The Legislature is expected to be in session beginning in January and continuing through April. The MEA has prioritized three key bills for this session:
– Lift the minimum teacher salary to $50k (LD 34)
– More resources for mental health supports for students (LD 858)
– Increase the percentage the state pays for retired teacher health care from 60% to 65% (LD 111)
Our ability to be successful will depend entirely on our ability to have MEA members in the State House and in their communities talking with legislators about these priorities.
To that end, the MEA will host regular visits of MEA members in the State House. We will find your legislators and find key decision makers and make the case to them for the priorities listed above. If you have never lobbied in the State House before, have no fear – MEA staff will be on hand the entire time to help you.
Small groups of 3-4 members are ideal. We will meet in the State House at 9am and expect to be finished by 11am.
The MEA will cover mileage for members to and from the State House and we encourage members to use an association leave day or a personal leave day to attend.
If you have any questions, please reach out to MEA’s Government Relations Director, Jan Kosinski at jkosinski@maineea.org
To learn more about the MEA’s priorities this session, check out Legislative Priorities – Maine Education Association Please consider joining us on one of the days below. MEA staff will be in touch with you to firm up the details and make a plan with you for the day
