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The Legislature is still in full swing, with lawmakers considering and introducing a slew of new bills in recent weeks, long past the January cloture deadline. So far, nearly 2,000 bills have been introduced, about 5 percent of which have passed. In the 2023-2024 session, lawmakers ultimately passed around 39 percent of the 2,291 bills they considered. (For more stats and information on bills this session, check out our Statehouse Hub.)

This week, we've got updates on some of the legislation being considered, including proposals to seal certain criminal records and improve public transportation, as well as updates on cuts to hazard mitigation grants communities were using to make their infrastructure more resilient in the face of storms. 

We also have a story from our partners at Maine Focus on the traffic stop that led to the arrest of a Maine teenager and his detention in federal custody. The story appears on our website as part of an initiative to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine. You can read more about it here.

Finally, I hope you'll check out this month's Maine Monitor Radio Hour on the changing conversation around child welfare and threats to the health care system, as well as our story and video of an event we hosted Wednesday with the the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College on what's behind Maine's health care crisis.

Thanks for reading, as always.

— Kate

A bill before the Legislature would automatically seal certain criminal records

Supporters say it’s about time. Opponents want to see more research, and say the bill contradicts findings of a recent committee that recommended further study.

Read this story by Emily Bader

Maine resilience projects face yet another funding setback: The Trump administration is scaling back a multi-billion dollar hazard mitigation grant program that states have long used to protect homes and businesses from floods and other disasters. Read this story by Emmett Gartner

Lawmakers consider bills to improve regional transportation options, increase public input: Public transit options are limited throughout Maine, and currently meet only about 11 percent of the state’s total transportation needs. Read this story by Adrienne Washington

Housing, low reimbursement, aging population driving Maine’s health care crisis: Expert panelists weighed in on Maine's health care crisis at an event hosted by The Maine Monitor and the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College on Wednesday evening. “This system is broken. It's not working for anyone.” Read the story and watch a recording of the discussion

May ‘radio hour’ discusses child welfare, health care: The show offers a behind-the-scenes look at recent Maine Monitor reporting. Listen to this episode

A teenager’s immigration arrest started with a Maine traffic stop

The details of how 17-year-old Jose Adalberto Herrera and his uncle went from driving to work to federal custody highlights the role that local police play in aiding federal immigration enforcement. 

Read this story by Callie Ferguson of Maine Focus

Note: this story appears on The Maine Monitor's website as part of our collaboration with Maine Focus, the investigative team of the Bangor Daily News. Read more about the partnership.

Have feedback or a correction to send to Kate Cough? Send it to her directly via email: kate@themainemonitor.org. 

Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom. 

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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