IN THE COMMUNITY

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending important meetings in all three of our District’s towns.

• On March 18th, I attended the Town of Bowdoin’s annual Town Meeting. It was a great scene with a large turnout. Discussion was cordial, even when issues with big emotions were on the table. I had the honor of awarding the Spirit of America award to Bowdoin resident and volunteer extraordinaire Greg West with Senator Eloise Vitelli. It was a pleasure to be able to speak with so many constituents!

• On March 20th, I attended Richmond’s Selectboard meeting where I heard updates on two important issues. The first update came from our Richmond School Board. These five folks were recently elected on March 7th and quickly got to work. I was impressed with their collaboration and their shared vision to do everything in their power to ensure the new school is ready to roll for the start of the school year. The second was from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) on changes surrounding Swan Island. Fortunately, all fees for day use and camping have been eliminated, and campsites will operate on a first come, first serve basis. Unfortunately, ferry service by DIF&W is no longer going to be available. People will have to travel to and from the island by their own means. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like more information.

• On March 29th, I attended the Town of Bowdoinham’s meeting where they updated the community on the status of our Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This is an area where we are going to need to work together. You can see the recording of that meeting on the Town’s website, and the next meeting on this topic is scheduled for Monday, April 3^rd at 6:30 PM. Please consider showing up to participate in creating a solution for our town. In the meantime, I’ll be working hard in Augusta to make sure that part two of the budget we pass this spring includes state funding to support rural EMS service in Maine.

Important Dates:

Bowdoin

• MSAD 75 School Budget Referendum: May 18th (Orion Performing Arts Center).

Bowdoinham

• EMS Meeting: April 3rd, 6:30 PM (John C. Coombs Building, 13 School Street, Bowdoinham).
• MSAD 75 School Budget Referendum: May 18th (Orion Performing Arts Center).

Richmond

• Special Town Meeting to vote on startup funding for the new school: April 4th, 6:00 PM (Marcia Bunker School).

AT THE STATE HOUSE: BILL SPOTLIGHT

One of my committees passed a GREAT bill last week that I am very excited about! LD 553, An Act to Require Mortgage Holders to Notify a Homeowner's Insurance Company on the Sale or Transfer of a Mortgage. This bill is not going to make any headlines, but it is an example of government working to make people’s lives easier. If you’ve ever had your mortgage sold and out of the blue received a notice from the bank saying they’re going to foreclose upon your house because you don’t have homeowner's insurance, you’ll appreciate how great this bill is. Now, when your homeowner's insurance is escrowed as part of your mortgage and your mortgage gets sold, you won’t have to worry about whether the new mortgage company is going to pay your insurance on time. The bill also represents a true bipartisan effort, sponsored by Representative Joshua Morris, R-Turner and passed unanimously by all members present in your Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee!

CHANGES TO MAINECARE 

Following the official end of the federal Public Health Emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 31, all states, including Maine, will be required to check who is still eligible to receive MaineCare. 

To avoid a potential gap in coverage, MaineCare members are encouraged to update their contact information so the state Department of Health and Human Services can reach them about renewing their coverage. Members should also be on the lookout for their renewal form, which must be filled out and returned.

MaineCare members can visit My Maine Connection to set up an account and update contact information, or call 1-855-797-4357 and select 1.  

WHAT TO KNOW AS EXTRA SNAP BENEFITS END

The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place by the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, ended in February. 

As a result, many Mainers will see a lower amount on their EBT cards this month. On average, SNAP payments are estimated to decrease by about $190 per eligible household in Maine. The new amount will be based on household income and other expenses like rent and utilities.

Here are a few ways to help adjust for this change:

●      Update your mailing address with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services so you don’t miss important notices.

●      Report any changes in your income or work hours.

●      Report any changes in your expenses, including rent, utilities, childcare and medical expenses.



Learn more about additional steps you can take here. 

Nearly 1 in 10 people in our state is currently experiencing hunger, including 1 out of every 6 children. Now, Mainers have a new opportunity to help efforts to end food insecurity by simply checking a box on their state tax forms.

For the first time, there’s an option on Form 1040ME for taxpayers to donate a portion of their refund to support the Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund. TEFAP provides emergency food assistance for low-income folks at no cost, supporting our most vulnerable and helping to create a hunger-free Maine for future generations.

A sample form can be found here. Additionally, you can learn more about the program here.