Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee

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