Good morning from Augusta,
This week, the PLC testified in support of LD 2212, “An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment,” and also worked on a solution for LD 2191, An Act to Provide Relief to Small Businesses Affected by Severe Weather-related Events.
LD 2212, a bill sponsored by Speaker of the House, Rachel Talbot-Ross (D-Portland). LD 2212 provides a $10 million appropriation to the Maine Agriculture, Food, and Forest Products Investment Fund. The bill would also change who appoints the members of the advisory board from the Governor to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The make-up of the board would not change, but how they are appointed would. This change is due to no action taken by the administration to set up the advisory board over the past three years. The PLC is supportive of this program because it could provide new opportunities for our members to get grants and low interest loans for their businesses.
The PLC is working with Speaker Talbot-Ross and her staff to incorporate an amendment into the legislation that would ensure contractors in western Maine that work on both sides of border are eligible to qualify for funding. We wanted to make it clear that if a contractor had to work in Maine and New Hampshire that it didn’t disqualify them from the benefits of the program. The work session for LD 2212 will be held on Wednesday of next week and we are hopeful the committee will report out a favorable vote on the bill.
On Friday, the PLC attended the work session for LD 2191, An Act to Provide Relief to Small Businesses Affected by Severe Weather-related Events, in the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee (IDEA). This is Senator Hickman’s (D-Kennebec) bill to establish the Small Business Weather Emergency Relief Program to provide relief payments to small businesses affected by severe weather-related events. The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation of $50 million in fiscal year 2023-24 to the program. The PLC testified in support of this bill during the public hearing.
PLC staff worked with Senator Hickman and Senator Stacey Guerin (R-Penobscot) to amend the bill to also include a meaningful wood salvage and reclamation program added into the language. The IDEA Committee members were all very receptive to the new language and we are happy to report, the committee voted unanimously in support of the bill and our amendment language. Our language includes dedicated funding to establish the Wood Salvage and Reclamation Program in the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide grants to landowners and contractors affected by the recent severe weather events. In addition, contractors will be eligible to receive benefits from the larger package funding as well for assistance with income replacement.
You can find more information on these bills below or from our bill tracking spreadsheet here.
Last Week’s Legislative Activity February 26 – March 1, 2024
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
LD 1487, An Act to Ensure That Residents of the State Have the Right to Repair Their Own Electronic Devices, Work Session, Innovation, Development and Economic Advancement Committee. - The PLC testified Neither for Nor Against this bill in 2023 and is monitoring it. The membership feels strongly that information must be provided by the OEM’s, but it should not be provided for free. The committee passed a majority report along party lines concentrating on home appliances and personal devices such as cell phones, tablets, computers, etc. The Republican members of the committee wanted the bill more simplified and opted to vote for a different amendment to only incorporate personal hand-held devices.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
LD 2212, An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment, Public Hearing, Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. - The PLC testified in support. More information on this bill can be found above.
Friday, March 1, 2024
LD 2191, An Act to Provide Relief to Small Businesses Affected by Severe Weather-related Events, Work Session, 10:30am - Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee. - The PLC testified in support of this bill. More information on this bill can be found above.
Next Week’s Legislative Activity March 4 – March 8, 2024
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
LD 2212, An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment, Work Session, 1:15 pm - Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. - The PLC testified in support. More information on this bill can be found above.
Have a great weekend, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best,
Dana