With the start of the new year comes the second half of the 128th Legislature, commonly referred to as the “short session” as it has a statutory adjournment date of April 18.

Although it is the shorter of our two sessions, we have a number of significant issues before us already. The first of note is the implementation of Medicaid expansion. Last November, voters approved a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. This implementation will have an incredible impact on our communities and Maine’s rural hospitals, and it will create thousands of new health care jobs across the state. This will certainly be a lengthy process, and I will continue to update you as the Legislature moves forward. In the meantime, if you have any questions on this please let me know.

The bipartisan Maine Task Force to Address the Opioid Crisis concluded its work in December. The 19-member Task Force, comprised of lawmakers, law enforcement, medical officials and community experts, has released its findings to the Legislature and has made over a dozen recommendations, including early prevention measures and better treatment options to protect Maine families from the effects of addiction. I am proud of the way my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have come together to find solutions to this epidemic.

According to the Maine Attorney General’s office, 185 Mainers died of a drug overdose in the first six months of 2017. In 2016, the total number of deaths was 376. We can and must do more to protect Maine families.

In addition to these pressing issues before the Legislature, we will hold public hearings and work sessions for over 400 bills, some of which were carried over from last session and some that were deemed an “emergency” by the 10-member Legislative Council made up of Legislative Leaders. I will also continue to serve in my role as House chair of the Transportation Committee.

The Transportation Committee oversees policy concerning the Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Maine Turnpike Authority. It also oversees policy relating to railroads, aeronautics and highway and bridge infrastructure. The committee’s work is important for our state – not only for keeping people safe but also for ensuring that Maine businesses can be successful.

As the new legislative session gets underway, hearing your thoughts on these and other issues is crucial to what we do at the State House. As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions and concerns. I also send out periodic e-mail updates throughout the session. If you would like to receive these updates, please let me know by e-mailing me.