On July 29, many of the bills that were passed during the 2016 legislative session became law, as that day was the general effective date for legislation. In non-legislative wording, this just means July 29 is 90 days after the Legislature adjourned for the year. Most laws go into effect on this day, but some others have effective dates written into the law itself, and still others are “emergency legislation” and go into effect immediately upon passage.

An example of a law we passed this year with an effective date written into it is a funding bill that contained a number of initiatives, including tax relief for Maine’s agriculture, aquaculture and wood harvesting industries. An example of emergency legislation we passed was a measure to provide additional state funding to school districts hit hard by the property taxes lost when a mill closes.

As I’ve mentioned in this column in the past, the second session of the Legislature is the shorter one, so in 2016 we dealt with far fewer bills than we did in 2015. (Thankfully!) However, we did tackle some tough issues and important issues, such as Maine’s drug crisis, welfare reform and school funding. The drug crisis was the impetus for a number of the “regular” bills that went into effect on July 29, including one aimed at stemming the tide of drugs coming into Maine from out of state. LD 1541, “An Act To Increase Sentences Imposed for the Illegal Importation of Scheduled Drugs,” is not aimed at incarcerating those suffering from addiction. I want to make that clear. I do not believe that we can lump together drug dealers and addicts, nor do I believe we can imprison our way out of the drug crisis. However, I do believe it is important we send a message to these dangerous out-of-state drug dealers that Maine will be tough on them if they continue peddling their poison in our state.

This legislation does that by increasing the class of crime for the illegal importation of scheduled drugs from a Class C crime to a Class B crime if the drug is a schedule W drug, and from a Class D crime to a Class C crime if the drug is a schedule X, Y, or Z drug. It also creates the crime of aggravated illegal importation of scheduled drugs.

Another bill aimed at protecting Mainers that went into effect on July 29 was LD 1531, “An Act to Protect Victims of Human Trafficking,” which allows victims of human trafficking to file for protection from abuse orders. Prior to this legislation’s passage, protection from abuse orders could only, with some exceptions, be filed against family or household members, or a significant other. In some human trafficking cases, the abuser does not meet that criteria, and so a victim could not utilize this legal tool to protect themselves.

A bill that I was proud to cosponsor also went into effect on July 29. “An Act To Make Efficient Electric Heat Pumps Available to Utility Customers, Including Lowincome Customers,” gives utility companies the ability to implement programs to provide efficient electric heat pumps to customers who might not otherwise be able to afford them. In 2015, the Public Utilities Commission ruled that Emera Maine could not lease heat pumps to its customers, and so this bill clarifies Maine’s law on such matters and will hopefully help many Mainers save some money on their heating bills.

Those are just three of the many bills that went into effect this summer, and if you would like to discuss these, or any other you have questions on, please contact me. You can reach me at dcwoodsome@gmail.com or 432-5643.

— State Sen. David Woodsome, R-Waterboro, represents District 33, which includes Cornish, Limerick, Newfield, Parsonfield, Sanford, Shapleigh and Waterboro.