Legislative/Nominating Committee

Legislative/Nominating MEMBERS Committee Meeting - February Mayor Mark Dion, Chair 27, 2026 Agenda Councilor Benjamin Grant Councilor Kate Sykes February 27, 2026 REMOTE ACCESS INFORMATION: This meeting will be conducted remotely via Zoom pursuant to the Remote Meeting Policy adopted by the Portland City Council. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the best meeting experience. If you are not able to attend live either in person or via Zoom, a recording will be available in the Agenda Center following the meeting. For public comment via Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted by the host when it is time for public comment. https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/85368809914?pwd=ma7Et7zWOs111aoeSPCSMFy8weSDqU.1 I. Call to Order II. Approval of Meeting minutes a. Legislative/Nominating Committee Meeting - February 10, 2026 III. Legislative Update a. Review LD List and Tracker (Bernstein Shur) IV. Other Business a. 2026 Committee Work Plan V. Adjournment 1 Page 1 Memorandum To: Portland, City of From: Bernstein Shur Date: January 14, 2026 Re: New Legislative Bills Report Please find below the new legislative documents (LD) printed this week that we have flagged to be of possible interest to your organization. Please indicate to us which bills you would like included on your tracking report. Thank you. LD 2159 (HP1448) An Act to Require School Buses to Be Equipped with and to Use School Bus Crossing Arms LD 2164 (HP1453) An Act to Assist Communities with Converting Vacant School Buildings into Housing Page 2  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 2/20/2026 Page 1 of 4 132nd Legislature - Second Regular Session LD # Category Bill Title Sponsor Cmte Bill Information COP Position Public Hearing Work Session Status Notes Priority LR # 25 Bond An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Sen Brenner AFA Bill Text 4/10/25 Carried over 6/25/25 160 Issue to Fund Wastewater Treatment 1:00 PM Facility Planning and Construction of Rm 228 SH Infrastructure Projects (Bond) 32 Energy An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Sen Guerin EUT Bill Text Oppose 2/27/25 1/6/26 Voted Written testimony in opposition submitted 75 Energy Billing 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 1/6/26 Rm 211 COB Rm 211 COB MAJ: OTP-AM Troy Moon reports possible $1M loss to MIN: OTP-AM City Not rpt out Carried over 6/25/25 34 Other An Act to Increase the Minimum Salary for Sen Pierce EDU Bill Text Monitor 2/26/25 5/12/25 Monitor; Defer to school board 233 Teachers 10:00 AM 10:00 AM Rm 208 COB Rm 208 COB Carried over 6/25/25 35 MaineCare An Act to Strengthen Local Emergency Sen Curry HHS Bill Text 4/17/25 9/9/25 ONTP Carried over 6/25/25 241 Medical Services by Increasing the 1:01 PM 2:15 PM Reported out MaineCare Reimbursement Rate for Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB 9/16/25 Ambulance Services (Emergency) 111 Health An Act to Increase the State's Share of Rep Dodge LBR Bill Text Support 2/12/25 3/5/25 Carried over 6/25/25 176 Insurance Retired Teacher Health Insurance 10:00 AM 11:30 AM (Emergency) Rm 202 COB Rm 202 COB 140 Homestead Tax An Act to Incrementally Increase the Sen Baldacci TAX Bill Text 3/19/25 4/1/25 Carried over 6/25/25 354 Homestead Property Tax Exemption 9:30 AM 1:00 PM Rm 127 COB Rm 127 COB 245 Other An Act to Implement the Recommendations Sen Ross CJPS Bill Text 2/10/25 5/15/25 1/11/26 Held by the Governor 7/8/25 202 of the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study 10:30 AM 1:30 PM Public Law Emergency Medical Services in the State Rm 436 SH Rm 436 SH Ch. 520 (Emergency) 264 Homestead Tax An Act to Remove the 12-month Waiting Rep Hepler TAX Bill Text 3/5/25 3/18/25 1/13/26: Staff recommended NFNA and 612 Period for the Maine Resident Homestead 10:00 AM 1:00 PM LNC’s position, to monitor Property Tax Exemption Rm 127 SH Rm 127 SH 12/15, LNC has not yet taken a position; staff will provide feedback Carried over 6/25/25 438 Homestead Tax An Act to Allow Municipalities to Limit Rep Hymes TAX Bill Text 5/6/25 1/8/26 DEAD 12/15, LNC has not yet taken a position; 1411 Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions 3:00 PM 10:00 AM lobbying team will take stock and follow up Rm 127 SH Rm 127 SH Carried over 6/25/25 560 Bond An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Sen Bailey AFA Bill Text Support 4/10/25 Testimony submitted 1923 Issue to Improve Coastal Climate Resiliency 1:00 PM (Bond) Rm 228 SH Carried over 6/25/25 574 Other An Act to Improve Labor Conditions for Sen Tipping LBR Bill Text Monitor Carried over 6/25/25 2334 Workers in the State 605 Other An Act to Provide Solutions for Sustainable Rep Campbell ENR Bill Text Monitor 5/15/25 Tabled Carried over 6/25/25 7 Management of Municipal Solid Waste 1:00 PM 5/15/25 Rm 216 COB Page 3  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 2/20/2026 Page 2 of 4 132nd Legislature - Second Regular Session LD # Category Bill Title Sponsor Cmte Bill Information COP Position Public Hearing Work Session Status Notes Priority LR # 634 Other Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Rep Tuell SLG Bill Text Monitor 3/19/25 4/2/25 Carried over 6/25/25 816 Study the Reduction of Unfunded and 10:00 AM 1:00 PM Outdated Municipal and County Mandates Rm 214 COB Rm 214 COB 690 Bond An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Sen Pierce AFA Bill Text Support 4/9/25 Testimony submitted 308 Issue to Provide Funding for Affordable and 10:00 AM Low-income Housing Programs (Bond) Rm 228 SH Carried over 6/25/25 799 Other An Act to Report Gender Wage Gaps Rep Roeder LBR Bill Text 3/12/25 3/19/25 Staff to research before taking a position 1179 10:30 AM 1:00 PM Rm 202 COB Rm 202 COB Carried over 6/25/25 826 Bond An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Sen Pierce AFA Bill Text 4/17/25 Chair Lentz is researching. 1987 Issue to Establish the School Energy Savings 1:00 PM Revolving Loan Fund (Bond) Rm 228 SH Carried over 6/25/25 836 Bond An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond President AFA Bill Text Support 4/15/25 Bernstein Shur is to monitor. 1677 Issue to Upgrade Municipal Culverts at Daughtry 1:00 PM Stream Crossings (Bond) Rm 228 SH Carried over 6/25/25 1017 GA An Act to Include Food Provided or Served Sen Talbot Ross HHS Bill Text 4/7/25 5/15/25 Councilor Grant testified_City submitted Yes 2300 at Emergency Shelters in General Assistance 10:00 AM 1:00 PM legislation Reimbursement Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB Meeting requested by Sen. Talbot Ross Carried over 6/25/25 1177 Public Health Resolve, to Study the Public Health and Rep Gramlich ENR Bill Text Oppose 4/9/25 4/30/25 Testimony submitted 1210 Environmental Risks from Synthetic Turf 10:00 AM 1:00 PM (Title change) Rm 216 COB Rm 216 COB Carried over 6/25/25 1259 Public Safety An Act to Enhance Public Safety in Maine by Rep Rana JUD Bill Text Support 5/19/25 6/4/25 Testimony submitted 2275 Defining the Relationship Between Local and 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Federal Law Enforcement Rm 438 SH Rm 438 SH Carried over 6/25/25 1424 Housing An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond President AFA Bill Text Support 4/10/25 Testimony submitted 1358 Issue for Investment in Workforce Housing Daughtry 1:00 PM and Raise Certain Income Eligibility Limits in Rm 228 SH Carried over 6/25/25 the Affordable Homeownership Program (Bond) 1443 Housing An Act to Ensure the Financial Stability of Sen Bennett HHS Bill Text Monitor 4/14/25 5/15/25 Carried over 6/25/25 1363 Behavioral Health Service Providers and 1:00 PM 1:00 PM Housing Assistance Providers (Emergency) Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB 1665 Property Tax An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Sen Carney TAX Bill Text Support 5/1/25 Work session Testimony submitted 1107 Maine Families 1:00 PM reconsidered Rm 127 SH 5/22/25 Carried over 6/25/25 1694 Tax An Act to Provide an Income Tax Credit for Rep Riley TAX Bill Text Monitor 5/16/25 1/8/26 DEAD Carried over 6/25/25 72 Certain Disaster Mitigation Projects for 9:00 AM 10:00 AM Working Waterfront Property Rm 127 SH Rm 127 SH Page 4  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 2/20/2026 Page 3 of 4 132nd Legislature - Second Regular Session LD # Category Bill Title Sponsor Cmte Bill Information COP Position Public Hearing Work Session Status Notes Priority LR # 1870 Other An Act to Establish a Climate Superfund Cost Sen Brenner ENR Bill Text 5/5/25 1/28/26 Voted Carried over 6/25/25 2359 Recovery Program to Impose Penalties on 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 1/28/26 Climate Polluters Rm 216 COB Rm 216 COB MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 1892 School An Act to Establish Procedures for School Rep Brennan EDU Bill Text Support 5/9/25 1/21/26 Tabled 1/13/26: Testimony support-lobbying team 903 Construction Construction Projects 10:30 AM 10:01 AM 1/21/26 to work with COP on testimony Rm 208 COB Rm 208 COB Carried over 6/25/25 1959 GA An Act to Prohibit the Department of Health Sen Talbot Ross HHS Bill Text 5/19/25 2/19/26 Voted Carried over 6/25/25 309 and Human Services from Reducing General 1:30 PM 10:00 AM 2/19/26 Assistance Reimbursement Maximums for Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB ONTP Payment of Costs of Providing Emergency Not rpt out Shelter 1996 GA An Act to Clarify Responsibilities of the State Sen Ingwersen HHS Bill Text 1/29/26 2/19/26 Voted LNC voted to add to tracker and lobbying 2801 in the Laws Governing General Assistance 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 2/19/26 team will research Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB OTP-AM Not rpt out 2040 Other An Act to Survey Food Insecurity in Maine Rep Pluecker ACF Bill Text Support 1/7/26 1/27/26 Voted 2/10/26: Maggie has drafted testimony 2744 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 1/27/26 already. Rm 214 COB Rm 214 COB OTP-AM Not rpt out 1/13/26: Consistency in info re food insecurity 2042 Public Notice An Act to Eliminate the Requirement for Sen Black SLG Bill Text 1/21/26 2/18/26 Voted 1/13/26: Staff recommendation is to 2804 Municipalities to Provide Public Notice in a 11:00 AM 9:15 AM 2/18/26 support and that is now the COP position; Newspaper Rm 214 COB Rm 214 COB OTP-AM lobbying team will develop testimony in Not rpt out support of LD 2042 12/15/25, LNC has not yet taken a position; staff will provide feedback 2051 Other An Act to Ensure Access to the Rep Pluecker HHS Bill Text 1/14/26 2/25/26 1/13/26: SNAP for lawfully present 2773 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 1:00 PM 1:00 PM immigrants; Maggie preparing testimony in Maine Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB for Mark's signature 2062 Safety An Act to Enhance the Safety of Public Sen Pierce TRA Bill Text 1/15/26 1/29/26 Voted 2647 Transit Bus Operators Through the 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 1/29/26 Installation of Vehicle Security Barriers Rm 126 SH Rm 126 SH OTP-AM Not rpt out 2079 Other An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Rep Gere HED Bill Text 1/20/26 1/27/26 Voted 2639 Municipal Reporting on Residential 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1/27/26 Buildings Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB MAJ: OTP MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 2106 Other An Act to Prohibit the Disclosure of Rep Sato JUD Bill Text 1/29/26 2/25/26 Tabled 2939 Nonpublic Records Without Proper Judicial 1:00 PM 10:00 AM 2/5/26 Review (Emergency) Rm 438 SH Rm 438 SH 2112 Electricity An Act to Authorize Municipalities to Form Rep Runte EUT Bill Text Support 1/22/26 2/24/26 Tabled 2/10/26: Troy doing written testimony 2849 Community Choice Aggregation Programs to 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 2/12/26 ahead of WS. Procure Electricity Rm 211 COB Rm 211 COB Page 5  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 2/20/2026 Page 4 of 4 132nd Legislature - Second Regular Session LD # Category Bill Title Sponsor Cmte Bill Information COP Position Public Hearing Work Session Status Notes Priority LR # 2119 Other An Act to Expand Reimbursement for Rep DeBrito HHS Bill Text Support 2/11/26 2/10/26: PFD doing written testimony 2793 Treatment in Place, Community 10:00 AM ahead of 2/11 PH. Paramedicine and Alternate Destination Rm 209 COB Transport This bill was added at the request of staff & not yet reviewed by the LNC. 2121 Safety An Act to Enhance the Safety of Rep Faircloth JUD Bill Text 1/20/26 2650 Judicial and Elected Officials, 1:00 PM Constitutional Officers and the Rm 438 SH State Auditor by Allowing Certain Personal Information to Be Removed from Designated Public Records 2124 Shelter An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Rep Gattine HED Bill Text Support 2/10/26 2/17/26 Tabled 2/10/26: Maggie and Alyisa coordinating on 2746 Funding Using Revenue from the Real 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2/17/26 testimony that Mayor will deliver. Estate Transfer Tax Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB 1/13/26: Investigate impact of LD 2124, re: public records 2135 Housing An Act to Provide Funding to Keep Maine Sen Nangle VLA Bill Text Track/ 1/21/26 2/18/26 Voted 2/10/26: This is currently tabled. Mayor 2883 Veterans Housed Monitor 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 2/18/26 asked us to flag if there is action. Rm 437 SH Rm 437 SH OTP-AM Not rpt out 1/13/26: Landlord incentives for housing veterans 2137 Other An Act to Modify Provisions of Law Sen Nangle TRA Bill Text Oppose 1/22/26 2/24/26 2/10/26: COP opposes the 1st amendment, 2938 Governing Parking Enforcement on Property 10:00 AM 1:45 PM and are ok with the 2nd. Councilor Sykes Accessible to the Public (Emergency) Rm 126 SH Rm 126 SH drafting testimony opposed for 2/10 WS. 1/13/26: Lobbying team to investigate bill 2164 Housing An Act to Assist Communities with Rep Gere HED Bill Text 2/17/26 2846 Converting Vacant School Buildings into 10:00 AM Housing Rm 206 COB 2173 Housing An Act to Update the Laws Regarding Rep Collamore HED Bill Text 2/17/26 2/26/26 2757 Housing Developments and Accessory 10:00 AM 2:00 PM Dwelling Units (Emergency) Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB 2196 Health An Act to Lower Health Insurance Costs, Rep Gattine HHS Bill Text Support 2/10/26: Anne on COP staff working on 2841 Insurance Reduce Barriers to Health Care and Ensure testimony Fair Prices for Health Care Page 6 City of Portland | City Council Mark Dion, Mayor The Portland City Council established its [YEAR] Common Goals (included below) on [date TBD], formally communicating its policy priorities for the coming year and setting a foundation for the development of Council committee work plans. The 2026 Council schedule currently includes approximately 10 meetings for each committee. For planning purposes, the development of a single, original policy initiative typically requires two committee meetings. This process generally includes initial conceptual discussion, review of a draft ordinance or other policy document, and a public hearing at which the committee votes on whether to recommend adoption by the full City Council. In addition to developing and considering original policy initiatives, committee work will also include items referred by the Council, matters brought forward by staff, and panels or presentations, as needed. 2026 City Council Common Goals [goals TBD] 1 Page 7  [Committee Name] 2026 Work Plan Policy Initiative Related Council Goal Priority Ranking 2 Page 8 Common Council Goals 2026 Page 9 As the elected voice of Portland’s residents and businesses, the City Council sets the City’s policy direction. The Council’s Common Goals define the policy priorities and provide a clear focus for the Council's work in the year ahead. Page 10 Portland's 2026 Common Council Goals are guided by our commitment to equity, safety, and connection, ensuring that our work strengthens communities and creates pathways for all residents to thrive. Page 11 Accelerate Housing Production and Strengthen Affordability Protections Housing & Economic Development Committee Address Portland’s housing challenges by encouraging the development of more homes and protecting affordability, so current and future residents can live and thrive in our community. Page 12 Reduce Chronic Homelessness Health & Human Services & Public Safety Committee Decrease the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness by advancing policy to enhance support systems and address the underlying causes that lead to housing instability in our community. Page 13 Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities Sustainability & Transportation Committee Create safer streets for all users by advancing policy to prevent traffic deaths and injuries while improving accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Page 14 Support Affordability for All Residents Through New Revenue Policies and Targeted Tax Relief Finance Committee Ease the tax burden for Portland residents by finding new ways to fund city services and providing direct tax relief to households who need it most. Page 15 Advance the Goals of One Climate Future Sustainability & Transportation Committee Address climate change by cutting carbon emissions, expanding clean energy and energy-efficient buildings, supporting sustainable transportation, and preparing Portland for a resilient, low-carbon future. Page 16 Strengthen Economic Vitality and Support Local Businesses Housing & Economic Development Committee Foster a thriving local economy by increasing support for businesses and strengthening conditions that help Portland's business community grow. Page 17 City of Portland | Executive Department Danielle West, City Manager Portland Common Council Goals 2026 to Committee Workplans Through the 2026 goal-setting process, the Portland City Council has identified six Common Council Goals that will guide the Council’s collective work this year. These goals represent areas where councilors expressed shared commitment to advancing meaningful change. During the goal-setting workshops, councilors also identified concrete actions the Council could consider to translate these high-level goals into tangible policy work. The attached chart demonstrates how these priority themes, specific goals, and proposed actions connect to create an integrated approach to Portland's most pressing challenges. As committees develop their detailed 2026 workplans, this framework provides a roadmap for ensuring individual committee work contributes to Council-wide progress. The specific actions identified by councilors serve as starting points for committee deliberations, with the understanding that committees may refine, prioritize, or sequence these actions based on capacity, timing, and emerging opportunities. The 2026 Common Council Goals represent an ambitious agenda that seeks to make progress on Portland's most critical needs while building toward long-term community resilience. The connection between these goals and proposed committee actions provides a clear pathway from aspiration to implementation, ensuring that the Council's collective vision translates into meaningful policy change for Portland residents 389 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101 | 207-874-8300 | info@portlandmaine.gov Page 18  2026 Common Council Goals Mapped to Council Committees with Potential Actions for Consideration in Committee Workplans Theme Description Committee Potential Action Consider adjustments to inclusionary zoning ordinance to promote housing production. Address Portland’s housing challenges by Consider policy amendments to streamline building permit application review and approval. Accelerate Housing Housing & encouraging the development of more Production and Economic Review Social Housing Task Force recommendations and consider council action on next steps. homes and protecting affordability, so Strengthen Affordability Development current and future residents can live and Consider amendment to Duson Trust Fund ordinance to support housing assistance for residents Protections Committee thrive in our community. (e.g., eviction prevention, security deposit assistance). Consider amendment to the rent control ordinance to strengthen enforcement. Consider council action to support reduction in chronic homelessness by 50% (currently 120 Decrease the number of people Health & people experiencing chronic homelessness) by end of 2026 (e.g., consideration on day shelter, experiencing chronic homelessness by Human adjustments to charitable food distribution license, regional and state partnerships). Reduce Chronic advancing policy to enhance support Services & Homelessness systems and address the underlying causes Review missions of city shelter facilities (i.e., Family Shelter, Warming Center). Public Safety that lead to housing instability in our Committee Consider amending the rate of exchange for the needle exchange program with a public health community. perspective. Support Vision Zero plan roll-out with council leadership. Create safer streets for all users by Express public support for Franklin Street Arterial plan and implementation. Sustainability & Reduce Pedestrian and advancing policy to prevent traffic deaths Transportation Consider development of Vision Zero ordinance, focused on complete streets, pedestrian safety, Bicyclist Fatalities and injuries while improving accessibility for walkability, and community engagement. Committee pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Develop legislative proposal for intersection camera pilot to improve safety to be introduced in the 2027 State Legislature session. Support Affordability for Ease the tax burden for Portland residents Consider a policy amendment to expand tax affordability programs such as Portland Senior Tax All Residents Through by finding new ways to fund city services Finance Equity Program (P-STEP). New Revenue Policies and providing direct tax relief to households Committee Consider a policy amendment to diversify city revenue streams to offset taxpayer burden (e.g, and Targeted Tax Relief who need it most. fiscal impact of cruise ships, Payment in Lieu of Taxes). Address climate change by cutting carbon emissions, expanding clean energy and Sustainability & Advance the Goals of Consider policy to further advance One Climate Future goals are met (e.g., environmental impacts energy-efficient buildings, supporting Transportation One Climate Future of cruise ships, viability of solar on municipal buildings). sustainable transportation, and preparing Committee Portland for a resilient, low-carbon future. Foster a thriving local economy by Housing & Explore ordinance regulating parking lot advertising and pricing disclosure requirements. Strengthen Economic increasing support for businesses and Economic Vitality and Support Local Close out council action on Live Nation venue proposal. strengthening conditions that help Portland's Development Businesses business community grow. Committee Consider policy to enhance public support for the arts. Page 19