This Week in Augusta – 3.16.2015 edition

Date: March 16, 2015

Snowbanks are shrinking but legislative work is piling up
and with more than half the bills printed that are expected to be considered,
legislative committees are moving into numerous hearings and work sessions as
lawmakers dig their way through the many ideas for new laws.

SESSION

Senate & House Sessions – 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday

LEGISLATION

As of today 965 bills have been printed.

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_127th/billtexts/

Ideas for new legislation include:

  • Raise the minimum wage by steps to $12 an hour
    on October 1, 2019; index future increases starting October 2020; phase-out the
    tipping wage credit to $0 starting October 1, 2019
  • Protect small businesses from high interest
    rates on business loans (LD 889)
  • Establish a yearly limited Sales Tax Holiday on
    the 2nd Saturday in August (LD 932)
  • Increase health insurance coverage of fertility
    treatment (LD 943)
  •  Include care of a grandparent or
    great-grandparent as permitted use of Family Medical Leave (LD 960)

LOOKING AHEAD

The Taxation committee continues reviewing tax provisions of
the proposed State Budget.  This week’s
work session schedule includes:

  • 3/16 @ 10 a.m. – BETR/BETE conversion
  • 3/16 @ 1 p.m. – Homestead Property Tax
    exemption; Partial taxation of certain nonprofits; Revenue sharing
  • 3/17 @ 1 p.m. – Individual Income Tax
  • 3/18 @ 1 p.m. – Tax expenditure authorization;
    any other items needing additional work

The Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Economic
Development will hold a work session Wednesday (3/18) on bills to require
payment of accrued sick leave (LD 445) and to require 30-minute rest breaks in
1 or 2-person workplaces (LD 486) if the employees work continuously for 6 ½
hours.  NFIB testified against both
bills.

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=445&snum=127

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=486&snum=127

Legislation to put a fee on single-use plastic shopping bags
will be heard Monday morning, March 23, by the Committee on Environment &
Natural Resources.

  • LD 325 requires a 5-cent deposit fee on these
    bags; lets the retailer keep 2 cents; and, requires the retailer to offer
    reusable bags for purchase
  • LD 396 requires a 5-cent deposit and lets the
    retailer keep 1 cent
  • LD 680 requires a 5-cent deposit; lets the
    retailer keep 1 cent; and, requires retailer to provide reusable bags for
    purchase

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=325&snum=127

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=396&snum=127

www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=680&snum=127

MINIMUM WAGE MONDAY

A long day of testimony is expected Monday (3/23) on 9 bills
aimed at increasing the minimum wage above the $7.50 an hour current
level.  NFIB plans to testify against
raising the state rate.  A liberal
activist group, which supports a $12 wage and indexing, is making noise about
putting the issue before voters in 2016 unless a significant wage increase is
enacted.

  • Increase wage to $8 in October 2015 (LD 92)
  • Increase wage to $9.75 in October 2015 (LD 77)
  • Increase wage to $9 in October 2015 and $10 in
    October 2016 (LD 36)
  • Increase wage to $9.50 in October 2015 (LD 52)
  • Increase wage to $8 in October 2015, $9 in
    October 2017, $10 in October 2018, and index starting January 2019
  • Increase wage to $10.10 in October 2015 (LD 72)
  • Increase wage to $8.45 in October 2015, $9.40 in
    October 2016, $10.35 in October 2017, $11.30 in October 2018, $12 in October
    2019, and index starting October 2020; also, phase out the tip credit to $0 by
    October 2019 (LD 843)
  • Support Maine’s working families (LD 674)
  • Establish a working group to evaluate increasing
    the minimum wage (LD 739)

KEY WEBSITES

Governor – www.maine.gov/governor

Legislature – http://legislature.maine.gov

Related Content: Small Business News | Maine

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