The bill, which faces additional votes in both the House and Senate, follow bans enacted in several Maine communities.
Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller joined the staff of the Portland Press Herald in 2012 and has worked as a journalist in Maine since 2005. He currently covers state politics, the Maine Legislature and environmental/natural resources issues. A policy wonk, Kevin previously wrote about Congress and federal issues as the Press Herald’s Washington, DC correspondent. Before settling in Maine, he covered state government, higher education and environmental issues for newspapers in Virginia and Maryland. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, cross-country skiing or doing pretty much anything else outdoors. He lives in Newcastle with his wife, Carissa, and their dog.
In effort to prevent overdose deaths, state plans to put ‘NaloxBoxes’ in public buildings
Maine’s director of opioid response described the plan at the first meeting of Gov. Janet Mills’ Prevention and Recovery Cabinet.
Mills signs bill to preserve incentive for solar energy producers
The measure allows homeowners to continue receiving credits for solar power they generate and send to the regional grid.
Bill to address the gender pay gap heads to Mills’ desk
Supporters say the measure addresses the discrepancy by prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s wage history.
Maine treatment plants scramble to meet state’s new sludge-testing edict
Environmental regulators ordered wastewater treatment plants to test sludge for chemicals known as PFAS, but the plants face a tight timeline and uncertainty over what to do with sludge that’s been used as fertilizer for decades.
Advocates make case for bill to legalize ‘safe injection’ sites in Maine
They say that giving drug users a medically supervised place to use drugs would reduce overdose deaths and public health concerns while helping guide users into treatment. But such facilities are illegal under federal law.
Environmentalists, lobstermen back bill to ban oil and gas drilling in coastal Maine waters
The state geologist says it’s unlikely Maine has any oil in its coastal waters, but passage of the measure would send a message to the federal government, proponents say.
Cumberland state representative resigning for health reasons
Rep. Dale Denno, a Democrat, was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and says it is ‘no longer realistic for me to continue in my current role.’
Visitors may soon need reservations to get to Acadia’s hottest spots
Responding to growing congestion during peak months, park officials are moving ahead with a ‘timed-entry reservation system.’
State says sludge must be tested for ‘forever chemicals’ before it’s used as fertilizer
The new requirement comes as a farmer in Arundel blames municipal sludge containing PFAS for contaminating his land and dairy herd.