Beverage Containers"
LD 360 "An Act To Increase the Reimbursement to Bottle Redemption Centers" (EMERGENCY)
LD 377 "An Act To Protect Small Redemption Centers" (EMERGENCY)
LD 378 "An Act To Amend Maine's Bottle Deposit Law"
LD 426 "An Act To Increase the Beverage Container Redemption Reimbursement To Offset Minimum Wage Increases"
LD 575 "An Act To Increase the Bottle Redemption Deposit and the Amount Retained by Bottle Redemption Centers"
LD 579 "An Act To Update Beverage Container Deposits and Redemption Values"
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 216
LD 221 "An Act To Reduce the Cost of Automobile Repairs by Eliminating the Aftermarket Catalytic Converter Requirement"
LD 450 "An Act To Increase Funding for the St. Croix International Waterway Commission"
Public Hearing: Friday, March 1, 2019, 10:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 216
LD 559 "An Act To Restore Regular Mapping of Eelgrass Beds in the State"
LD 562 "An Act To Improve Shoreland Zoning Rules and Enforcement To Support Municipalities"
LD 565 "An Act To Establish the Maine Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission"
LD 590 "An Act To Promote Climate Resiliency Measures To Protect Beaches and Near-shore Infrastructure"
LD 774 "An Act To Protect Maine's Beaches and Shoreline" CONTACT: Caleb Roebuck, 287-4149
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Sen. Geoff Gratwick, Senate Chair, Rep. Patty Hymanson, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 9:30 AM, Cross Building, Room 209
LD 78 "An Act To Facilitate Access to the MaineCare Family Planning Benefit"
LD 421 "Resolve, To Amend the State Plan Regarding the Processing of Vouchers under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children by Farmers' Markets"
LD 494 "An Act To Update the Family Planning Statutes"
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 12:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 209
LD 392 "An Act To Fund Maine's School-based Health Centers"
LD 439 "Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Convene a Task Force To Study the Need for Long-term Acute Care Hospital"
LD 539 "Resolve, To Ensure Appropriate Personal Needs Allowances for Persons Residing in Long-term Care Facilities"
LD 653 "Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Opportunities for Improving Home and Community-based Services"
LD 697 "Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Conduct a Review of Rules Governing In-home Personal Care Assistance Services"
LD 752 "An Act To Reduce Food Insecurity and Promote Economic Growth"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 209
LD 230 "An Act To Improve Access to Preventive, Cost-saving Dental Services"
LD 373 "An Act To Provide MaineCare Coverage for Dental Services to Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder"
LD 498 "Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Codes under MaineCare"
LD 765 "Resolve, To Revise Asset Limits for Social Service Programs"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 12:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 209
LD 142 "An Act To Increase Funding for the Fund for a Healthy Maine To Reduce Smoking"
LD 303 "An Act To Require Housing Facilities for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Be Equipped with Naloxone"
LD 325 "An Act To Provide Emergency Funds for Clients of the Adult Protective Services System"
LD 428 "An Act To Establish Wage and Employment Parity between Adult and Child Protective Services Caseworkers in the Department of Health and Human Services "
LD 463 "An Act To Reduce Obesity Rates in Maine"
LD 706 "An Act To Reduce the Incidence of Obesity and Chronic Disease in the State"
LD 745 "An Act To Support the Northern New England Poison Center" CONTACT: Rowland Robinson, 287-1317
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Sen. Heather Sanborn, Senate Chair, Rep. Denise Tepler, House Chair
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 220
LD 376 "An Act To Expand Health Insurance Options for Town Academies"
LD 566 "An Act To Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation"
LD 594 "An Act To Promote Individual Savings Accounts through a Public-Private Partnership"
LD 598 "An Act Regulating Employee Benefit Excess Insurance"
LD 688 "An Act To Set Maine Dental Provider Licensing Fees" CONTACT: Veronica Snow, 287-1314
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
Sen. Jim Dill, Senate Chair, Rep. Catherine Nadeau, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 206
LD 638 "An Act To Legalize the Use of Supplemental Minerals To Assist with Wildlife Nutrition"
LD 649 "An Act To Enhance Collaboration among State Agencies To Improve Landowner Relations"
LD 650 "An Act To Strengthen Maine's Landowner Relations Program"
LD 652 "An Act To Modify Maine's Ice Fishing Laws with Respect to Cusk Fishing"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 206
LD 695 "An Act To Require Biodegradable Hooks and Lures for Freshwater Fishing "
LD 708 "An Act To Expand Maine's Moose Lottery To Benefit Wounded Service Members and Veterans"
LD 713 "An Act To Strengthen Maine's Endangered Species Laws"
LD 728 "An Act To Fairly Compensate Registration Stations for Bear, Deer, Moose and Turkey Registrations"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:15 AM, Cross Building, Room 206
LD 212 "An Act To Provide a Source of Funding for the ATV Recreational Management Fund"
LD 235 "An Act To Increase Funding To Contain and Manage the Spread of Invasive Aquatic Species"
LD 442 "An Act To Set Speed Limits for All-terrain Vehicles on Trails within 50 Yards of a Stream or Pond To Prevent Runoff" CONTACT: Linda Lacroix, 287-1338
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INNOVATION, DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT AND BUSINESS
Sen. Erin Herbig, Senate Chair, Rep. Matthea Larsen-Daughtry, House Chair
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 202
LD 671 "An Act To Require Professional Licensure for Property Inspectors"
LD 679 "An Act Regarding the Licensing of Funeral Practitioners" CONTACT: Tim Grose, 287-4880
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Sen. Michael Carpenter, Senate Chair, Rep. Donna Bailey, House Chair
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, State House, Room 438
LD 214 "An Act To Increase Funding for Civil Legal Services"
LD 595 "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Unlawful Cutting of Trees"
LD 644 "An Act To Improve Safety at State Courthouses"
LD 673 "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Circumstances of Death That Must Be Reported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner"
LD 698 "An Act To Authorize Maine Courts To Award Attorney's Fees and Costs to Citizens Who Prevail in Civil Litigation against the Executive Branch" CONTACT: Susan Pinette, 287-1327
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HOUSING
Sen. Shenna Bellows, Senate Chair, Rep. Mike Sylvester, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 11:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 202
LD 369 "An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees" CONTACT: Safiya Khalid, 287-1331
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON MARINE RESOURCES
Sen. Dave Miramant, Senate Chair, Rep. Jay McCreight, House Chair
Public Hearing: Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 1:15 PM, Cross Building, Room 206
LD 618 "An Act To Remove Nighttime Restrictions on Lobster Fishing in a Certain Area in the Bay of Fundy" (EMERGENCY)
LD 675 "An Act To Provide Equity in the Lobster Promotion License Surcharge"
LD 676 "An Act To Simplify Maine's Lobster Licensing System" CONTACT: Linda Lacroix, 287-1337
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Sen. Ned Claxton, Senate Chair, Rep. Danny Martin, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 214
LD 301 "An Act To Help Older Adults Age in Place through Comprehensive Planning"
LD 456 "An Act To Strengthen the Qualifications for County Sheriffs"
LD 481 "An Act To Allow the Expansion of the Types of Newspapers That Qualify as Legal Notice Publishers by Removing the 2nd Class Postal Matter Requirement"
LD 482 "An Act To Reduce the Participation Thresholds for Various Municipal Referenda and To Change the Measurement of Those Thresholds from Votes Cast for and against the Question to Votes in Favor of the Question"
LD 489 "An Act To Allow Municipalities To Enforce New Noise Ordinances on Existing Shooting Ranges"
LD 520 "An Act To Resolve Tie Votes by the Washington County Budget Advisory Committee" (EMERGENCY)
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 214
LD 521 "An Act To Amend the Archives and Records Management Law"
LD 554 "An Act To Clarify the Authority To Recall Municipal Officials"
LD 563 "An Act To Help Municipaliites Prepare for Sea Level Rise"
LD 572 "An Act Regarding the State Bird"
LD 585 "An Act To Allow the Adoption of Ordinances Prohibiting the Accumulation of Trash on Private Property in Plantations and Unorganized Territories" CONTACT: Dylan Sinclair, 287-1330
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON TAXATION
Sen. Ben Chipman, Senate Chair, Rep. Ryan Tipping, House Chair
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 1:00 PM, State House, Room 127
LD 146 "An Act To Make the Assessment and Collection of Personal Property Taxes Optional for Municipalities"
LD 660 "An Act To Exempt Sales to Parent-Teacher Organizations from the Sales Tax "
LD 709 "An Act To Exempt Certain Meals Provided to Food Service Employees from the Sales and Use Tax"
LD 726 "An Act To Make Sales to Area Agencies on Aging Tax-exempt"
LD 732 "An Act To Provide a Sales Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Career and Technical Student Organizations" CONTACT: Dianne Dubord, 287-1552
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Sen. Bill Diamond, Senate Chair, Rep. Andrew McLean, House Chair
Public Hearing: Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 1:00 PM, State House, Room 126
LD 10 "An Act To Provide That Inspections of New Motor Vehicles Are Valid for 2 Years"
LD 117 "An Act To Exempt Motor Vehicles Less Than 5 Years Old from Inspection"
LD 207 "Resolve, To Rename the Stillwater Bridges in Old Town the Llewellyn Estes Bridge"
LD 270 "An Act To Eliminate Certain Motor Vehicle Inspections in the State"
LD 389 "An Act To Require Biennial State Motor Vehicle Inspections"
Public Hearing: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 1:00 PM, State House, Room 126
LD 323 "An Act To Set the Minimum Penalty for Littering on State Highways at $1,000"
LD 546 "An Act To Enhance Highway Safety by Strengthening the So-called Move Over Law"
LD 597 "Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project Authorizing the Use of Traffic Surveillance Cameras on Castine Road in Orland"
LD 656 "An Act To Increase the Penalty for Passing a School Bus with Its Red Lights Flashing" CONTACT: Darlene Simoneau, 287-4148
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS
Sen. Louis Luchini, Senate Chair, Rep. John Schneck, House Chair
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 10:00 AM, State House, Room 437
LD 722 "An Act To Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates To Disclose Their Federal Income Tax Returns"
LD 753 "An Act To Allow Voters To Choose Ongoing Absentee Voter Status"
LD 780 "An Act To Change Municipal Campaign Contribution Limits"
Public Hearing: Monday, February 25, 2019, 11:00 AM, State House, Room 437
LD 293 "An Act Regarding Early Voting in Person"
LD 619 "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding Early Voting"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:00 AM, State House, Room 437
LD 534 "An Act To Make Ballot Questions Easier To Read and Understand for Maine Voters" (EMERGENCY)
LD 661 "An Act To Increase Gaming Opportunities for Charitable Veterans' Organizations"
LD 737 "An Act To Update Alcohol Taste-testing Requirements"
LD 805 "An Act To Clarify the Laws Governing Taste Testing and Retail Sales of Liquor at Farmers' Markets"
Public Hearing: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 10:00 AM, State House, Room 437
LD 322 "An Act To Strengthen Maine's Election Laws by Requiring Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting"
Public Hearing: Friday, March 1, 2019, 9:00 AM, State House, Room 437
LD 418 "An Act To Implement the National Popular Vote for President" CONTACT: Karen Montell, 287-1310