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This week was busy with public hearings as committees work towards their goal of addressing carry over bills before the end of this month (although, a few of our high priority bills of concern that were carried over have not yet been scheduled). In addition to the committee work outlined below, we would like to bring your attention to the rulemaking process on two important issues.

The Department of Labor has announced a series of evening listening sessions regarding the new Paid Family Medical Leave program. Each session will have a designated topic, and recordings of each are expected to be available online at some point. The first session was held this week on the topic of "contributions", aka taxes. The next meeting will be on February 1 on the topic of eligibility. More information can be found on the regulatory calendar on our website here, or here on the Maine Department of Labor's website. While there will be a formal public comment period to follow, this is an important opportunity for HR professionals and businesses to have input into how the rules for this new entitlement program are drafted. We encourage you to forward this information to the appropriate individuals within your companies.

The Maine Office of Business Development has also announced the public comment period for rules regarding the new Dirigo Business Incentives Program. This is the program that was established last year to eventually replace Pine Tree Development Zones. Information about this program can be found here in our October newsletter and information regarding the proposed rule, and how to submit comment, can be found here. Comments are due by February 23.

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On Monday, the Council will testified before the ACF Committee in opposition to LD 1349, "An Act to Review State Lands and Waterways That Have Sacred, Traditional or Other Significance to the Wabanaki People." This bill seeks to establish a Commission to review the State's public land and water resources, develop a process to relinquish ownership of these resources to the tribes, and identify resources to pay for these transfers.

The Council is particularly concerned with the transfer of water resources. State-owned waters include most of the land that is covered by water (coastal waters out to the three-mile territorial limit, tidal rivers, nontidal navigable rivers and streams, boundary rivers and great ponds.

The transfer of these valued resources would impact all Maine residents, and could be especially problematic for our pulp and paper mills, municipal treatment facilities and dam operations.

For more information regarding the Council's concerns with this legislation, our testimony can be viewed here.

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On Tuesday the Council testified in opposition to two bills before the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, LD 2077, "An Act Regarding Customer Costs and the Environmental and Health Effects of Natural Gas" and LD 2099, "An Act to Make Changes to Certain Laws Governing Renewable Energy Projects." Our testimony on LD 2077 can be found here, and our testimony on LD 2099 can be found here.

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On Thursday, we testified in the TAX Committee in support of LD 1891, "An Act to Support Maine Businesses Through a Child Care Tax Credit and a Pass-through Entity Tax." Like the bill we supported last session, LD 1222, this bill is designed to help Maine families cover the cost of child care so that those who are priced out of child care can hopefully afford to re-enter the workforce. Both bills are scheduled for a work session next week. Our testimony in support of LD 1891 can be found here. The Council is hopeful that the committee will support a meaningful tax incentive program to help Maine families and employers address the challenging issue of child care affordability.

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No public hearings have been scheduled for bills on our watch list next week, but we will be busy monitoring a number of work sessions that are outlined below. As always, if you have any questions about these bills or any others, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Best,

Pat and Krysta

Bills scheduled for a public hearing

Public hearings are livestreamed and archived here on the Legislature's Website. Testimony will be accepted in-person, via Zoom or in writing. Committee meeting guidance for public/interested parties can be found here.

To sign up to testify via Zoom or submit written testimony, click here.

No bills flagged for PH

Bills scheduled for a work session

Work Sessions are livestreamed and archived here on the Legislature's Website.

LD 1337 - "An Act To Require A Corporation That Files A Tax Return In The State To File A Tax Disclosure Statement"

Work Session in TAX on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @ 1:30 PM in State House, Room 127

MFPC Position: Oppose

Sponsored by Rep. Matlack, LD 1337 requires a corporation that files a tax return with the State to file a tax disclosure statement with the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services. It requires the bureau to make the tax disclosure statement available to the public on an ongoing basis in the form of a searchable database accessible through the Internet. It requires the chief operating officer of a corporation to attest in writing to the accuracy of the tax disclosure statement. It requires the bureau to audit a corporation's tax disclosure. It requires the bureau to publish the name of and penalty imposed upon a corporation subject to a penalty for failing to file or filing an inaccurate tax disclosure statement.

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LD 2099 - "An Act To Make Changes To Certain Laws Governing Renewable Energy Projects"

Work Session in EUT on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @ 1:30 PM in Cross Building, Room 211

MFPC Position: Oppose

Sponsored by Sen. Mark Lawrence, this bill modifies the Distributed Solar and Energy Storage Program established within the Governor's Energy Office to permit the use of ratepayer funds if the Public Utilities Commission determines such use of funds is reasonably likely to achieve net benefits to electric ratepayers. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor to adopt routine technical rules relating to the Maine emerging industry compensation threshold in the laws governing the State's offshore wind initiative.

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LD 1349 - "An Act To Review State Lands And Waterways That Have Sacred, Traditional Or Other Significance To The Wabanaki People"

Work Session in ACF on Wednesday January 31, 2024 @ 11:30 AM in Cross Building, Room 214

MFPC Position: Oppose

Sponsored by Rep. Ben Collings, this bill stablishes the Commission to Review State-owned Lands and Waterways to identify which state-owned lands or waterways have sacred, traditional or other significance to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or Mi'kmaq Nation and develop a process to return lands and waterways to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mi'kmaq Nation. The commission must hold public meetings and hearings throughout the State and must accept testimony and written comments from the public in a manner determined by the commission. The commission must invite the participation of stakeholders as determined by the commission and also invite the participation of large private landowners, land trusts and conservation organizations. Beginning in 2024, the commission must submit a report no later than November 15th of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters. The joint standing committees may report out legislation related to the report of the commission.

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LD 1891 - "An Act To Support Maine Businesses Through A Child Care Tax Credit And A Pass-through Entity Tax"

Work Session in TAX on Wednesday January 31, 2024 @ 11:00 AM in State House, Room 127

MFPC Position: Support

Sponsored by Rep. Maureen Terry, this bill establishes a business-supported child care tax credit to provide to an employer that provides early child care and education services to children of its employees, either by expending funds to build, furnish, license, staff, operate or subsidize a child care facility licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services or to contract with a child care facility licensed by or registered with the department. The credit is equal to the lower of $10,000 or $1,000 per child of an employee for whom the employer provides early child care and education services.

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LD 1222 - "An Act To Expand Child Care Services Through An Employer-supported Tax Credit"

Work Session in TAX on Wednesday January 31, 2024 @ 11:00 AM in State House, Room 127

MFPC Position: Strong support

Sponsored by Sen. Trey Stewart, LD 1222 would provide a refundable tax credit for an employer that pays or provides in-kind resources for child care for children of its employees. The amount of the annual credit would be 50% of the amount expended, up to a cap of $3,000 per child.