LD 609 – Two Year State Budget – Part A, sponsored by Representative Drew Gattine of Westbrook

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details (Y=check)

Synopsis: The “current services” budget or “Part A” budget dedicated over $150 million more in state aid to schools to maintain the 55% state funding for schools requirement and provided funding for Free Community College program and the Free Meals for all public school students. This bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Mills.

LD 210 – Two Year State Budget – Part B, sponsored by Representative Drew Gattine of Westbrook

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details(Y = check)

Synopsis:  This bill represented “Part B” of the two-year state budget and included an additional $30 million in support for the UMaine System and over $20 million more in state aid for the Community College System.  The Part B budget also fully funded the Free Meals program in public schools.  The bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Mills. 

LD 187 —  “Right-to-Work for Less”, sponsored by Representative Joshua Morris of Turner

• House: Roll-call Details(Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details (Y=check)

Synopsis:  This bill is a typical “right-to-work for less” designed to make it harder for unions to represent their members.  This bill is unnecessary and was supported by no union members.  The bill was defeated. 

LD 220 – School Voucher Program, sponsored by Representative Barbara Bagshaw of Windham

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details(Y = check)

Synopsis:  This bill proposed the creation of a voucher style program and would siphon funding away from public schools to private and religious schools.  The bill also allowed the funding to support homeschooling, with insignificant protections against fraud and abuse as has been witnessed in other states with similar programs.  The measure was defeated. 

LD 1219 – An Act to Increase State Funding for the Campuses of the University of Maine System and to Raise the Minimum Hourly Wage for Employees of the System, sponsored by Senator Mike Tipping of Orono 

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate – no Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This bill initially proposed a higher state contribution for the UMaine System to adjust for years of stagnant funding from the state, and also called for a higher minimum wage throughout the University System so full-time, hard-working employees do not have to rely on state assistance for basic necessities.  However, the bill was amended to make the case for at least 4% increase in funding for the UMaine System.  The bill was passed and the supplemental budget included the 4% increases called for in this bill. 

LD 885 – An Act to Allow Certain Persons with a Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns to Possess or Discharge a Firearm on School Property, sponsored by Representative James White of Guilford 

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details (Y = check)

Synopsis:  This bill proposed to allow individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns to possess and discharge a firearm on school property.  The measure was defeated. 

LD 900 – An Act to Protect State Retiree Pensions from Inflation, sponsored by Senator Joe Baldacci of Bangor

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details(Y = check)

Synopsis:  This bill would undo the damage to our pensions caused by Governor LePage in 2011 by lifting the cost-of-living cap on retired educators to $40,000 (currently approximately $25,000) and would increase the cost-of-living for current and future retirees.  The bill passed, but had a fiscal note of over $1.6 billion.  The bill is carried over until next year but finding the funding will be problematic. 

LD 858 – An Act to Ensure Behavioral and Mental Health Services Are Available to Students by Providing Grants to Schools That Contract for Those Services, sponsored by Representative Lori Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: No Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This bill was a priority of the MEA and proposed a grant program to provide more mental health services in public schools.  The bill was passed and while the initial bill requested $1.3 million in funding, we were only able to secure $100,000 but we hope to build upon this program next year and secure additional funding for this critical need. This bill was HELD by the Governor and will be finally acted upon in January.  The MEA continues to work on this effort and will prioritize this bill in the 2^nd session beginning in January.

LD 1097 –  An Act to Provide De-escalation and Behavior Intervention Training for School Personnel, sponsored by Representative Kelly Murphy of Scarborough

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: No Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This bill proposed new trainings to help educators address unruly or challenging behaviors from students and also included new requirements for the Maine Department of Education to prepare guidance and greater support for schools.  The training requirement was stripped from the bill due to the costs, but the second part remains.  The bill was passed but HELD by the Governor and will be finally acted upon in January.  The MEA is working with the Department of Education and we hope to move this concept forward.

LD 1626 An Act to Improve Professional Development for Educational Technicians and School Support Staff, sponsored by Representative Kelly Murphy of Scarborough

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: No Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This bill proposed a minimum number of hours of paid professional development for hourly school support staff.  The bill passed the House and Senate but was not funded and is carried over until the session starting in January.

LD 34 – An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Teachers, sponsored by Senator Teresa Pierce of Falmouth

• House: Roll-call Details (Y = check)
• Senate: No Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This bill proposed to gradually lift the minimum starting salary for teachers and other certified, salaried professionals from the current $40,000 to $45,000 starting July 1, 2026 and increasing by $2500 each year until it reached a new minimum of $50,000.  The bill was passed but did not secure the funding this year and is carried over until next session.  This bill will remain a priority for the MEA in the 2^nd session.

LD 470 — An Act to Require School Administrative Units to Adopt Mentoring Programs for Teachers and to Improve Existing Programs, sponsored by Senator Joe Rafferty of Kennebunk

• House: No House Roll Call
• Senate: Roll-call Details (Y=check)

Synopsis:  This bill originally proposed to provide ongoing and consistent stipends for all mentoring teachers and required districts to provide mentoring teachers for all new hires and newly certified teachers.  However, due to the cost we scaled the bill back and instead required the Maine Department of Education to analyze the current mentoring programs happening in schools for new teachers with a report due next year to the Education Committee with recommendations for improving the mentoring programs in public schools.  This bill was HELD by the Governor and will be finally acted upon in January.

LD 384:  An Act to Prevent Student Homelessness, sponsored by Senator Joe Rafferty of Kennebunk

• House: Roll-call Details (Y=check)
• Senate: Roll-call Details (Y=check)

Synopsis:  This legislation represents a continuation of a successful program to prevent students and their families from becoming homeless.  The final version provides grants up to $750 directly to families in need to help them cover rent, necessary repairs or other needs with the hope they can stay in their home.  The bill set aside $125,000 to provide funding to districts who can move the funding to families.  The final bill was passed, funded and signed into law by Governor Mills. 

LD 747:  An Act to Provide Funds to Reduce Student Homelessness, sponsored by Representative Mike Brennan

• House: Roll-call Details(Y=check)
• Senate: No Senate Roll Call

Synopsis:  This legislation is similar to LD 384 (see above) in that it hopes to prevent student homelessness.  We know homeless has a seriously negative impact on students and families and in fact has a long tail of impact for students.  This legislation provides $125,000 each year in funding to the Maine State Housing Authority specifically to help students in preK-12 remain housed.  The bill was passed by the Legislature, funded, and signed into law by the Governor.