What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
All decisions about land use in Maine- including housing, development, and conservation- are local. The best way to thoughtfully manage this process is through a town’s comprehensive plan. These plans often identify goals for number, type, and desired locations of housing in a community. Yet only 149 comp plans have been submitted to the state since 2011. Maine communities of all sizes testified last year that the state’s requirements for certification of these plans are too burdensome and expensive, impeding communities from engaging in this vital process. My proposed bill streamlines the comp plan certification process, emphasizing engagement, goal setting, and implementation. We must revise this statute to support housing production and encourage smart growth in every community.
Transmission lines, solar incentives and offshore wind development have been controversial over the past several years. What steps should Maine take to meet growing demand for electricity?
1. Increased development of battery storage facilities such as the one proposed in Lincoln, which enables deployment of renewable energy resources on demand. I worked on this issue as a member of the EUT Committee.
2. A recent regional study indicated that “grid-enhancing technologies” (GETs) can double the amount of renewables being integrated into the grid by increasing the efficiency and capacity of existing lines. Enhancement of existing lines must be prioritized, as building entirely new transmission lines (as implied in the question) can take years. I am working with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators to explore proven GET solutions, such as dynamic line ratings, for Maine.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
As House Chair of the Appropriations Committee, meaningful tax relief has been one of my top priorities. Through the budget last year, we fully funded 5% municipal revenue sharing and 55% of K-12 education, expanded the Property Tax Fairness credit (with enhanced benefits for seniors and veterans), established a new refundable Dependent Exemption tax credit for families, and a new business tax credit which focuses on investments in worker training and equipment. These changes and historic programs should be evaluated for utilization and impact this coming session. One additional tax proposal which should be reintroduced is restructuring the Maine Historic Preservation Tax Credit to make it more accessible to smaller property owners, with greater opportunity for housing development.
We are closing in on the one-year anniversary of the Lewiston mass shooting. Are further legislative responses required around guns, mental health, supporting victims and families or other policy areas?
We responded last session with common sense policies, such as funding new mental health crisis receiving centers and 24/7 crisis intervention mobile response services; strengthening Maine’s existing “yellow flag” law; expanding background checks for advertised sales; and establishing a 72-hour waiting period for most firearm purchases. I also sponsored legislation to eliminate rapid fire accessory devices. In the words of one sheriff who testified in support of my bill, these devices “become more like weapons of war, and serve no purpose to those who honor Maine traditions such as hunting.” We can promote common sense reform while protecting our heritage traditions.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
Every Mainer deserves access to quality, affordable health care. I was honored to receive an award in 2023 from Maine Family Planning for my decades of work in providing and supporting access to reproductive health care. I sponsored and passed a bill last session to ensure continuity of care after a merger or acquisition of a health care entity (which is critical for rural areas of Maine). I also voted to increase funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, ban debt collectors from charging interest on medical debt, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, invest in veterans’ homes and nursing facilities, increase access to mental health care, and create a Paid Family and Medical Leave program. I will continue to work to increase access and lower the costs of health care for all.