Maine legislature

Maine’s statewide ban on single-use plastic bags will begin on July 1. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said it is working with retail stores and restaurants to make sure they are ready. The Maine Legislature passed the ban in 2019 and it was initially scheduled to go into effect in April 2020. The state delayed enforcement of the ban…

The Maine Legislature has approved a bill designed to eliminate barriers to coronavirus screening, testing and immunization. Proponents of the bill called it the COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights, and it passed the Legislature during a session that stretched from Thursday into early Friday. The proposal requires state-regulated insurers to cover coronavirus screening, testing and immunization at no cost to…

More states are allowing teachers to receive the coronavirus vaccine at a higher priority after a new push from President Joe Biden.

A group of lawmakers responsible for overseeing the rules of Maine’s two legislative chambers are reviewing pandemic protocols in response to complaints about members not wearing effective masks.  In a subcommittee meeting Thursday, legislative leaders from both parties discussed changing the Legislature’s pandemic rules to mandate that face coverings comply with the state’s public health recommendations, the Portland Press...

Maine has decided that eating like a pig could be a good thing, especially for schools looking to cut down on food waste. A law saying schools can give food scraps away to pig farmers is now on the books in the state.

Democrat Pete Buttigieg is bringing his presidential campaign to Maine. The South Bend, Indiana, mayor is appearing Thursday at a fundraiser at the State Theater in Portland.

Legalized recreational marijuana is coming soon to Maine, but it’s highly unlikely it’s coming to the entire state.

Maine’s marijuana enthusiasts used a public hearing to implore the state to protect the small businesses and growers they think should make up the backbone of the state’s budding cannabis industry. The Maine Office of Marijuana Policy held a public hearing about the state’s draft marijuana rules Thursday. State officials have said marijuana could be available in stores in early...

Maine is turning 200, and the state wants to make sure the Pine Tree State celebrates the big birthday with the best flag possible.

Maine’s governor has signed off on a proposal to allow residents of the state to expand their access to the internet by checking out mobile wi-fi devices from libraries. The bill received unanimous approval from both chambers of the Maine Legislature after it was proposed by Democratic Rep. Robert Alley of Beals. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the proposal into...

A lack of health care hits residents especially hard in Maine, with the oldest population in the country, and so the Democratic challenger in the state’s Second Congressional District is focused on saddling the incumbent with his vote to kill “Obamacare,” following a playbook unfolding across the country. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, New England’s only Republican in the House of Representatives,...

A new report by the state of Maine has concluded that almost half of all homicides in the state are caused by domestic violence.

A Canadian company has ditched plans to buy a marijuana-growing facility in Auburn, Maine.

The Maine Legislature has approved a bill that would name a bridge over the Kennebec River in Norridgewock after slain Somerset County sheriff’s deputy Eugene Cole.

The Maine Legislature has upheld Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill to regulate and tax the sale of marijuana in the state.

Maine’s governor has vetoed a bill regulating the legal retail sale of marijuana.

A death with dignity bill is advancing through the Maine Legislature, but will face a likely veto from the Republican governor.

An unsolved homicide unit with Maine State Police is not doing enough to solve cases, according to the Maine Cold Case Alliance.