As of Monday afternoon, the Legislature’s revisor of statutes had printed the first 63 of what is expected to be several hundred bills submitted in the next few weeks. The following is a sampling:
“An Act to Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine,” sponsored by Sen. Peter Mills (R-Skowhegan).
Modeled after laws in Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, and Utah, this bill would establish the Maine Fund of Funds to be used as venture capital. The fund would use tax credits to lure investments and would be capitalized by the Maine Public Employees Retirement Fund, which in turn would share any profits from the venture.
“An Act to Establish a Distracted Driver Law,” sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond (D-Windham). This bill would make driving while distracted a moving violation. This law would not pertain to cellular telephones or global positioning devices.
“An Act to Prohibit the Force-feeding of Birds,” presented by Rep. Alan Casavant (D-Biddeford), and sponsored by several other legislators. This bill would outlaw force-feeding birds to produce the food product known as foie gras.
“A Resolve to Encourage the Preservation of Dark Skies,” presented by Rep. James Schatz (D-Blue Hill), and sponsored by others. This resolve calls for the creation of statewide standards for new construction that limit light pollution.
“An Act to Prohibit Air Bag Fraud,” presented by Rep. John Hinck (D-Portland), and sponsored by others. This bill would make it illegal to sabotage an air bag for fraudulent purposes.
“An Act to Prohibit the Sale of Energy Drinks to Minors,” presented by Rep. Peggy Pendleton (D-Scarborough). This bill would prohibit the sale to minors of drinks that contain 80 or more milligrams of caffeine per eight fluid ounces.
“An Act to Amend the Laws Regarding Public Rest Rooms,” presented by Rep. Paulette Beaudoin (D-Biddeford), and sponsored by others. The bill would require all public rest room facilities to provide disposable toilet seat covers.
“An Act to Promote the Integrity of Citizens’ Initiatives,” presented by Rep. Mark Bryant (D-Windham), and sponsored by others. This bill would require any person who collects signatures for a citizens’ initiative to be a registered Maine voter.
“An Act to Establish Native American Veterans’ Day,” presented by Rep. Donald Soctomah of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and sponsored by others. This bill would establish May 1 as Native American Veterans’ Day.
“An Act to Prohibit Certain Uses of Cellular Telephones and Handheld Electronic Devices while Operating a Motor Vehicle,” presented by Rep. George Hogan (D-Old Orchard Beach), and sponsored by others. This bill would prohibit the use of these devices while driving.
“An Act to Increase the Time Period for Motor Vehicle Inspections to Two Years,” presented by Rep. Walter Wheeler Sr. of Kittery and sponsored by others. This bill would change the annual motor vehicle inspection requirement, except for commercial vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, to a biennial inspection requirement.
“An Act to Require Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits to be Provided to the State,” presented by Rep. John Martin D-Eagle Lake. This would require 50 percent of abandoned deposit amounts, i.e., beverage containers that are never returned – to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.
“An Act to Change the Coyote Night Hunting Season,” presented by Rep. Howard McFadden (R-Dennysville) and sponsored by others. This bill would change the coyote night hunting season from the current Jan. 1 – June 1, to Dec. 1 – May 1 of each year.
“An Act to Exempt Small Privately Owned Windmills from the Property Tax,” presented by Rep. Patrick Flood (R-Winthrop), and sponsored by others. This bill would provide a tax exemption for residential windmills less than 50 feet in height and generating less than 50 kilowatts of electricity.
“Resolve, to Rename the Father Curran Bridge in Augusta,” presented by Rep. Patsy Crockett (D-Augusta) and sponsored by others. This bill would change the name of the Father Curran Bridge in Augusta to the Calumet Bridge at Old Fort Western.
(Statehouse News Service)
