7 Unique Bill Proposals That Could Become Laws in Maine
The spring session is underway inside the Maine Legislature, meaning state leaders are chock full of meetings to see which bill proposals have legs and which are just political fodder.
If you visit this section of the State of Maine website, you'll see just how many bill proposals have been put forth. You'll also see how many public meetings the legislature holds to get opinions on previously-proposed bills that have advanced.
For many of us, the wording of these proposals feels like legal mumbo jumbo and is too exhausting or annoying to decipher what the real point is. While there are numerous very serious bill proposals in front of the legislature this session, there are a handful of proposals that are a little more unique.
LD 1813: Free Passenger Rail Service for One Month in Maine
Hoping to inspire people to travel by train, a bill proposal suggests that the state cover the cost of one free month of passenger rail service. But there's a couple of key points. One, the proposal offers to cover the costs from December 1 to December 31 only. Two, the state will reimburse an individual after the fact. Better keep those receipts.
LD 1558: Prohibit the Sale of Tobacco in All Pharmacies
The sale of tobacco (and specifically flavored tobacco) has been under severe scrutiny nationwide thanks to vaping. A bill proposal in front of the Maine Legislature would move towards banning the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies across the state. Not only that, it would ban the sale of tobacco inside retail establishments that simply include a pharmacy like grocery stores.
LD 1645: Reducing Plastic Packaging Waste
For most of Maine, the transition away from disposable plastic bags at stores to reusable ones has gone rather smoothly. A bill proposal in front of the state legislature asks for Maine to continue to move forward in reducing plastic waste by clamping down on plastic takeout containers as well as plastic bottles that contain potentially dangerous chemicals to the environment.
LD 1638: Lower the State's Individual Income Tax
Maine's income tax rate has been a pain point when it comes to growing the state's population. Several proposals in front of the legislature for this session aim to remedy that issue. That includes one that would Lowe the state's individual income tax rate based on which income bracket an individual falls into. Some of the rates would lower by as little as .15%, but every little bit counts.
LD 1845: Regulate Outdoor Lighting and Preserve the Darkness
Maine's population is concentrated mostly in its southern sector, leaving the majority of the state light pollution-free. A proposal put forth in front of the state legislature aims to settle some disputes amongst neighbors. It would limit the types of lights and how bright those lights can be outdoors past 11pm in Maine.
LD 1329: Delivery of Craft Beer in Maine
You may actually be shocked to know that breweries in Maine can't deliver you beer like you've just ordered a pizza or something on DoorDash. It's currently against the law in the state, and a proposal in front of the legislature would eliminate that law and replace it with the ability for breweries themselves to deliver to you directly or use a third-party delivery service to get your Maine craft beer.
LD 1007: Ban the App TikTok on All State-Owned Devices
Questions continue to linger about the popular app TikTok, its ties to China, and what the app does with the personal information it collects. A bill in front of the legislature would ban the ability to download and use the app on all state-owned phones. That would include any state-issued phones for employees or for those people in need.