Legislative Session: Where Things Stand

The 2025 session is well underway, with committee hearings in full swing and budget negotiations heating up. The Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee has already approved the Supplemental Budget which now lies with the Senate and House. On February 11, both chambers debated the budget for hours, nearly reaching agreement… but not quite. Now, AFA is conducting public hearings on the Biennial Budget.

Meanwhile, plenty of bills are being printed and assigned to committees. Lawmakers are reviewing a range of proposals that could impact housing, child care, public health, and ALICE households (an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)—issues central to UWSM’s advocacy. We are closely monitoring all these priorities and more.

Supplemental Budget Priorities: UWSM’s Advocacy on Key Measures

As part of the state budget discussions, UWSM weighed in on three important provisions of the Supplemental Budget that align with our mission:

• Part N – Amendments to the Maine Child Care Affordability Program: The proposed amendments aim to expand the Maine Child Care Affordability Program by allowing state funds to support eligible families by removing income restrictions. This change is crucial for ensuring that all families, regardless of their income level, have access to affordable, quality child care. Such access is foundational to early childhood development and enables parents to participate in the workforce. UWSM has submitted testimony in support of this amendment along with Right from the Start, a diverse coalition of partners wanting to strengthen outcomes for Maine children and families.
• Part Q – Maine Community College System Free Community College – 2 Enrollment Years Program: This part of the proposed supplemental budget allocates $7.3 million from the surplus in this fiscal year to continue offering two years of free community college to all eligible students. By removing the financial barriers to higher education, this initiative significantly boosts educational attainment, which will subsequently expand employment opportunities and economic growth—benefits that are particularly important for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. UWSM has consistently supported this initiative and continues to advocate for its funding, recognizing its potential to transform lives and stabilize communities.
• Part S – Limitations on Housing Assistance under the General Assistance Program: The proposed changes would severely limit housing assistance available under the General Assistance Program, capping it at three months within a 12 month period per household and restricting municipal aid for lodging to no more than 30 days per year. Such constraints could increase homelessness and housing instability among Maine’s most vulnerable groups. UWSM has submitted testimony in opposition to these limitations.
  

Biennial Budget Priorities: Opposing Child Care Cuts and more

The recent strides we’ve made in enhancing childcare services in Maine are now under threat due to the Governor’s proposed Biennial Budget. This proposal seeks to roll back several critical child care initiatives that have supported families and workers across the state. Key among these cutbacks are:

• Reduction in Child Care Worker Wages: The budget proposes a $15 million annual cut in salary supplements for child care workers. This reduction would lower the average hourly wage of child care workers from $16.40 to $15.15.
• Cuts to Head Start Funding: An additional $3.6 million annual cut is targeted at Head Start funding. This would result in the elimination of 180 Head Start slots statewide, the closure of 9 classrooms, and a regression of many programs to part-day care only. These cuts would severely impact low-income families who rely on these services for early childhood education and care.
• Elimination of the Child Care Employment Award: The proposed budget eliminates the Childcare Employment Award program, which has been vital in helping child care workers afford care for their own children.

These proposed cuts jeopardize the well-being of children and families across Maine and threaten the stability of our child care infrastructure. As these programs are crucial for the economic and social health of the state, we must address these challenges and advocate for sustained support in these areas.

Upcoming Public Hearing

• Date and Time: Next Monday, February 24, at 10:00 AM.
• Location: Maine State House, Augusta.
• Committee: Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.

Our Position

We intend to oppose the significant cuts proposed in these critical areas, as they would adversely affect child care educators’ wages and decrease the number of children served by the Head Start program. These cuts threaten the stability of essential services that support the backbone of our workforce and the educational foundations of our children.

Take Action: Make Your Voice Heard! 

Digital Advocacy Campaign: Send a message to your state representatives to speak out against these detrimental budget cuts. It takes just one click to send a message.

Submit Your Testimony: Your story can make a difference! Share your testimony in one of three ways:

• Written Testimony: Submit your testimony online. Select the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, choose the date February 24th at 10:00 AM, enter LD 210, and then type your testimony or upload a document.
• Zoom Testimony: Follow the same steps as for written testimony but select the option “I would like to testify electronically over Zoom.”
• In-Person Testimony: Join us at the State House on February 24th. Please bring 20 printed copies of your testimony and sign up when you arrive.

Additional Budget Measures

Beyond these proposals, we are closely reviewing other measures within the biennial budget that align with our mission. We will continue to update you on our stance and advocacy efforts concerning these issues.

Introducing Our Housing Diversion Bill

We are delighted to announce that Representative Marc Malon, a key member of the Housing and Economic Development Committee, has sponsored a bill, in partnership with United Way of Southern Maine, to help address housing instability in Maine.

The proposed bill seeks a $750,000 appropriation from the state’s General Fund to expand the Housing Problem Solving Program. These funds are designated to provide direct assistance to individuals and families on the brink of homelessness. This includes covering various flexible housing-related expenses and enhancing access to housing assistance services across the state. By complementing existing resources and addressing critical service gaps, this funding aims to create a more robust and responsive system to combat housing instability in Maine.

The bill does not yet have an LD number, but as soon as it does, we will share it with you all. More to come on this soon!

Dan Coyne Named President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine

After an extensive national search conducted by ProSearch with a committee of board and community members, the Board of Directors of United Way of Southern Maine announced Dan Coyne’s appointment as the new President and CEO, effective March 3.

“After conducting a series of interviews with strong local and national candidates from a pool of 150 applicants, we are thrilled to announce that Dan Coyne has been chosen to lead United Way of Southern Maine,” said Todd Cesca, CEO Seach Committee member and Board Chair of United Way of Southern Maine and Partner, Charter Oak Capital Management. “Dan’s impressive track record of strategic leadership, collaboration, innovation, and commitment to meaningful change made him an ideal candidate.”

Coyne, who joined United Way of Southern Maine in 2012, currently is serving as the Chief Impact and Governance Officer. Coyne has led the evolution of United Way’s collective impact work, taking an innovative and responsive approach to address our community’s most pressing issues.

Coyne will succeed Liz Cotter Schlax who announced her resignation last June and will remain with United Way of Southern Maine until February 28 to ensure a smooth transition.

We are grateful to Liz for her ten years of extraordinary leadership and excited to continue building on our 96-year legacy of addressing our community’s most urgent needs.