Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee — Portland, ME
Date: 2024-05-16
Time: 09:00

EMERGENCY SHELTER
 ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
 One City Center
 Thursday, May 16, 2024
 9:00 AM

 AGENDA
1. Introductions

 a. Review and Approval of March 21, 2024 Draft Minutes
2. Monthly Shelter Bed Usage Statistics

 a. April, 2024 Monthly Shelter Statistics
3. Hub 2 Update

4. Region 1 Update

5. Federal, State and Local Legislation

 a. Bill Tracking
6. Other Business




 Next Meeting
 June 20, 2024
 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
 Location: One City Center
 If you should have any questions, please contact:

 Aaron Geyer Adam Harr
 Health & Human Services Department Health & Human Services Department
 Social Services Division Social Services Division
 (207) 482-5131 (207) 482-5144
 aeg@portlandmaine.gov ash@portlandmaine.gov

EMERGENCY SHELTER
 ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
 One City Center
 Thursday, May 16, 2024
 9:00 AM

 AGENDA
1. Introductions

 a. Review and Approval of March 21, 2024 Draft Minutes
2. Monthly Shelter Bed Usage Statistics

 a. April, 2024 Monthly Shelter Statistics
3. Hub 2 Update

4. Region 1 Update

5. Federal, State and Local Legislation

 a. Bill Tracking
6. Other Business




 Next Meeting
 June 20, 2024
 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
 Location: One City Center
 If you should have any questions, please contact:

 Aaron Geyer Adam Harr
 Health & Human Services Department Health & Human Services Department
 Social Services Division Social Services Division
 (207) 482-5131 (207) 482-5144
 aeg@portlandmaine.gov ash@portlandmaine.gov




 Page 1
 Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee

 Remote Meeting

 Thursday, February 15, 2024
 9:00 am – 10:00 am

 Minutes

Name Organization Name Organization

Adam Harr City of Portland Brian Townsend Commonspace

Anne-Marie Brown UWSM George Rheault Resident

Aaron Geyer City of Portland Ben Martineau HVJ

Greg Owen HA4All Mike Guthrie City of Portland

Cullen Ryan CHOM Terrence Miller Preble Street

Stephanie Gilbert DA Office Lauren Chan City of Portland

Kirk Carlsen Milestone Recovery Briana Costello Maine Medical
 Center
Taylor Cray Preble Street Jenny Stasio TTD

Ben Skillings Spurwink Tracy HVJ

Connor O’niel


Meeting Summary
Coordinated Entry has 3 Rapid Re-Housing Programs with 17 organizations participating in case
conferencing. Of the 739 participants on the HUB 2 prioritization list, 43 have been housed since
mid-august. 18 are working with a navigator and 7 have active vouchers. The warming center
was debriefed during which it was announced that a new location is needed for next year. The
group discussed the importance of GA reimbursement getting increased in the update to General
Assistance. NOTED: the version of the GA bill that passed did so without any meaningful
reform (re: reimbursement), outside of creating a statewide database.
Introductions
 • Anne Marie moved to approve the January and February meeting minutes, Aaron
 seconded and the minutes were approved without discussion. Taylor moved to approve
 February, Aaron seconded and they were approved without discussion. The January and
 February minutes will be reviewed at the March meeting.
 • It is Taylor’s last meeting. (Thank you, Taylor!)




 Page 2
 Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee

February Emergency Shelter Statistics
 • Update housing placement total on placement type slide.
166 Riverside Shelter and HSC Capacity
 • 2 beds at 166 and 5-7 for women.
HUB 2
 • CE has 3 RRH programs &17 organizations are participating in case conferencing and
 working on a landlord list to include in case conferencing process.
 • 739 participants on the HUB 2 prioritization list, 43 have been housed since mid-august.
 18 are working with a navigator and 7 have active vouchers.
 o Do the 3 RRH programs involve the HOPE program?
  No
 o Is one of them ending?
  MaineHouing is funding the three highest performing RRH projects and is
 not winding down.
  Preble Street and United Way received CoC funding for RRH.
 • Hope program approved by the City Council for a collaboration between the City,
 Commonspace, Milestone, and Preble Street.
 o Recruitment for coordinators is in process.


Region 1
 • Discussed Warming Centers in York and Cumberland Counties.
 • York county is experiencing a lot of people sleeping outside.
 • Representation for region 1 to the statewide homeless council
 o Elected seats are up for renewal.
 o Will hold vote at the next meeting.
Legislative Update
 • Federal
 o Looking at a partial shutdown Saturday.
  Funding that needs to pass affects homelessness
 o Passed THUD budget.
  4 billion for homeless assistance (.5 billion increase.
  3.41 for public housing
  1.1 increase for section 8.
  Level funding for HOPWA.
  86 million for fair housing
  Level funding for eviction prevention.
  Decrease to HOME funding.
  T-HUD paid for the OSS conversion.




 Page 3
 Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee

 o Low income12.5% tax credit increase is supported by our delegation.
 o President’s budget is flat.
 o Farm Bill is cutting SNAP benefits.
 o Housing Access bill.
 o Watching the supreme court case on homelessness
 o 30 day notice for nonpayment of rent.
 o The child tax credit is back in and waiting senate approval.
• State
 o Work session on the governor’s budget
  16 million for emergency housing relief with emergency shelter funding
 and asylum seeker funding and warming centers.
 • Low barrier, Saco, warming center, RRH, and emergency shelter
 • 2.5 to low barrier and looking for a separate line in the general
 fund.
 • 10 million for emergency shelter
 • Warming centers, Saco come out of remainder.
 • Governor’s office will decide the division of funds.
 o 10 million for Maine state housing authority for affordable housing
 o 10 million for rural and 10 million for urban housing development.
  10 million can build 45 units of housing and we are short 26,000 units.
  We are falling behind other New England States.
 o Service bills
  1710 passed house and is onto senate
 • Amended to a study only with no money.
 • The legislature only funds 2 years out and hopes the next
 legislature will fund.
 o GA bill removed the increase in reimbursement.
  Reluctance to reimburse municipalities leads people from communities
 that refuse to meet their GA obligations ending up in Portland.
  Many partners supported testimony on GA reimbursement.
  Reimbursement was 70% and after a certain threshold it went up to 90%.
 • It is a flat 70% now.
  In 2015 it changed to individual bed nights and shelter applications
 because billing for operations went away and it was reduced to the flat
 70%
  Would advocating to go back to threshold then to 90% be a first step?
 • 90% flat will solve the problem of people sent to Portland from
 home municipalities that would not trigger 90%.
 • Sponsored by a republican in oxford county.
  We need to convince the governor that this is important.




 Page 4
 Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee



Warming Center
 • First parish will not be available next year. Is there any lead for on peninsula?
 • The Warming center was only open on an emergency basis when it was very cold
 outside.
 • It was open 21 nights this Winter.
 • There issues were parameters for funding and the landlords.
 • If they had allocation, they would open every night for the season.
 o The State was willing to fund a nightly shelter.
 • The facility only had two bathrooms and the space was confined.
 • There were three fatalities in February, were they warming center clients?
 • There were reported overdose reversals.
Statewide Homeless Council Strategy
 • Cullen read a statement to take the temperature of the room around their strategy
 o Homeless system in Maine has inflow but little outflow.
  Prevention
  Housing
  Shelter
 o Feedback:
  Just removing 2136 as it will get rolled into another bill.




 Page 5
 PORTLAND HOMELESS SHELTERS
Average Total Number of Individuals Residing in Shelters* per Night:

 April, 2023 April, 2024

 ADOLESCENTS 22 Individuals 19 Individuals

 FAMILIES 102 Individuals 145 Individuals
 38 Average Families 49 Average Families


 ADULTS 619 Individuals 521 Individuals

 Total 743 Individuals 685 Individuals


 Prepared by: City of Portland, Health & Human Page 6
 Services Department, Social Services Division
 HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER
 APRIL, 2024
 Intakes by Residency

 MAINE TOWN OUT-OF-STATE *OUT-OF-COUNTRY

 Acton 1 Lebanon 1 Standish 2 AK 1 OR 2
 Augusta North Turner
 2 1 1 CA 1 RI 1
 Monmouth
 Bethel Old Orchard Warren
 1 2 3 CO 1 SC 3
 Beach
 Biddeford 4 Pittston 1 Westbrook 2 FL 2 TX 1
Boothbay Harbor 1 Randolph 1 Winthrop 1 IL 1 WA 1
 Buxton 1 Raymond 1 Wiscasset 1 MD 1
 Ellsworth 1 Saco 1 MI 1
 Fryeburg 1 Sanford 2 MT 1
 Glenburn 1 Scarborough 2 NC 1
 Gorham 2 South Portland 4 NH 1
 Gray 2 St. Albans 1 NV 1
 Page 7
MAINE TOWN: 46 OUT-OF-STATE: 20 OUT-OF-COUNTRY: 0 PORTLAND: 28 Unknown: 3 TOTAL: 97
 PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE
 APRIL, 2024
 SHELTER INTAKES BY MONTH
 Current Bed
 INTAKES
 2019 2023 2024 Capacity
 250 16+ at shelter
 216
 Through These Doors 0 and hotel
 199 200198
 overflow
 196 195
 200 189
 175 176
 Family Shelter 7/21 146
 173 171
 153 154
 160
 148
 Joe Kreisler** 9 24
 150 136
 121 Milestone 5 36
 96 HSC (Men) 74
 100 208 + 50
 HSC(Women) 23 temporary beds
 50
 21 25 at Shelter, 15
 Florence House
 at Safe Haven
 0 Elena’s Way** 2 40
 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
 166 Riverside 30 179
*NOTE: this and the next two slides compare the current year, last year, and the last year before the pandemic. TOTAL 171 739+
* * All new intakes were unsheltered.
 Page 8
 PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE
 APRIL, 2024
 HOUSING PLACEMENTS BY MONTH
 HOUSING BED
 2019 2023 2024
 TEMPORARY PERMANENT
 45 45 PLACEMENTS NIGHTS
45
 42 Through
 1 119 1
40
 37
 38 These Doors
 36 35 36
 34 34
 35 Family
35
 32
 34
 8 / 27 5549 8 / 27
 30
 Shelter
30
 27 27 27 Joe Kreisler 1 58 1
 25
25
 Milestone 2 1344 2
20
 HSC (Men) 5 338 5
15
 HSC
 1 122 1
10 (Women)
 Florence
 5 1 566 1
 House
 0
 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
 Elena’s Way 0 0 0 0
 166
 26 5304 26
 *Starting October, 2013, Oxford Street Shelter (replaced by HSC) shifted Riverside
 prioritization of housing placements to their 30 longest-term stayers.
 Page 9TOTAL 45 1,340 45
 PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE
 APRIL, 2024
 1st TIME HOMELESSNESS STATISTICS
 (BASED ON SELF-REPORTING)
 1st Time  % of % of 1st
 2019 2023 2024 1ST TIME
 98 All Homeless Shelter % of All Time
100 96 HOMELESSNESS
 STATISTICS Intakes  Intakes ’s Intake Homeless
90 Intakes Intakes
 Through These
80 0 0
 Doors
 71
 68
70 66 64
 62
 Family Shelter 7/21 7/21 100% 4% 18%
 60 59
60
 53 54 54 Joe Kreisler 9 4 44% 2% 11%
50 45 44
 46 Milestone 5 3 60% 2% 8%
 43
 40
40
 38
 HSC (Men) 74 12 16% 7% 32%
30
 HSC (Women) 23 7 22% 4% 18%
20

 Florence House 21 5 24% 3% 13%
10

 Elena’s Way 2 0 - - -
 0
 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR 166 Riverside 30 * - - -
 *Not yet collected. TOTAL
 Page 10
 171 38 22% 100%
 PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE
 APRIL, 2024 *Some CTOs may overlap and “Current CTOs”
 is not an unduplicated number of people.
 CTOs FROM SHELTER
 Total Current Criminal Trespass Orders
 Medical
 2023 2024 CTOs in the
 CTO STATISTICS Restrictions Current CTOs*
 90 Month
90 88 in Month
 84
 77 Family Shelter 0 0
80
 72 70 Joe Kreisler 0 3
70
 Milestone 0 10
60
 HSC* 5 20
50 Florence House 0 3
 38 Elena’s Way 1 1
40
 33
 33
 31 166 Riverside 0 1
 28 28
30
 TOTAL 6 38
20
 8
 6 6 CTOs6Issued in the Month 7 6
10 6
 4
 4 3
 2 2 2
 0 2 1 1
 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
 0
 Page 11
 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
 PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE
 APRIL, 2024
 HOUSING PLACEMENTS BY TYPE
 Recovery Housing Family Sect. 8/ No
 S+C BRAP STEP OTHER* GA
 Home Project/PSH Reunification HCV Subsidy
 Through These Doors 1
 Family Shelter 4 3 1
 Joe Kreisler 1
 Milestone 2
 HSC (Men) 1 1 3
 HSC (Women) 1
 Florence House 1
 Elena’s Way
 166 Riverside 26
 TOTAL 2 1 3 5 33 1
*1 RRH, 4 Families in Brunswick Landing,
 Distribution of the 45 Placements in the Month
 2 1 3 5 33 1
 93
 2024 Placements: 154

 7 17 14 11
 0 4 0 1 Page 127
 Calendar Through These Family Florence Joe OSS TTD Elena's Total
 Day
 Milestone 166 Riverside Bed Nights
 Doors Shelter House Kreisler Beds Hotels Way
 1 14 139 37 21 35 235 0 40 171 692
 2 14 134 38 21 39 234 0 40 170 690
PORTLAND, CITY-WIDE 3
 4
 14
 14
 139
 139
 39
 39
 18
 17
 32
 36
 238
 245
 0
 0
 40
 40
 166
 174
 686
 704
 APRIL, 2024 5
 6
 14
 14
 139
 139
 41
 40
 16
 16
 35
 35
 228
 226
 0
 0
 40
 40
 169
 174
 682
 684
 SHELTER COUNT BY 7
 8
 14
 14
 139
 139
 39
 40
 17
 20
 37
 34
 228
 228
 0
 0
 40
 40
 169
 170
 683
 685
 NIGHT 9
 10
 14
 14
 139
 139
 41
 38
 21
 22
 36
 41
 228
 226
 0
 0
 39
 40
 176
 173
 694
 693
 11 14 139 40 19 37 225 0 40 171 685
 12 14 131 39 18 37 225 0 40 170 674
 13 14 131 36 17 38 230 0 39 165 670
 14 14 131 34 20 38 226 0 39 174 676
 15 14 131 36 21 37 225 0 39 175 678
 On April: 4 16 14 131 38 19 38 225 0 39 175 679
 17 14 128 36 19 38 233 0 39 170 677
 704 individuals 18 14 128 37 19 36 244 0 40 174 692
 19 14 125 41 19 37 242 0 40 171 689
 (including families) 20 14 125 37 17 38 235 0 40 169 675
 21 14 125 37 19 37 229 0 40 172 673
 were utilizing shelter 22 14 128 38 18 37 236 0 40 173 684
 23 14 124 38 19 37 236 0 40 173 681
 services in Portland 24 14 123 39 18 35 237 0 40 177 683
 25 14 123 40 21 36 245 0 40 168 687
 26 14 123 38 20 38 246 0 40 167 686
 27 14 123 38 20 37 247 0 40 168 687
 28 14 123 38 19 28 249 0 40 174 685
 29 14 125 40 23 35 246 0 40 174 697
 30 14 126 38 24 34 245 0 40 173 694
 Total 420 3,928 1,150 578 1,088 7,042 0 1,194 5,145 20,545
 Avg/night 14 131 38 19 36 235 0 40 172 685
 Highest 14 139 41 24 41 249 0 40 177 704
 Lowest 14 123 34 16 28 225 0 39 165 670
 Page 13
 Non-LTS
 HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER & COMMUNITY OVERFLOW
 HOUSING PLACEMENT DATA LTS
35
 2023 HSC Placements: Non/Long Term Stayer
30

25

20
 13 12
15
 9 6
10
 10 7
 6 8 12 7
 5
 7 10 6 9 7
 3 1 4 4 2 6 1 3
 0 1
 January February March April May June July August September October November December

35
 2024 HSC Placements: Non/Long Term Stayer
30

25

20

15

10

 5 6 7 6
 5
 0 1 1
 January February March April May June July August September October November December
 Page 14
 HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER
 PERMANENT AND TRANSITIONAL
 2024 HOUSING PLACEMENT DATA
 5
 4.5
 4
 3.5
 3
 2.5
 2
 1.5
 1
 0.5
 0
 Auburn Biddeford Brunswick Gorham Lewiston Sanford South Westbrook Other Maine Reunification Reunification
 Portland Towns with with
 friends/family friends/family
 in another in another
 Maine town* state*
 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOTAL %
TOTAL HOUSING PLACEMENTS
 7 5 8 6 20 100%

Portland 6 3 4 5 13 69.2%
Auburn 0.0%
Biddeford 1 1 3.8%
Brunswick 0.0%
Gorham 0.0%
Lewiston 0.0%
Sanford 1 1 3.8%
South Portland 0.0%
Westbrook 0.0%
Other Maine Towns 0.0%
Reunification with friends/family in another
 1
Maine town* 1 3.8%
Reunification with friends/family in another
 1 3 1 Page 15
state* 4 19.2%
 FAMILY SHELTER
 PERMANENT AND TRANSITIONAL
 HOUSING PLACEMENT DATA
 2024
25
20
15
10
 5
 0
 Portland Auburn Augusta Brunswick Gorham Gray Lewiston Lyman Mexico Old Orchard Sanford South Westbrook Yarmouth Other Maine Out of State
 Beach Portland Town
 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOTAL
 100%
 TOTAL HOUSING PLACEMENTS 10 6 12 8 27
 Portland 9 5 6 4 20 68.6%
 Auburn 0.0%
 Augusta 0.0%
 Brunswick 4 11.4%
 Gorham 0.0%
 Gray
 0.0%
 Lewiston 1 2 3 8.6%
 Lyman 0.0%
 Mexico 0.0%
 Old Orchard Beach 0.0%
 Sanford 0.0%
 South Portland 0.0%
 Westbrook 1 1 2 5.7%
 Yarmouth 0.0%
 Other Maine Town 1 1 2.9%
 Out of State 1 Page 16
 1 2.9%
 REVISED: 5/8/24
131ST LEGISLATURE SECOND REGULAR SESSION BILL TRACKING
The Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature begins January 3, 2024. Statutory adjournment is April 17, 2024.
USEFUL LINKS
 ● Maine Legislature Homepage: http://legislature.maine.gov/
 ● Maine Legislature YouTube Channels for Legislative Committees: https://www.youtube.com/mainestatelegislature
 ● Sign up to Testify and/or submit testimony here: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
Common Acronyms: AFA = Appropriations and Financial Affairs. HHS = Health and Human Services. OTP = Ought to Pass. OTP-AM = Ought to Pass as Amended.
ONTP = Ought Not to Pass.
BILLS
Color code: BOLD text = UPDATE; Orange font = Budget bill; Black font = Homelessness related bill; Blue font = Service related; Green font = Housing/Rental Assistance related;
Purple font = General Assistance & Safety Net related bills; Pink font = Food security related bills; highlighted in yellow = passed the House and/or Senate; highlighted in green =
signed by the Governor and will become Public Law; Red text = the bill is now dead.
 BUDGET BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
 LD 2214 Governor’s Bill An Act Making Unified Supplemental Signed by the The bill, as Amended & Enacted, provides:
 Appropriations and Allocations for the Governor - will ● $13.5 M in one-time funding to supplement or establish
 Expenditures of State Government, General Fund become Public Law programs addressing the needs of people experiencing
 and Other Funds, and Changing Certain homelessness or facing other immediate housing needs and
 Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper support other uses that address housing emergencies in the
 Operations of State Government for the State, such as through winter warming shelters, legal services
 Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, and other wraparound settlement supports intended to help
 2025 individuals integrate into Maine's workforce and communities.
 (aka Supplemental Budget) ● $2.5 M in funds to privately operated low-barrier shelters to be
 distributed in fiscal year 2024-25 through fiscal year 2026-27.

 ● $10 M in one-time funding for new housing units through the
 authority's Affordable Homeownership Program to expand
 affordable, energy-efficient housing options that are affordable
 to workers and support state workforce needs.

 ● $20 M in one-time funding to expand affordable rental and
 ownership housing options through the Rural Affordable Rental
 Housing Program and the federal Low-income Housing Tax
 Credit Program.

 ● $2 M in one-time funding for housing subsidies for homeless
 students in elementary school and secondary school.

 ● $18 M in one-time funds for a pilot program to provide support
 for eviction prevention (rent relief program).


 1


 Page 17
 ● $10 M in additional one-time funding in tandem with
 programmatic reforms in order to support the substantial new
 demand for the General Assistance - Reimbursement to Cities
 and Towns program

 ● $1,168,299 to strengthen mental health crisis intervention
 mobile response services in order to provide services 24 hours a
 day, 7 days a week beginning January 1, 2025. This funding
 must provide funding for mobile outreach peer support
 specialists (Part DDDD). And funding for Crisis receiving centers
 (Part EEEE).

 ● Establishes the Office of New Americans

 HOMELESSNESS BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 2136 Rep A An Act to Provide Financial Support for Shelters for Passed to be Enacted This bill, as amended by the Committee:
 Mastraccio Unhoused Individuals in the House on This amendment increases the ongoing appropriation to
 3/28/24 and the support emergency shelter operations in the bill from
 Senate on 4/1/24 and $10,000,000 to $12,500,000 and requires the Maine State
 placed on the Special Housing Authority to reserve $2,500,000 annually exclusively
 Appropriations Table for distribution to low barrier emergency shelters. The
 pending Passage to be amendment requires the Statewide Homeless Council to
 Enacted convene a stakeholder group to develop a 10-year plan to
 address the root causes of homelessness. The stakeholder
 group is required to notify the Joint Select Committee on
 Housing of all meetings of the stakeholder group. The
 stakeholder group is required to hold at least 4 meetings prior
 to the council's submitting a report to the Joint Select
 Committee on Housing by November 6, 2024. The amendment
 also requires the Maine State Housing Authority to amend its
 rules to ensure that $2,500,000, or an equivalent percentage of
 the funds appropriated for the shelter operation subsidy, is
 reserved exclusively for distribution to low-barrier shelters.
LD 2146 Rep. G Lookner An Act to Prohibit Certain Municipalities from House Passed to be This bill prohibits municipalities with populations exceeding
 Adopting Moratoria on Emergency Shelters Engrossed by 30,000 people from adopting moratoria on the establishment
 Committee of emergency shelters that provide temporary shelter for
 Amendment A on persons experiencing homelessness.
 2/22; the Senate
 accepted the Minority
 Ought Not to Pass
 Report - sent back to
 the House.
 2


 Page 18
LD 1422 Rep. Michael An Act to End Homelessness and Assist Students Passed to be Enacted, This bill establishes a housing voucher program for homeless
 Brennan Who Are Homeless by Establishing a Housing placed on the Special students under the authority of the Maine State Housing Authority
 Voucher Program and Providing Site-based Housing Appropriations Table and appropriates one-time funding of $2 million in fiscal years
 Services pending Passage to be 2023-24 and 2024-25. The bill directs the Maine State Housing
 Enacted – CARRIED Authority to identify 3 sites in Maine to be used for a site-based
 OVER housing program and appropriates one-time funding of $3.5
 million in fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 to the Department of
 Health and Human Services to support the program.

 SERVICE BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 2082 Sen. R Bennett An Act to Ensure the Financial Stability of Became Law without This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services
 Behavioral Health Service and Housing Providers the Governor's to pay administrative expenses and interest charged on lines of
 Signature credit or loans accessed by behavioral health services providers
 and housing assistance providers when a delay in department
 contract award, finalization or payments requires the provider
 to access the line of credit or loan.
LD 2237 Speaker R An Act to Strengthen Public Safety, Health and Passed to be Enacted, This bill includes parts A-F. Click here for the full bill text. Relevant
 Talbot Ross Well-being by Expanding Services and Coordinating in the House and parts are below.
 Violence Prevention Resources Senate on 3/21/24 This bill enacts provisions to improve mental health crisis response
 and placed on the services and to reduce violence, including gun violence.
 Special Appropriations Part A provides funding to strengthen and expand mental health crisis
 Table pending Passage intervention mobile response services in order to provide services 24
 to be Enacted hours a day, 7 days a week. It requires the Department of Health and
 Human Services to provide for the incorporation of specific types of
 mental health and crisis intervention experts into the existing crisis
 services response system. It also provides funding for ancillary services
 for mobile response services, including necessary travel and telephone
 conferences with clients. Part A also requires the Department of
 Health and Human Services, by January 30, 2025, in coordination with
 the Department of Public Safety, to ensure the coordination of services
 under the State's E-9-1-1 system and the State's 9-8-8 mobile crisis
 services system. By January 30, 2026, the Department of Health and
 Human Services must submit a status report related to the
 coordination of services, including suggested legislation, to the joint
 standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health
 and human services matters, and the joint standing committee may
 submit a bill relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of
 the 132nd Legislature.
 Part B directs the Department of Health and Human Services to
 establish crisis receiving centers across the State to support individuals
 dealing with behavioral health, mental health or substance use issues.
 At a minimum, a crisis receiving center must be established in
 Androscoggin, Aroostook, Oxford, Penobscot, Washington and York
 counties. Crisis receiving centers must provide culturally sensitive

 3


 Page 19
 trauma-informed care. Part B also provides funding to establish 6 crisis
 receiving centers.
 Part D provides funding to reduce waiting lists for and expand access
 to medication management services, including telehealth services and
 employee recruitment and retention incentives, provided by the Office
 of Behavioral Health that are similar to the services provided under
 Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101:
 MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 65, Behavioral Health
 Services, to meet the timely access requirements under the consent
 decree referenced in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section
 1217.
LD 2243 Sen. T Stewart Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Passed the House on This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to
 Human Services to Amend MaineCare Rules 4/3/24 and the Senate amend the MaineCare rules governing reimbursement for outpatient
 Governing Certain Types of Behavioral and Mental on 4/9/24 and placed behavioral health services provided in public schools under the
 MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 65 and for
 Health Services and to Form a Stakeholder Group on the Special
 services provided in residential treatment facilities for persons with
 to Study Methods for Improving Those Services Appropriations Table
 mental illness and in specialized or scattered residential treatment
 pending Final Passage facilities as described in the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III,
 Section 97, Appendices E and F, respectively. The department must
 initiate the rule-making process immediately after the resolve goes
 into effect, and the rules must remain in effect until the department
 completes a full rate determination. Finally, the resolve requires the
 department to form a stakeholder group to study how to develop
 more sustainable models of outpatient and residential mental and
 behavioral health treatment services and how to increase access to
 those services within the State. By January 1, 2025, the stakeholder
 group must submit a report to the department, and by January 15,
 2025, the department must submit to the joint standing committee of
 the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and
 financial services matters a summary of the report based on the
 stakeholder group's findings and recommendations, including
 suggested legislation. The joint standing committee is authorized to
 report out legislation.
LD 1975 Rep. Lydia An Act to Implement a Statewide Public Health Passed to be Enacted This bill establishes the Substance Use, Health and Safety Fund
 Crafts Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws in the House on in the Department of Health and Human Services. Money
 Governing Scheduled Drugs 4/10/24 - Placed on deposited in the fund must be used by the department to
 the Special Study oversee, approve and provide grants and funding to agencies,
 Table pending final organizations and service providers, including the federally
 Passage. recognized Indian tribes in this State and service providers that
 are affiliated with federally recognized Indian tribes in this
 State, to increase voluntary access to community care for
 persons who need services related to substance use, as set
 forth in the bill. By June 30, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
 Legislature must appropriate to the fund an amount sufficient
 to fully fund the services as set forth in the bill. The bill repeals
 the laws that make possession of a schedule W, X, Y or Z drug

 4


 Page 20
 and use of drug paraphernalia a crime. It also repeals the laws
 governing the civil violation of use of drug paraphernalia and
 possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
LD 540 Rep. Melanie An Act to Establish Peer Respite Centers for Adults Passed to be Enacted, This bill requires the department to establish through contracts
 Sachs with Mental Health Challenges in Maine placed on the Special 2 peer respite centers in the State for persons 18 years of age
 Appropriations Table or older. The centers must provide 24-hour intentional peer
 pending Passage to be support to persons in need of mental health services on a
 Enacted – Carried over voluntary, short-term basis.
LD 599 Rep. Michael An Act to Provide Support Services for a Passed to be Enacted, This bill provides ongoing funding for support services for a
 Brennan Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Persons placed on the Special transitional housing program in Portland.
 Appropriations Table
 pending Passage to be
 Enacted – Carried over

 HOUSING/RENTAL ASSISTANCE BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 337 Rep. Cheryl An Act to Amend the Regulations of Manufactured Signed by the Sponsor Amendment replaces the entire concept draft bill:
 Golek Housing to Increase Affordable Housing Governor - will This amendment aims to increase affordable housing by allowing
 become Public Law manufactured housing (modular and “newer mobile homes” as
 defined) to be located on lots where single family homes are
 allowed. This includes only 1)“newer mobile homes” built after
 1976 that are constructed in compliance with the United States
 Department of Housing and Urban Development standards, and 2)
 modular homes that the manufacturer certifies are constructed in
 compliance with Title 10, chapter 951, and rules adopted under
 that chapter.
LD 1294 Rep. Traci Gere An Act to Implement Several Recommendations of Signed by the This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill
 the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities Governor - will would implement certain recommendations of the Commission To
 in Maine by Studying Land Use Regulations and become Public Law Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Land Use
 Short-term Rentals Regulations and Short-term Rentals.
LD 1505 Rep. Kristen An Act to Amend the Maine Cooperative Signed by the This bill amends the Maine Cooperative Affordable Housing
 Cloutier Affordable Housing Ownership Act Governor - will Ownership Act to include group equity cooperatives. It also
 become Public Law provides that a housing assistance program must be made
 reasonably available to residents of housing cooperatives.
LD 1721 Sen. Jill Duson An Act to Create Transitional Housing Communities Signed by the This bill as Enacted:
 for Homeless Populations in the State Governor - will The Office of Policy Innovation and the Future shall propose a plan
 Amended Bill Title: Resolve, to Establish a Plan to become Public Law to provide transitional housing for persons seeking federal work
 Provide Transitional Housing and to Support the permits and their families based on the model being used in
 Growth of Maine's Workforce southern Maine, which consists of leasing a property formerly
 used as a hotel and contracting with a private nonprofit entity to
 provide support services. The plan must include an evaluation of
 options for purchasing a similar property, or allocating funds to a
 nongovernmental entity to purchase a similar property, to provide
 transitional housing concurrent with services aimed at supporting
 5


 Page 21
 entry into the workforce and an evaluation of the financial impacts
 upon the State and the municipality in which the property is
 located. The plan must identify potential funding sources, including
 but not limited to existing state and federal funds. In addition to
 the proposed plan, using data collected from the current model
 used to provide transitional housing, the Office of Policy
 Innovation and the Future shall provide information regarding who
 is being served by the model, how many enter the workforce, the
 amount of time those being served use transitional housing and
 accompanying services before successfully entering the workforce
 and how workforce needs are affected by the model.
LD 2209 Committee Bill An Act to Increase the Cap on Bonds Issued by the Signed by the This committee bill is presented by the Joint Select Committee on
 Maine State Housing Authority to Reflect Current Governor - will Housing pursuant to Joint Order 2023, H.P. 3, section 3. The bill
 Housing Production Needs in the State become Public Law increases the cap on mortgage purchase bonds authorized to be
 issued by the Maine State Housing Authority to align with current
 housing production needs in the State.
LD 1673 Rep. Traci Gere An Act to Encourage Affordable Housing and Became law without As Amended, this bill would establish a resolve to create a working
 Mixed-use Development by Establishing a Thriving the Governor’s group to design a cross-agency plan. The Working Group would
 Corridors Program Signature on 3/26/24 consists of the Commissioners of: DOT, EPA, DECD, ACF, Housing,
 GOPIF.
LD 2158 Rep. C Golek An Act to Improve the Housing Voucher System Signed by the This bill was Amended prior to enactment and becoming law.
 Amended Bill Title: Governor - will This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve directing the Maine
 Resolve, to Improve the Housing Voucher System become Public Law State Housing Authority to convene a stakeholder group to gather
 information about the use of housing vouchers and income-based
 and Reduce the Number of Voucher Expirations
 rental assistance and consider ways to maximize the use of housing
 vouchers by outlining the process for local housing authorities to
 request fair market rent waivers from the United States Department of
 Housing and Urban Development, making changes to the rules
 governing the expiration of housing vouchers and the area of the State
 in which a housing voucher can be used and educating landlords to
 increase the number of landlords who accept tenants who use housing
 vouchers or other income-based rental assistance. The authority is
 directed to submit a report to the joint select or joint standing
 committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters
 by January 15, 2025.
LD 1490 Rep. Chris An Act to Reduce Rental Housing Costs by Signed by the This bill as Amended by House Amendment A:
 Kessler Eliminating Additional Fees at or Prior to the Governor - will This amendment replaces the bill and does the following in the
 Commencement of Tenancy become Public Law laws regarding rental property.
 New Bill Title: An Act to Reduce Rental Housing 1. It adds definitions for "mandatory recurring fee," "rent," "utility
 Costs by Limiting Additional Fees at or Prior to the service costs" and "optional recurring fee."
 Commencement of Tenancy 2. It adds mandatory recurring fees to the notice of rent increase
 requirement for landlords, requiring them to provide notice to
 tenants 45 days in advance of a fee increase.
 3. It creates a limit on the amount of money required to initiate
 tenancy.


 6


 Page 22
 4. It adds provisions requiring tenants to pay certain charges to the
 list of unenforceable provisions currently in law.
 5. It requires landlords to provide a total price disclosure statement
 to potential tenants or lessees.
 The amendment also adds an effective date of January 1, 2025.
LD 2169 Sen. M An Act to Create Workforce Housing to Promote Signed by the This bill establishes the Workforce Housing Development Loan Fund in
 Daughtry Economic Development in Maine Governor - will the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide
 become Public Law loans to support the development of affordable workforce housing.
 The department must solicit applications for loans from the fund
 through a competitive application process. Loans may be awarded to
 community banks at an interest rate of 0% to provide funding to
 housing developers to develop housing for employees who earn 60%
 to 120% of the area median income as determined by the United
 States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
LD 1710 Rep. Cheryl An Act to Establish the Maine Rental Assistance Passed to be Enacted Sponsor Amendment amends the bill as follows:
 Golek and Guarantee Program and Amend the Laws in the House on This amendment replaces the bill. This amendment requires the
 Regarding Tenants and the Municipal General 3/19/24 and the Maine State Housing Authority to establish and administer the
 Assistance Program Senate on 3/20/24 Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program. The program
 and Placed on the must include a rental assistance component to assist individuals
 Special Study Table with the cost of rent and a rental guarantee component to
 pending final Passage. encourage landlords to work with the program and other rental
 assistance programs in the State. The amendment also creates the
 Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program Fund under the
 Maine State Housing Authority to carry out the program. The bill
 appropriates $16,000,000 of ongoing funds annually.
 The amendment makes it an unfair trade practice for a landlord to
 refuse to participate in a federal, state or local tenant-based rental
 assistance program.
LD 2106 Sen. M Rotundo An Act to Accelerate the Production of Housing and Passed to be Enacted This bill increases the maximum tax credit allowed for certified historic
 Strengthen the Maine Historic Property in the House on property rehabilitation projects. It also allows nonprofit organizations
 Rehabilitation Tax Credit 3/19/24; on 3/20/24 that claim the historic preservation tax credit or the affordable housing
 tax credit to file their refund claims on a calendar year basis. The
 Senate Placed on the
 changes in the bill apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1,
 Special Appropriations
 2024.
 Table pending Passage
 to be Enacted.
LD 1867 Rep. Grayson An Act to Establish the Community Housing and Passed to be Enacted This bill establishes the Community Housing and Rural
 Lookner Rural Development Authority in the House on Development Authority within the Maine Redevelopment Land
 2/27/24; on 2/28 Bank Authority to develop, own, lease and maintain mixed-income,
 Senate Placed on the permanently affordable public residential housing in this State.
 Special Appropriations
 Table pending Passage
 to be Enacted.
LD 853 Rep. Benjamin RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Public Hearing, This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to
 Collings Constitution of Maine to Establish a Right to Tuesday 1/23/24; declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable
 Housing Work Session 1/30/24
 7


 Page 23
 & 2/6/24 – Housing right to housing.
 Committee – Divided
 Report Constitutional referendum - the municipal officers of this State
 shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and
 plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a
 statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of
 November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon
 the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by
 voting upon the following question: "Do you favor amending the
 Constitution of Maine to declare that all individuals have a natural,
 inherent and unalienable right to housing?"
LD 1074 Sen. Matthea An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Public Hearing on The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of
 Daughtry Fund New Affordable Housing for Low-Income 4/25/23 - AFA $100,000,000, will be used to build new affordable housing for
 Households Committee low-income households through the construction of new
 structures and adaptive reuse of existing structures.
LD 226 Rep. Rebecca An Act to Address Maine’s Affordable Housing Passed to be Enacted, This bill provides one-time funds to MaineHousing in the amount
 Millett Crisis placed on the Special of $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and in fiscal year 2024-25
 Appropriations Table (only these FYs) to increase affordable housing stock in the State.
 pending Passage to be
 Enacted – Carried over
LD 1493 Rep. Raegan An Act to Increase Affordable Housing by Passed to be Enacted, This bill authorizes the creation of Pine Tree Housing Zones to
 LaRochelle Expanding Tax Increment Financing placed on the Special allow retained value resulting from a tax increment financing
 Appropriations Table district in a municipality to be used anywhere in the municipality
 pending Passage to be for the purposes of the purchase, rehabilitation or establishment
 Enacted – Taken from of affordable and workforce housing in the municipality. The bill
 the Table on 4/18/24 - provides for a sales tax exemption for the associated purchasing of
 failed final passage, goods and services and electricity for a qualified project in a Pine
 Tree Housing Zone.
 tabled pending final
 Passage to be Enacted.
LD 1540 Rep. Rebecca An Act to Create the Stable Home Fund Program Emergency bill This bill, which includes an emergency preamble and emergency
 Millett requiring 2/3’s clause, creates the Stable Home Fund and the Stable Home Fund
 majority vote – failed Program within MaineHousing. The purpose of the program is to
 2/3’s majority vote in provide persons earning up to 60% of the median income for an
 the House but Passed area as defined by HUD with $300 per month in rental assistance
 in the Senate to be paid directly to the landlord for up to 24 months or until those
 Placed on the Special persons secure housing by means of a housing voucher program
 administered by HUD under the United States Housing Act of 1937,
 Appropriations Table
 Public Law 75-412, 50 Stat. 888, Section 8, as amended, or secure a
 on 6/21. Sent back to
 subsidized housing unit. The bill directs MaineHousing to
 the House for
 administer the program except that MaineHousing may delegate
 concurrence where it
 the administration of the program and provide appropriate funding
 failed 2/3’s needed for from the fund to a municipal housing authority with respect to
 final passage – Carried eligible persons located within the municipal housing authority's
 over jurisdiction.

 8


 Page 24
 GENERAL ASSISTANCE & SAFETY NET BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 1732 Rep. Michele An Act to Expand the General Assistance Program Became law without This bill as Enacted as Public Law:
 Meyer the Governor’s ● Requires overseers and designated or appointed municipal
 signature on 3/27/24 officials administering the program to complete training within
 120 days of election or appointment.
 ● Adds the delivery of trauma-informed services and culturally and
 linguistically appropriate services to the training requirements for
 overseers and municipal officials.
 ● Requires municipalities to provide general assistance with
 trauma-informed services and culturally and linguistically
 appropriate services.
 ● Requires municipalities to accept applications for general
 assistance during regular business hours.
 ● Amends provisions governing the municipality of responsibility to
 increase the provision of assistance from 30 days to 6 months
 when a municipality assists an applicant in relocating to another
 community and from 6 months to 12 months when an applicant
 is residing in a group home, shelter, rehabilitation center, nursing
 home or hospital or other institution.
 ● Requires DHHS to report to the joint standing committee of the
 Legislature having jurisdiction over general assistance matters no
 later than January 30, 2026 and no later than January 30th of
 each odd-numbered calendar year thereafter. The initial report
 must include recommendations regarding a potential extension of
 the general assistance eligibility period beyond the 30-day limit.

LD 1664 Sen. Marianne An Act to Increase Reimbursement Under the Passed to be Enacted, This bill increases, from 70% to 90%, the amount of state
 Moore General Assistance Program placed on the Special reimbursement for the costs of general assistance incurred by each
 Appropriations Table municipality and Indian tribe.
 pending Passage to be
 Enacted – Carried over
 FOOD SECURITY BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 568 Rep. Matthew An Act to Provide Funding for the State Fund to Passed to be Enacted in This bill provides ongoing General Fund appropriations of $600,000
 Pouliot Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition the House and Senate. to the Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition
 Incentives Placed on the Special Incentives within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
 Appropriations Table – Forestry. The bill also removes the $50,000 limit on matching
 Carried over contributions from the fund criteria.
LD 1584 Rep. Holly Stover An Act to Provide Funding for the Supplemental Passed to be Enacted in Under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Federal
 Nutrition Assistance Program to Temporarily Restore the House and Senate. Government provided emergency benefit allotments under the
 Benefits Being Reduced by the Federal Government Placed on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. These
 Appropriations Table – emergency benefit allotments are scheduled to expire March 1, 2023.
 Carried over
 9


 Page 25
 This bill extends for 6 months, but on a decreasing basis, the amount
 of benefits available under SNAP by providing General Fund funds to
 provide the following level of benefits:
 1. In March 2023, 100% of the federal emergency benefit allotment;
 2. In April 2023, 75% of the federal emergency benefit allotment;
 3. In May 2023, 50% of the federal emergency benefit allotment; and
 4. From June through August 2023, 25% of the federal emergency
 benefit allotment.
 Beginning in September 2023, an additional amount is not provided.

 BILLS THE ARE NOW DEAD
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 2138 Rep C Madigan An Act to Improve Funding for Homeless Shelters This bill is now DEAD This resolve, as amended by the Sponsor, provides ongoing
 (instead incorporated funds for low-barrier homeless shelters – allocating $2.5 million
 in LD 2136 above) beginning next fiscal year.
LD 328 Sen. Trey An Act to Improve Mental Health in Maine This bill is now DEAD This bill brings MaineCare regulations into alignment with
 Stewart Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale fidelity items,
 ensuring high-quality, evidence based Assertive Community
 Treatment (ACT) services for Maine residents with psychotic
 disorders and high needs.
LD 1633 Sen. Pinny An Act to Establish a Community-based Reentry This bill is now DEAD This bill creates a community-based reentry program
 Beebe-Center Program in All Department of Corrections Facilities administered by a community based organization at each
 correctional facility operated by the Department of Corrections.
 The program is a peer-supported program that provides
 individualized reentry plans to incarcerated individuals starting
 from 2 years prior to an individual's release, involving multiple
 meetings to determine the individual's education, job training,
 substance use disorder treatment, housing and other needs
 subsequent to release and follow-up meetings after release to
 support the individual's reentry into the community and to
 reduce or prevent recidivism. This bill also creates the Peer
 Reentry Review Board, which oversees, advises, studies data
 and makes recommendations to the community-based reentry
 program and reports to the Commissioner of Corrections and
 the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
 jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters.
LD 1298 Rep. Charles An Act to Allow a Local Option Sales Tax on This bill is now DEAD This bill allows a municipality to impose a local option sales tax of
 Skold Short-term Lodging to Fund Affordable Housing 1% on short-term lodging that is subject to the state sales and use
 tax if approved by referendum of the voters in that municipality.
 The revenue from the local option sales tax must be distributed to
 the municipality imposing the local option sales tax. The
 distributed revenue must be used in municipal programs that
 support affordable housing development in that municipality,
 including rental assistance for lower income households or
 10


 Page 26
 moderate-income households. Revenue received by a municipality
 may not be used to reduce or eliminate funding otherwise due the
 municipality under other provisions of law. The local option sales
 tax may not take effect before July 1, 2024.
LD 1672 Rep. Traci Gere An Act to Establish an Affordable Housing This bill is now DEAD This bill establishes the Affordable Housing Development Review
 Permitting Process Board under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
 Forestry's Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning
 in order to issue permits for the development of affordable
 housing and workforce housing.
LD 314 Sen. Craig An Act to Establish the Permanent Commission on This Bill is now DEAD This bill would establish the Permanent Commission on the Status
 Hickman the Status of Housing in Maine of Housing in Maine. The commission would be a
 quasi-independent agency funded through the Department of
 Economic and Community Development. Members of the
 commission would include housing advocates and organizations,
 policy makers, housing developers, housing experts, landlords and
 tenants. The commission would identify the hurdles to
 1developing more housing units and recommend solutions to each
 branch of government.
LD 371 Sen. Jeffrey An Act to Address Certain Local Zoning Ordinances This bill is now DEAD This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill
 Timberlake proposes to address certain local zoning ordinances.
LD 387 Rep. Mark Blier An Act to Promote Affordable Housing by Providing This Bill is now DEAD This bill provides an income tax deduction for income received by a
 a Tax Exemption for Housing Choice Vouchers landlord as tenant based housing assistance payments in the form
 of Section 8 housing choice vouchers administered by the Maine
 State Housing Authority.
LD 721 Sen. Matthea An Act to Preserve Historic Buildings and Promote This Bill is now DEAD This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill
 Daughtry Affordable Housing would enact provisions of law to preserve historic buildings and
 promote affordable housing.
LD 1864 Rep. James An Act to Increase Maine's Housing Supply by This Bill is now DEAD This bill provides restrictions on municipal ordinance requirements
 Boyle Prohibiting Certain Zoning Requirements in Areas related to minimum lot size in areas where water and sewer
 Where Public Sewer and Water Infrastructure Are infrastructure are available and in areas where water and sewer
 Available and in Designated Growth Areas infrastructure are not available but that are within designated
 growth areas. For a housing development served by a public,
 special district or other centrally managed water system and a
 public, special district or other comparable sewer system and that
 is located in an area in which dwelling units are allowed, a
 municipality must allow a dwelling unit on a lot with a minimum
 size of 5,000 square feet. For a housing development located in a
 designated growth area that is not served by a public, special
 district or other centrally managed water system and a public,
 special district or other comparable sewer system, that complies
 with minimum lot size requirements in accordance with the Maine
 Revised Statutes, Title 12, chapter 423-A and that is located in an
 area in which dwelling units are allowed, a municipality must allow
 a dwelling unit on a lot with a minimum size of 20,000 square feet.


 11


 Page 27
 The bill also provides limits to ordinance provisions relating to lot
 coverage, road frontage and setback requirements.
LD 1904 Speaker Rachel An Act to Enact the Fair Chance Housing Act This Bill is now DEAD This bill establishes the Maine Fair Chance Housing Act, the purpose of
 Talbot Ross which is to ensure that a person is not denied housing based solely on
 the existence of a history of criminal convictions. This bill prohibits a
 housing provider from considering an applicant's criminal history until
 after the housing provider determines that the applicant meets all
 other qualifications for tenancy. A person who is aggrieved by a
 violation of the Maine Fair Chance Housing Act by a housing provider
 may file a grievance with the Maine Human Rights Commission and, if
 it is a violation by a private housing provider, may bring a civil action in
 court.
LD 1426 Rep. Kristi An Act to Secure Housing for the Most Vulnerable This bill is now DEAD This bill:
 Mathieson Maine Residents by Amending the Laws Governing 1. Requires an overseer, no later than the 120th day following
 Municipal General Assistance appointment or election, to complete training on the requirements
 of the municipal general assistance program;
 2. Replaces, for determining the maximum level of assistance, the
 fair market value determination with setting the assistance at the
 equivalent amount of rental assistance provided for tenant-based
 housing choice vouchers under Section 8 of the United States
 Housing Act of 1937 except that the benefit level may not be less
 than the difference between the applicant's income and 110% of
 the area's fair market rent;
 3. Provides that if general assistance is being used to pay rent for
 an applicant whose rent is subject to a lease an overseer may
 redetermine the applicant's eligibility annually;
 4. Increases from 70% to 90% the amount of state reimbursement
 for the costs of general assistance incurred by a municipality and
 each Indian tribe;
 5. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to
 reimburse each municipality for 5% of the direct costs of paying
 benefits incurred through its general assistance program;
 6. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to
 establish and provide overseers with access to a statewide
 database for tracking applicants for the general assistance program
 and expenses relating to the program; and
 7. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to
 provide assistance to municipalities with regard to processing
 applications for the general assistance program and directs the
 department to establish a hotline that is available 24 hours per day
 in order to provide consistent, accurate advice to overseers. It also
 requires the department to respond to requests for assistance
 within 24 hours
LD 1675 Rep. Michael An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the General This bill is now DEAD This bill amends the law governing the General Assistance (GA)
 Brennan Assistance Program Regarding Eligibility, Housing program to provide that a municipality must calculate housing
 assistance equivalent to the amount of rental assistance provided
 12


 Page 28
 Assistance and State Reimbursement and to for tenant-based housing choice vouchers under Section 8 of the
 Establish a Working Group United States Housing Act of 1937. The bill extends the period of
 eligibility from one month to 6 months. Beginning July 1, 2023,
 when a municipality incurs net general assistance costs in excess of
 0.008% of that municipality's most recent state valuation relative
 to the state fiscal year for which reimbursement is being issued,
 DHHS must reimburse the municipality for 90% of the amount in
 excess of these expenditures. The bill also directs the department
 to establish a working group to study and make recommendations
 related to a uniform intake process and the conversion of the GA
 program into a housing assistance program.
LD 1940 Sen. Craig An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth This Bill is now DEAD This bill amends the laws governing planning and land use regulation
 Hickman Management Programs in Order to Increase Food to encourage:
 Security and Economic Resiliency in Local 1. Municipalities to ensure that the language and requirements in
 Communities charters, policies, codes, regulations, bylaws and fees align with each
 other and meet the overall intent of the comprehensive plan approved
 by the legislative body;
 2. Municipalities to develop policies that assess community needs and
 environmental, food security and economic resiliency effects of
 municipal regulations, lessen the effect of excessive parking
 requirements for buildings in downtowns and on main streets and
 provide for alternative approaches for compliance relating to the reuse
 of upper floors of buildings in downtowns and on main streets; and
 3. In the development of affordable housing, municipalities and
 multimunicipal regions to establish policies that assess food security
 and economic resiliency effects of municipal regulations.




 13


 Page 29
 Policy/Advocacy Update – Revised: 5/8/24
Federal Legislation Update
 BUDGET & FUNDING-RELATED ITEMS - Updates
Tax Package – No New Update – The House passed its tax package, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024
(H.R. 7024), at the end of January. The bill now faces a full vote in the Senate. The tax bill includes provisions to expand the Child
Tax Credit (CTC), as well as top two top legislative priorities related to affordable housing (also included in the bipartisan Affordable
Housing Credit Improvement Act that has widespread bipartisan support). The tax bill would do the following for affordable
housing:
 • Restore the 12.5 percent allocation increase for nine percent LIHTCs for 2023 to 2025; and
 • Lower the 50 percent bond financing test to 30 percent for 2024 to 2025.
President’s FY 25 Budget – No New Update– On 3/11, President Biden and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge released their full FY25
budget request. Per the NLIHC: Overall, the budget request proposes $72.6 billion – essentially level funding compared to FY24 –
through the appropriations process for affordable housing and homelessness programs. The president’s funding proposal is limited
by the strict spending caps agreed to by Congress and the White House under the “Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023,” which allows
for a spending increase of only 1% in FY25 compared to FY24. The president’s budget was written before Congress finalized the FY24
spending bill, which was signed into law. Additionally, per CBPP: The budget calls for tax cuts enacted in 2017 to end on schedule
for households with incomes of more than $400,000, and for tax cuts for households earning less than $400,000 to continue and to
be fully offset.
FY 25 Budget – New – Congress is in the midst of FY 25 budget negotiations. Advocates are requesting the highest funding increases
possible for programs related to housing and homelessness, though the FY 25 budget will have to remain within tight budget caps
previously voted upon.
Dear Colleague Sign on Letters – New – Bipartisan “Dear Colleague” Letters are circulating in Congress advocating for increased
Homeless Assistance Grant funding in the FY 25 budget. Senator King, Congresswoman Pingree, and Congressman Golden have all
signed onto letters in the Senate and House. (Senator Collins would not sign on to a letter as she is Vice Chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee). There is also a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter circulating in the House that calls for $800 million for
the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program and $304 million for the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program and in the FY 25 budget.
 BILLS – Updates
Farm Bill – Update – On 5/1, the chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees released differing visions of a farm bill. Per
CBPP: The nutrition provisions of the farm bill framework proposed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow would
protect and strengthen SNAP, the nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program. It expands access to SNAP benefits for
groups that have historically been excluded from the program, ensures that benefits are adequate to provide a nutritious diet, and
improves customer service for participants. It would restore SNAP eligibility for people convicted of a drug-related felony, ending a
punitive policy that worsens food insecurity and disproportionately impacts people of color. It would also reduce barriers to SNAP
participation for older adults, military families, and some college students. In contrast, the proposal from House Agriculture
Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson would put a healthy diet out of reach in the future for millions of families with low incomes
by cutting future benefits for all SNAP participants and eroding the adequacy of SNAP benefits over time. It would prevent SNAP
benefits from keeping pace with the cost of a healthy, realistic diet over time, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates
would result in a roughly $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade. The proposal would do this by freezing the cost of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan (the basis for SNAP benefit levels) outside of inflation adjustments, even if nutrition
guidelines or other factors change the cost of an adequate diet.
HR 6696 / S 3463 Eviction Prevention Act – No New Update – On 12/11 Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Bob Casey
(D-PA) introduced the “Eviction Prevention Act” (H.R.6696, S.3463) in the House and Senate, respectively. The bill would authorize
new grants to provide legal representation to tenants, create the country’s first federal evictions database, and mandate a
government report on evictions in the U.S.
S 2932 Housing ACCESS Act – No New Update – On 9/26 Senator Markey introduced the Housing ACCESS Act, which would align
housing and services resources and address the barriers providers face when seeking Medicaid reimbursement for housing-related
services and support. It also requires a national study to determine rates that allow providers to pay living wages, reduce staff
turnover, and ensure evidence-based case ratios. A companion bill is expected in the House.
Farm Bill – No New Update– The US Farm Bill is a critical piece of legislation that sets agricultural policies nationwide for the next
five years. The Farm Bill offers an opportunity to expand/enhance SNAP benefits for low-income households across the country.
Some lawmakers wish to make changes to SNAP through the Farm bill which would reduce eligibility for and availability of SNAP
benefits for households.
S 4270 / HR 8273 The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth (HEASHFY) Act of 2024 – New – The
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth (HEASHFY) Act of 2024 S.4270/H.R. 8273, was re-introduced by
U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) in the Senate, and by U.S. Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-
37) and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) in the House. HEASHFY removes barriers and ensures that homeless and foster youth have clear and
reliable pathways into and through higher education. This legislation:
 1
 Page 30
• Requires institutions of higher education to designate a homeless and foster liaison to help students navigate higher education
 and access services;
• Requires institutions of higher education to develop a plan for homeless and foster youth to access on-campus housing during
 and between academic breaks;
• Asks states to grant in-state tuition rates to those students who haven’t had stable residency;
• Ensures that college access programs identify, recruit, and prepare homeless and foster students for college; and
• Requires data collection in the admissions process on homeless and foster youth to support student services and provide
 outcome data
HR 5221 Homeless Children and Youth Act – No New Update – On 8/15 Representatives Mikie Sherrill, Bill Posey, Delia Ramirez,
and Don Bacon reintroduced the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act. This bill remedies the issue of most children, youth,
and families experiencing homelessness being ineligible for homeless assistance because they do not meet the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homelessness by aligning federal definitions of homelessness for children and
youth, streamlining assistance, leveraging resources, and bringing greater visibility to the reality of family and youth homelessness.
S 2701/HR 5254 Housing for All Act of 2023 – No New Update – Introduced by Senator Alex Padilla on 7/27 in the Senate (and by
Rep Ted Lieu in the House on 8/22), this bill would address the homelessness and housing crises, moving towards the goal of
providing for a home for all Americans.
S 1557/ HR 3238 The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act – No New Update – Senators Collins and King cosponsored
bipartisan legislation to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country – including thousands in Maine. The
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to provide more homes for
low-income people, support small businesses trying to attract workers, and fill the state’s gap of more than 20,000 affordable
housing units. The bill would:
• Increase the number of credits available to states by 50 percent for the next two years and make the temporary 12.5 percent
 increase secured in 2018 permanent—which has already helped build more than 59,000 additional affordable housing units
 nationwide.
• Stabilize financing for workforce housing projects built using private activity bonds by decreasing the amount of private activity
 bonds needed to secure Housing Credit funding. As a result, projects would have to carry less debt, and more projects would be
 eligible to receive funding.
S 1436, CHARGE Act of 2023 – No New Update – Introduced on 5/3 by Senator Jon Tester, this bill would permanently authorize
additional services for Veterans experiencing homelessness that were authorized at the beginning of the pandemic. These services
include: Basic essentials like food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items; Transportation to appointments with service
providers and conducting housing searches; and ways to stay in touch with providers and landlords, such as tablets, smartphones,
and data plans.
HR 3848, Housing Our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2023 – No New Update – This bill passed the House on 12/5 and was sent
to the Senate for consideration. Introduced on 7/26 by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, this bill would revive crucial services authorized
during the pandemic to provide lifesaving services under the Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD), which funds transitional housing
programs for homeless veterans. These services include transportation to doctor appointments and food banks, communications
devices for hearing impaired veterans, personal care products along with a dearth of other vital services and resources. that have led
to a significant increase in the housing stability and improved the lives of veterans across the country.
S 1257 / HR 3776, Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act – No New Update – This bill was reintroduced in the Senate on
4/25 by Senators Van Hollen and Young. This bipartisan bill would create 250,000 new housing vouchers, paired with mobility-
related services, to help low-income families with young children move to communities of their choice, including neighborhoods
with high-performing schools and high-quality childcare and early education programs.
S 680 / HR 6970 DASH Act – No new update – Reintroduced by Senator Wyden on 3/7, the DASH Act would make a generational
investment to house all people experiencing homelessness, tackle the housing affordability crisis, and expand homeownership
opportunities for young people by creating a new down payment tax credit for first-time homebuyers. On 1/11/24, Representatives
Val Hoyle (D-OR) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced a companion bill in the House. The DASH Act would make stable, safe and
decent housing available for all by:
• Housing everyone experiencing homelessness within five years, and prioritizing children and families for placement, by issuing
 them a Housing Choice Voucher, because young children are heavily impacted by housing instability, and because housing is a
 chief determinant of health;
• Expanding health, child care, financial and nutrition services for families and individuals to stay on a path to unassisted housing
 stability, because the climb out of housing poverty is nearly impossible to complete alone;
• Greatly increasing the production of deeply affordable housing for families exiting homelessness and for low-income households
 by investing in effective, efficient existing programs and reforming the tax code to strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax
 Credit (LIHTC) to weather the economic fallout from the pandemic, as well as establish a Renter's Tax Credit and Middle-Income
 Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC);
• Investing in homeownership in underserved communities and for low income Americans with new tax credits and down
 payment assistance, including a down payment tax credit for first-time homebuyers; and

 2
 Page 31
• Incentivizing environmentally-friendly development strategies and land use policies.
• Permanent authorization of appropriations for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grants.
HR 1708 Housing is a Human Right Act of 2023 – No New Update – On 3/22 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced the Housing is a
Human Right Act of 2023, which would address root causes of homelessness, meet the needs of community members experiencing
harms from homelessness, transition communities towards providing housing for all, end penalization of homelessness, and ensure
full democratic participation and inclusion of persons experiencing homelessness, and for other purposes.
S 255 Asylum Seekers Work Authorization Act of 2023 – No New Update – On 2/3 Senators Collins and Sinema reintroduced the
Asylum Seekers Work Authorization Act of 2023, which would make asylum seekers eligible to receive work authorizations starting
30 days after filing an asylum application. Senator King is an original co-sponsor. On 3/1, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
reintroduced the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act in the House.
HR 9587 Tenants’ Right to organize Act – No new update – On 12/19 Rep. Andy Levin introduced the Tenant’s Right to Organize Act.
Per NLIHC, the bill would “protect the organizing rights of tenants with Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and tenants living in Low-
Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties. Currently, only public housing tenants have a legally recognized right to organize. In
extending the right to organize to HCV and LIHTC tenants, the bill recognizes that all tenants have the right to decent, safe, stable,
and sanitary housing.”
 RULES/Other Federal Items of Note
HUD Proposed Rule Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing – New – HUD’s Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing
proposed rule would make changes to HUD’s existing screening regulations for applicants with conviction histories or a history of
involvement with the criminal-legal system. The proposed changes would reduce barriers to HUD-assisted housing that have
prevented people impacted by the criminal-legal system from accessing housing. The deadline for advocates to submit comments is
June 10.
Supreme Court Case Re. Homelessness – No new update – The U.S. Supreme Court announced on 1/12 that it will hear Johnson v.
City of Grants Pass, a case that will determine whether people experiencing homelessness have a constitutional right to camp on
public property when they do not have a place to sleep. The Supreme Court will decide whether laws regulating camping on public
property constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.

Proposed Rule to Provide 30-Day Notice before Initiating Eviction Proceedings for Non-Payment of Rent – No new update – HUD
has a proposed rule that would require a public housing agency (PHA) or owner of a property assisted with Project-Based Rental
Assistance (PBRA) to provide a 30-day notice to a household before starting a formal judicial eviction procedure to terminate a lease
for non-payment of rent.

State Update: Please see the Bill Tracking document for the State legislature Update.




 3
 Page 32
131ST LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION BILL TRACKING SHORT LIST OF KEY BILLS
The Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature begins January 3, 2024. Statutory adjournment is April 17, 2024. REVISED: 5/8/24
USEFUL LINKS
 ● Maine Legislature Homepage: http://legislature.maine.gov/
 ● Sign up to Testify and/or submit testimony here: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
Common Acronyms: AFA = Appropriations and Financial Affairs. HHS = Health and Human Services. OTP = Ought to Pass. OTP-AM = Ought to Pass as Amended. ONTP = Ought
Not to Pass.
Color code: BOLD text = UPDATE; Orange font = Budget bill; Black font = Homelessness related bill; Blue font = Service related; Green font = Housing/Rental Assistance related;
Purple font = General Assistance & Safety Net related bills; Pink font = Food security related bills; highlighted in yellow = passed the House and/or Senate; highlighted in green =
signed by the Governor and will become Public Law; Red text = the bill is now dead.
 BUDGET BILLS
 Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
 LD 2214 Governor’s Bill An Act Making Unified Supplemental Signed by the The bill, as Amended & Enacted, provides:
 Appropriations and Allocations for the Governor - will become ● $13.5 M in one-time funding to supplement or establish
 Expenditures of State Government, General Fund Public Law programs addressing the needs of people experiencing
 and Other Funds, and Changing Certain homelessness or facing other immediate housing needs and
 Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper support other uses that address housing emergencies in the
 Operations of State Government for the State, such as through winter warming shelters, legal services
 Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, and other wraparound settlement supports intended to help
 2025 individuals integrate into Maine's workforce and communities.
 (aka Supplemental Budget) ● $2.5 M in funds to privately operated low-barrier shelters to be
 distributed in fiscal year 2024-25 through fiscal year 2026-27.

 ● $10 M in one-time funding for new housing units through the
 authority's Affordable Homeownership Program to expand
 affordable, energy-efficient housing options that are affordable
 to workers and support state workforce needs.

 ● $20 M in one-time funding to expand affordable rental and
 ownership housing options through the Rural Affordable Rental
 Housing Program and the federal Low-income Housing Tax
 Credit Program.

 ● $2 M in one-time funding for housing subsidies for homeless
 students in elementary school and secondary school.

 ● $18 M in one-time funds for a pilot program to provide support
 for eviction prevention (rent relief program).

 ● $10 M in additional one-time funding in tandem with
 programmatic reforms in order to support the substantial new
 demand for the General Assistance - Reimbursement to Cities
 and Towns program


 1


 Page 33
 ● $1,168,299 to strengthen mental health crisis intervention
 mobile response services in order to provide services 24 hours a
 day, 7 days a week beginning January 1, 2025. This funding must
 provide funding for mobile outreach peer support specialists
 (Part DDDD). And funding for Crisis receiving centers (Part
 EEEE).

 ● Establishes the Office of New Americans

 HOMELESSNESS BILLS
  Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 2136 Rep A Mastraccio An Act to Provide Financial Support for Shelters Passed to be Enacted This bill, as amended by the Committee:
 for Unhoused Individuals in the House on This amendment increases the ongoing appropriation to
 3/28/24 and the support emergency shelter operations in the bill from
 Senate on 4/1/24 and $10,000,000 to $12,500,000 and requires the Maine State
 placed on the Special Housing Authority to reserve $2,500,000 annually exclusively
 Appropriations Table for distribution to low barrier emergency shelters. The
 pending Passage to be amendment requires the Statewide Homeless Council to
 Enacted convene a stakeholder group to develop a 10-year plan to
 address the root causes of homelessness. The stakeholder
 group is required to notify the Joint Select Committee on
 Housing of all meetings of the stakeholder group. The
 stakeholder group is required to hold at least 4 meetings prior
 to the council's submitting a report to the Joint Select
 Committee on Housing by November 6, 2024. The amendment
 also requires the Maine State Housing Authority to amend its
 rules to ensure that $2,500,000, or an equivalent percentage of
 the funds appropriated for the shelter operation subsidy, is
 reserved exclusively for distribution to low-barrier shelters.

LD 2146 Rep. G Lookner An Act to Prohibit Certain Municipalities from House Passed to be This bill prohibits municipalities with populations exceeding
 Adopting Moratoria on Emergency Shelters Engrossed by 30,000 people from adopting moratoria on the establishment
 Committee of emergency shelters that provide temporary shelter for
 Amendment A on 2/22; persons experiencing homelessness.
 the Senate accepted
 the Minority Ought Not
 to Pass Report - sent
 back to the House.
LD 1422 Rep. Michael An Act to End Homelessness and Assist Students Passed to be Enacted, This bill establishes a housing voucher program for homeless students
 Brennan Who Are Homeless by Establishing a Housing placed on the Special under the authority of the Maine State Housing Authority and
 Voucher Program and Providing Site-based Appropriations Table appropriates one-time funding of $2 million in fiscal years 2023-24 and
 pending Passage to be 2024-25. The bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to identify
 Housing Services
 Enacted – CARRIED OVER 3 sites in Maine to be used for a site-based housing program and


 2


 Page 34
 appropriates one-time funding of $3.5 million in fiscal years 2023-24
 and 2024-25 to the DHHS to support the program.
 SERVICE BILLS
  Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 2237 Speaker R Talbot An Act to Strengthen Public Safety, Health and Passed to be Enacted, This bill includes parts A-F. Click here for the full bill text. Relevant
 Ross Well-being by Expanding Services and in the House and parts are below.
 Coordinating Violence Prevention Resources Senate on 3/21/24 and This bill enacts provisions to improve mental health crisis response
 placed on the Special services and to reduce violence, including gun violence.
 Appropriations Table Part A provides funding to strengthen and expand mental health crisis
 pending Passage to be intervention mobile response services in order to provide services 24
 Enacted hours a day, 7 days a week. It requires the Department of Health and
 Human Services to provide for the incorporation of specific types of
 mental health and crisis intervention experts into the existing crisis
 services response system. It also provides funding for ancillary services
 for mobile response services, including necessary travel and telephone
 conferences with clients. Part A also requires the Department of
 Health and Human Services, by January 30, 2025, in coordination with
 the Department of Public Safety, to ensure the coordination of services
 under the State's E-9-1-1 system and the State's 9-8-8 mobile crisis
 services system. By January 30, 2026, the Department of Health and
 Human Services must submit a status report related to the
 coordination of services, including suggested legislation, to the joint
 standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health
 and human services matters, and the joint standing committee may
 submit a bill relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of the
 132nd Legislature.
 Part B directs the Department of Health and Human Services to
 establish crisis receiving centers across the State to support individuals
 dealing with behavioral health, mental health or substance use issues.
 At a minimum, a crisis receiving center must be established in
 Androscoggin, Aroostook, Oxford, Penobscot, Washington and York
 counties. Crisis receiving centers must provide culturally sensitive
 trauma-informed care. Part B also provides funding to establish 6 crisis
 receiving centers.
 Part D provides funding to reduce waiting lists for and expand access
 to medication management services, including telehealth services and
 employee recruitment and retention incentives, provided by the Office
 of Behavioral Health that are similar to the services provided under
 Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101:
 MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 65, Behavioral Health
 Services, to meet the timely access requirements under the consent
 decree referenced in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section
 1217.




 3


 Page 35
LD 1975 Rep. Lydia Crafts An Act to Implement a Statewide Public Health Passed to be Enacted This bill establishes the Substance Use, Health and Safety Fund
 Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws in the House on in the Department of Health and Human Services. Money
 Governing Scheduled Drugs 4/10/24 - Placed on deposited in the fund must be used by the department to
 the Special Study Table oversee, approve and provide grants and funding to agencies,
 pending final Passage. organizations and service providers, including the federally
 recognized Indian tribes in this State and service providers that
 are affiliated with federally recognized Indian tribes in this
 State, to increase voluntary access to community care for
 persons who need services related to substance use, as set
 forth in the bill. By June 30, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
 Legislature must appropriate to the fund an amount sufficient
 to fully fund the services as set forth in the bill. The bill repeals
 the laws that make possession of a schedule W, X, Y or Z drug
 and use of drug paraphernalia a crime. It also repeals the laws
 governing the civil violation of use of drug paraphernalia and
 possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
 HOUSING/RENTAL ASSISTANCE BILLS
  Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 1710 Rep. Cheryl An Act to Establish the Maine Rental Assistance Passed to be Enacted Sponsor Amendment amends the bill as follows:
 Golek and Guarantee Program and Amend the Laws in the House on This amendment replaces the bill. This amendment requires the
 Regarding Tenants and the Municipal General 3/19/24 and the Maine State Housing Authority to establish and administer the
 Assistance Program Senate on 3/20/24 and Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program. The program
 Placed on the Special must include a rental assistance component to assist individuals
 Study Table pending with the cost of rent and a rental guarantee component to
 final Passage. encourage landlords to work with the program and other rental
 assistance programs in the State. The amendment also creates the
 Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program Fund under the
 Maine State Housing Authority to carry out the program. The bill
 appropriates $16,000,000 of ongoing funds annually.
 The amendment makes it an unfair trade practice for a landlord to
 refuse to participate in a federal, state or local tenant-based rental
 assistance program.
LD 2106 Sen. M Rotundo An Act to Accelerate the Production of Housing Passed to be Engrossed This bill increases the maximum tax credit allowed for certified historic
 and Strengthen the Maine Historic Property as Amended by property rehabilitation projects. It also allows nonprofit organizations
 Rehabilitation Tax Credit Committee that claim the historic preservation tax credit or the affordable housing
 tax credit to file their refund claims on a calendar year basis. The
 Amendment A in the
 changes in the bill apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1,
 Senate on 3/12/24 and
 2024.
 the House on 3/13/24 -
 the bill now faces votes
 for enactment
LD 1074 Sen. Matthea An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Public Hearing on $100,000,000 bond issue to build new affordable housing for
 Daughtry Fund New Affordable Housing for Low-Income 4/25/23 - AFA low-income households.
 Households Committee

 4


 Page 36
LD 226 Rep. Rebecca An Act to Address Maine’s Affordable Housing Passed to be Enacted, This bill provides one-time funds to MaineHousing in the amount of
 Millett Crisis placed on the Special $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and in fiscal year 2024-25 (only
 Appropriations Table these FYs) to increase affordable housing stock in the State.
 pending Passage to be
 Enacted – Carried over
LD 1540 Rep. Rebecca An Act to Create the Stable Home Fund Program Emergency bill requiring This bill, which includes an emergency preamble and emergency
 Millett 2/3’s majority vote – clause, creates the Stable Home Fund and the Stable Home Fund
 failed 2/3’s majority vote Program within MaineHousing. The purpose of the program is to
 in the House but Passed provide persons earning up to 60% of the median income for an area
 in the Senate to be as defined by HUD with $300 per month in rental assistance paid
 Placed on the Special directly to the landlord for up to 24 months or until those persons
 Appropriations Table on secure housing by means of a housing voucher program administered
 by HUD under the United States Housing Act of 1937, Public Law
 6/21. Sent back to the
 75-412, 50 Stat. 888, Section 8, as amended, or secure a subsidized
 House for concurrence
 housing unit. The bill directs MaineHousing to administer the program
 where it failed 2/3’s
 except that MaineHousing may delegate the administration of the
 needed for final passage program and provide appropriate funding from the fund to a municipal
 – Carried over housing authority with respect to eligible persons located within the
 municipal housing authority's jurisdiction.
 GENERAL ASSISTANCE & SAFETY NET BILLS
  Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 1732 Rep. Michele An Act to Expand the General Assistance Program Became law without This bill as Enacted as Public Law:
 Meyer the Governor’s ● Requires overseers and designated or appointed municipal
 signature on 3/27/24 officials administering the program to complete training within
 120 days of election or appointment.
 ● Adds the delivery of trauma-informed services and culturally and
 linguistically appropriate services to the training requirements for
 overseers and municipal officials.
 ● Requires municipalities to provide general assistance with
 trauma-informed services and culturally and linguistically
 appropriate services.
 ● Requires municipalities to accept applications for general
 assistance during regular business hours.
 ● Amends provisions governing the municipality of responsibility to
 increase the provision of assistance from 30 days to 6 months
 when a municipality assists an applicant in relocating to another
 community and from 6 months to 12 months when an applicant is
 residing in a group home, shelter, rehabilitation center, nursing
 home or hospital or other institution.
 ● Requires DHHS to report to the joint standing committee of the
 Legislature having jurisdiction over general assistance matters no
 later than January 30, 2026 and no later than January 30th of
 each odd-numbered calendar year thereafter. The initial report
 must include recommendations regarding a potential extension of
 the general assistance eligibility period beyond the 30-day limit.



 5


 Page 37
LD 1664 Sen. Marianne An Act to Increase Reimbursement Under the Passed to be Enacted, This bill increases, from 70% to 90%, the amount of state
 Moore General Assistance Program placed on the Special reimbursement for the costs of general assistance incurred by each
 Appropriations Table municipality and Indian tribe.
 pending Passage to be
 Enacted – Carried over
 FOOD SECURITY BILLS
  Bill # Sponsor Title Status & Committee Notes
LD 568 Rep. Matthew An Act to Provide Funding for the State Fund to Passed to be Enacted in This bill provides ongoing General Fund appropriations of $600,000 to
 Pouliot Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition the House and Senate. the Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives
 Incentives Placed on the Special within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The
 Appropriations Table – bill also removes the $50,000 limit on matching contributions from the
 Carried over fund criteria.




 6


 Page 38