I don’t know about you, but for me this summer has flown by! It feels like just yesterday that Speaker Talbot Ross stood at the rostrum in the House chamber to bring the work of the 131st Legislature to a close. After an intense legislative session that wrapped up in May, the summer break has provided a much-needed respite. But now, in the blink of an eye, we find ourselves in August, deep in the dog days of summer.
In accordance with our state constitution, all non-emergency bills take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. This year, that 90-day period culminated on August 9. Now that we are past that date, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a sampling of some of the most significant initiatives that are now in effect.
One of our most important accomplishments as a governing body was the successful enactment of a supplemental budget. This financial plan is crucial for maintaining a balanced state budget while reflecting our core values. In this budget, we allocated $14 million to expand the Medicare Savings Program, because every Mainer deserves access to high-quality and affordable health care. This life-saving program is designed to assist individuals who are living on low and fixed incomes by paying for some of the costs that are associated with Medicare coverage. Within this budget, we also acknowledged that health care should be comprehensive and include the body as well as the mind. That’s why we continued our work towards bolstering mental and behavioral health services. The supplemental budget designates nearly $20 million for crisis intervention and response services, including funding for new crisis receiving centers.
The supplemental budget also seeks to ease the burden caused by our statewide housing crisis. It appropriates $21 million for emergency housing, which includes $7.5 million over three years to support low-barrier shelters. It will also direct MaineHousing to establish a two-year pilot program to support eviction prevention because, more than anything, we want to help tenants stay in their homes while not leaving landlords beholden to bad actors.
While the supplemental budget is a critical tool for addressing immediate needs, our legislative achievements extend far beyond it. We’ve enacted policy measures that will have a lasting impact on the well-being of Maine’s residents and the future of our state. These include bills to address climate change and protect our natural resources. For instance, the Legislature voted to update the law that governs the phase-out of products containing PFAS, which will make it easier for businesses to comply with updated regulations while continuing our commitment to mitigate the spread of these toxic chemicals. Additionally, we passed a measure to empower towns across the state, providing them greater ability to enforce shoreland zoning ordinances and further protect the geography of our freshwater lakes and rivers and the wildlife who call them home.
To ensure that the Legislature continues to support and develop an inclusive economy for all Mainers, we enacted several pivotal measures. For instance, we passed a bill that ensures that any worker who has decided to leave their place of work will receive any wages that are justly deserved while at the same time holding accountable employers who are not in compliance. Making our workers throughout the state feel heard and respected in their place of employment is indelible. We also passed a measure that expands employees’ rights to collectively bargain. The bill now allows state, higher education and judicial employees the right to form a union as long as the majority of workers sign a card or petition declaring their intent to be represented together.
I am so proud of all that the 131st Legislature has accomplished, and I look forward to seeing how my colleagues will continue to build on these policy successes in the coming session. The work conducted during the last session lays a strong foundation for our state’s future, and I am confident that our Legislature will continue to pass measures and pursue initiatives that will have long-lasting benefits for all.
Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, is serving his second and final term in the Maine House of Representatives after serving two years in the Maine State Senate. He is a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.