This section is contributed by our exclusive Advocacy Update sponsor Verrill and their lobbying and communications group, Maine Street Solutions. Participating in the Maine Legislature in the Virtual Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we all work and the Maine Legislature is no exception. This legislative session is unlike any other in Maine’s history. The 186 members of the Maine Legislature have met together in-person for a total of 3 days so far this year. In a “normal” year, the full Legislature would hold sessions of the House and Senate twice a week starting in January and add additional session days as the legislative work built up. In addition, legislative committees would be meeting at the State House complex to consider and vote on bills. Given the risks of gathering that many people together, this year legislative committees have been meeting virtually, via Zoom.

Moving legislative committee work online has had drawbacks – legislators, lobbyists and advocates are missing out on the camaraderie they normally experience in the halls of the State House. But allowing virtual participation has also had benefits, namely that people from all across the State can take part in committee hearings, without having to travel to Augusta.

If you’re looking for ways to participate in Maine’s legislative process this year, we’ve compiled the steps and links here:
Submitting Written Testimony

Once a public hearing has been scheduled for a bill, you can submit written testimony to the committee via the State's online testimony submission system. On this page you will be asked to select the committee, the date of the hearing, and then the bill itself. You will then enter your testimony -- you can either upload a document or copy and paste into the testimony field. Using this online testimony submission portal ensures that all members of the committee, in addition to the clerk and analysts, receive your written remarks.

Presenting Live Testimony

You can register to give oral testimony using the same online testimony submission platform. When filling out the form, be sure to check the box for "I would like to present my testimony live." This will ensure you receive the Zoom link for the public hearing. You can find more information about what to expect when participating in a Zoom public hearing on the Maine Street Solutions website.

Monitoring Committee Meetings

If you simply want to watch committee proceedings, instead of giving oral testimony, you can choose to watch either live or at a later time.
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Watch committee meetings via the Maine Legislature's YouTube.

The Legislature's Committee on Labor and Housing will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday (3/21) at noon to consider several bills related to the minimum wage. 

Last week the Chamber testified in support of LD 455 and LD 774, both of which would pre-empt a municipality's ability to set a minimum wage different than the state. This legislation is critical to ensure an even playing field for employers across the state.

Contact the legislators on the Committee on Labor and Housing before Wednesday's work session to indicate your support of these bills! Contact information for these legislators can be found at the following links:

• Sen. Craig Hickman (D, Chair)
• Sen. Stacey Guerin (R)
• Sen. Dave Miramant (D)
• Rep. Mike Sylvester (D, Chair)
• Rep. Dick Bradstreet (R)
• Rep. Scott Cuddy (D)
• Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R)
• Rep. Traci Gere (D)
• Rep. Joshua Morris (R)
• Rep. Sarah Pebworth (D)
• Rep. Dwayne Prescott (R)
• Rep. Amy Roeder (D)
• Rep. Sophia Warren (I)

In addition to the bills we testified in support of, the committee will also be considering the following minimum wage bills in their work session on Wednesday:

• LD 543 (Cost of Living Adjustment): This bill would change the cost of living adjustment to the state minimum wage from once every year to once every three years. 
• LD 1047 (Training Wage): This bill would create a "training wage" for employees who are students of under 20 years of age, or 18 years of age for non-students, of $9.75/hour, adjusted annually for the cost of living. 
• LD 1279 (Minimum Wage Increase): This bill would raise the state minimum wage to $16/hour starting in 2025.