LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
May 3, 2019

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Mobilizing Your Advocacy – Phoning It In

Advocacy is an important component of creating a more thriving Greater Portland and is the living embodiment of being stronger together.

United Way of Greater Portland is committed to empowering you with up-to-date legislative information through our policy and advocacy updates and efforts while amplifying individuals’ voices on important community issues.

We want to help you tell your story, and we want to help you take action.

Today we’re introducing a new, easy way for you to take meaningful action on issues important to you, and help make your voice heard, such as through contacting lawmakers.

HOW TO SIGN UP & START ADVOCATING:
FIRST, Find your phone (if you are already on it, PERFECT!)
SECOND, Text UWGP to 52886.
THIRD, You will receive an auto-response text asking you click and complete the UWGP Phone2Action Sign Up Form.
FOURTH, When signing up, please use your home address so that your advocacy efforts will be routed to the correct legislators in your district.
FIFTH, Hit submit, and you are all set!

Periodically you will receive alerts from United Way of Greater Portland to voice your support. We are stronger when we advocate together.

PHONE TO ACTION ALERT

Now that you have subscribed – let’s use this tool NOW to mobilize on an issue we have all been following closely. Be sure to check your phone messages for a link to engage!

LD 982

LD 982 would expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets for more than 4,000 struggling pregnant and nursing mothers and 14,000 infants, toddlers, and Kindergarteners receiving WIC coupons.

Young children accessing healthy food through WIC experience improved dietary outcomes, putting them in a better position to read at grade level by 3rd grade and live healthier lives.

Click the confirmation message that was sent after you subscribed to contact your legislator (or visit https://p2a.co/TLhtXx2) and ask them to support LD 982 a bill to allow Maine farmers provide more healthy Maine fruits and vegetables for Maine infants, toddlers, and Kindergarteners.

UWGP Legislative Watch List

United Way of Greater Portland has embraced Thrive2027, our community’s 10-year effort to achieve measurable progress in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. UWGP is playing its part to ensure the success of Thrive2027 by supporting public policies like those included in the following Legislative Watch List:

 Goal 1: Give Kids a Strong Start  

• LD 468 “An Act To Require That the State Fund on an Ongoing Basis a Minimum of 50 Percent of the Costs Associated with Public Preschool Programs” (Introduced by Representative Farnsworth).
  There was a public hearing on May 1, 2019.
• LD 1043 “An Act To Establish Universal Public Preschool Programs” (Introduced by Representative Kornfield).
  There was a public hearing on May 1, 2019. Read United Way of Greater Portland’s Testimony on LD 468 and LD1043.
• LD 798 “An Act To Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Diseases by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements” (Introduced by Representative Tipping).
  The bill passed the House on April 25, 2019. An amended bill passed the Senate May 2, 2019.
• LD 997 “An Act To Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Development for Young Children” (Introduced by Senator Breen).
  The committee voted this bill out via divided report on April 8, 2019.

 Goal 2: Empower Neighbors to Thrive – Not Just Survive

• LD 104 “An Act To Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit in Maine” (Introduced by Senator Vitelli).
  There was a public hearing on May 2, 2019. Read United Way of Greater Portland’s Testimony on LD 104.
• LD 214 “An Act To Increase Funding for Civil Legal Services” (Introduced by Representative Cardone).
  The committee voted this bill out via divided report on April 18, 2019.
• LD 421 “Resolve, To Amend the State Plan Regarding the Processing of Vouchers under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children by Farmers’ Markets” (Introduced by Representative Terry).
  There was a work session on April 30, 2019. Voted ought not to pass.
• LD 982 “Resolve, To Expand the Use of the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program at Farmers’ Markets” (Introduced by Representative Daughtry).
  There was a work session on April 30, 2019. Voted ought to pass as amended.
• LD 647 “An Act To Attract, Educate and Retain New State Residents To Strengthen the Workforce” (Introduced by Representative Cloutier).

Goal 3:  Help Us All Live Longer, Better

• LD 227 “An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Public Health Infrastructure” (Introduced by Representative Perry).
  There was a work session on April 10, 2019. It was TABLED.
• LD 266 “An Act To Eliminate the 2-year Limit on MaineCare Coverage for Approved Drugs for Opioid Use Disorder” (Introduced by Senator Sanborn).
  The Governor also proposed language to remove the two-year limit.  This language became effective in March.
• LD 447 “An Act Regarding the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care” (Introduced by Senator Gratwick).
  There was a public hearing on April 1, 2019. It was voted ought not to pass (ONTP) April 2, 2019.
• LD 392 “An Act To Fund Maine’s School-based Health Centers” (Introduced by Representative Handy).
  The House passed an amended bill on April 30, 2019. The Senate passed an amended bill on May 2, 2019. The amendment adds a fiscal note and details funding from General Fund not The Fund for a Healthy Maine.
  
• LD 836 “An Act To Expand Maine’s School-based Health Centers” (Introduced by Representative Handy).
  There was a public hearing on February 25, 2019. The committee voted ought not to pass/ ought to pass as amended. The House passed an amended bill on April 30, 2019. The Senate passed an amended bill on May 2, 2019. The amendment adds a fiscal note and details funding from The Fund for a Healthy Maine and requires a request for proposals process for new school based health centers.
• LD 1337 “An Act To Save Lives by Establishing a Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement Program within the Department of Health and Human Services” (Representative Gattine).
  The committee voted this bill out via divided report April 25, 2019.

What is a Divided Report? :If committee members disagree about a bill, they may issue a divided report, which usually includes majority and minority reports on the bill. Example: a majority ‘ought not to pass’ report and a minority ‘ought to pass as amended’ report. A less frequent situation occurs when there are more than 2 reports. Example: 6 members vote for ‘Report A,’ ‘ought to pass,’ 5 members vote for ‘Report B,’ ‘ought not to pass,’ and 2 members vote for ‘Report C,’ ‘ought to pass as amended.’ http://legislature.maine.gov/general/path-of-legislation-in-maine-detailed/9285

 

If you would like to know how you can be an Advocate for these important policies, feel free to contact advocacy@unitedwaygp.org.