Committee received a legal briefing on LD 127, which would alter legislative access to confidential OPEGA/OPAGA working papers and records; the analyst reviewed statutory history, AG opinions, a 2024 Law Court decision, and constitutional protections that limit enforceability of nondisclosure agreements against legislators. The committee asked the sponsor to draft a narrowed amendment.

After extended testimony from defense attorneys, public defenders, prosecutors and advocates, the Judiciary Committee voted 9–0 (5 absent) to recommend 'ought not to pass' on LD 1572, citing the need for more work to reconcile divergent views on whether and how to treat strangulation and suffocation in aggravated-domestic-assault statutes.

The Judiciary Committee held a work session on LD 2107, a proposal to create a Maine nonprofit security grant program to supplement FEMA awards; members asked about eligibility, administration (AG vs. MEMA), and appropriations, and unanimously voted to table the bill so the sponsor can return with a drafted amendment (including housing the program at MEMA and reducing funding from $2 million to $1.5 million).

Superintendent Carrie told the board that ED279 calculations increased per-pupil rates and special-education subsidy but a late legislative amendment removed roughly $600,000 of adult-education funding from the district's K'12 subsidy, creating uncertainty for the upcoming budget and local assessment.

Lawmakers reviewed final language for LD 2062, focused on definitions for ‘‘large heavy duty buses,’’ limits coverage to urban fixed-route providers serving municipalities over 20,000 people, and reduced a dedicated appropriation from $2 million to $1 million; committee directed staff to confirm technical definitions before final language.

The committee moved LD 1477 as amended to have DECD administer a pilotage exemption and potential funding, citing the measure’s economic-development rationale; members noted Nova Scotia’s large contribution and local job impacts in Bar Harbor.

After hours of testimony from DOT officials, the Transportation Committee voted 'ought not to pass' on LD 1804, a proposal to present a $150 million baseline capital budget for DOT to increase visibility of a long-term structural funding gap; members debated procurement, budgeting mechanics, and revenue-neutral scenarios moving liquor revenue and DPS costs to the general fund.

The Health and Human Services Committee amended LD 2125 to remove emergency rate‑determination language and advance a $1,000,000 non‑lapsing fund to stabilize children’s residential treatment providers facing closures and staffing shortages.

After testimony from disability advocates, clinicians and hospital staff, the committee amended a Title 15 bill to emphasize a legislative commission to study placement and transfer processes rather than imposing a rigid 7‑day statutory transfer deadline.

County staff proposed using opioid settlement funds to purchase mobile infrared equipment to detect drugs on paper, clothing and mail destined for the jail; commissioners discussed funding availability (approx. $660,000 settlement balance) and pairing equipment with MAT/SUBLOCADE programs.

LD 2172 would put two Department of Education rule updates into legislative review (removal of 'voluntary' from escort definition and a revised definition of serious physical injury). DOE testified the rules mirror statute changes from the prior session; educators asked for clearer data‑collection standards and the DOE was asked to deliver implementation feedback before the rule becomes final.

County opioid advisory committee representatives told the Penobscot County Commission that awardees have been selected but contracts are delayed pending legal review, several committee members have resigned, the committee needs a law-enforcement representative per policy, and they asked for guidance on how much of about $1.4 million in settlement funds should be released in the next RFP cycle.

LD 2025 would create a limited‑purpose license for nursery and husbandry aquaculture activities and reorganize the lease amendment process. DMR and the Aquaculture Advisory Council supported the bill, while growers requested clearer rules on inspector sampling and protection of private property.

The board voted to join the state's early-childhood special-education cohort (taking services from Child Development Services), accepting a modest net local cost and access to state startup funding; administrators warned some startup items (van, equipment) depend on separate state pools and carry timing risks.

Lawmakers and stakeholders debated LD 1991, a Department of Marine Resources bill that would authorize basic training and testing for seaweed (including rockweed) harvesters; the department and industry proponents said training will improve sustainable practices, while experienced harvesters urged careful content focused on morphology and local stewardship.

Superintendent presented three budget tiers and recommended the middle option (roughly 7%), saying it preserves core services while addressing necessary special-education and maintenance costs; board members pressed for detail on EdTech reductions, class-size impacts and mitigation strategies.

Trustees heard a presentation showing a full-scope price of about $27.8 million for Madonna Valley High School and a recommended, descoped package of roughly $24.9 million after nearly $4 million in state revolving-renovation funding and a $2 million ventilation award; presenters also reported a recent water-system failure addressed by pump replacement and hydrofracking, with arsenic testing improving but final state approval still pending.

LD 2002 would extend the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative through 2031. Supporters argued marketing preserves the Maine lobster brand and stabilizes markets; some harvesters urged a shorter reauthorization, requested an ROI study and proposed redirecting funds toward stock enhancement.

Superintendent Jake Langland told the school committee he found no evidence immigration officers operated on school grounds and described internal communications, attendance analysis, steps to protect students, and limits on district financial support; he said to his knowledge no students were picked up by enforcement in the last two weeks.

MEPRI told the committee that special-education costs are the most stressed part of EPS, criticized the expenditure-driven "step 6" adjustment as inequitable and growing (MEPRI estimated roughly $40 million of growth in that adjustment), and recommended pursuing regional service models and limiting or freezing step-6 growth while preparing a follow-up regionalization report.

The committee voted to remove a proposed requirement that sending SAUs pay tuition to MSSM and instead advanced amended appropriations totaling roughly $1.05M in FY 26‑27 (one‑time + ongoing increases) to address MSSM shortfalls; members debated per‑pupil costs and residency/subsidy statute implications.

LD 21 18 would move the Maine Natural Areas Program from DACF to IF&W; the assistant attorney general told the committee that IF&W has broader rulemaking authority and moving the program could grant IF&W the power to adopt program rules unless the legislature explicitly limits that authority.

The committee voted Feb. 2 to submit written testimony in support of LD2124, which would use real-estate-transfer-tax revenue to boost emergency shelter funding; staff were directed to prepare testimony and explore coordinating with the city.

The committee approved LD 2005 as amended, directing pharmacy benefits managers to allow network pharmacies to dispense up to a seven‑day supply (or the smallest pre‑packaged dose) when a mail‑order prescription is delayed or arrives unusable, and to ensure patients are charged no more than one copayment for the same drug. Industry suggested shortening the window to three days; committee adopted the seven‑day language.

The Penobscot County advisory committee agreed to push forward contracts and issue award checks to grantees while a county lawyer reviews the template; members also debated interest use, account transparency and recorded recent spending and remaining balances.