Legislative/Nominating Committee

Legislative/Nominating MEMBERS Committee Meeting - March 13, Mayor Mark Dion, Chair 2026 Agenda Councilor Benjamin Grant Councilor Kate Sykes March 13, 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/82617505137?pwd=F3GVV0u1SXE4FD7FHp7sorgTBA1bLF.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. Priorities for National League of Cities Congressional City Conference V. Adjournment 1 Page 1 Legislative/Nominating MEMBERS Committee Meeting Mayor Mark Dion, Chair February 10, 2026 Councilor Ben Grant Councilor Kate Sykes I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:06 am. In attendance were Mayor Mark Dion, Councilor Kate Sykes, Councilor Regina Phillips, City Manager Danielle West, Special Assistant to the City Manager Max Wilder, Sustainability Director Troy Moon, Sean Donaghue, Maggie McLoughlin, Lisa Prosienski (Bernstein Shur), and Alysia Melnick (Bernstein Shur). Councilor Ben Grant was absent. II. Approval of Meeting Minutes Mayor Dion made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting, moved by Councilor Sykes, seconded by Mayor Dion, vote (2-0). III. Legislative Update a. Follow-up from December 15, 2025 Legislative/Nominating Committee Meeting b. Review LD List and Tracker (Bernstein Shur) LD 2119: Councilor Sykes made a motion to support; seconded by Mayor Dion, vote (2-0). LD 2112: Mayor Dion made a motion to support; seconded by Councilor Sykes, vote (2-0). LD 2137 (First Amendment): Councilor Sykes made a motion to oppose; seconded by Mayor Dion, vote (2-0). IV. Other Business LD 2196: Mayor Dion made a motion to support; seconded by Councilor Sykes, vote (2-0). LD 2124: Mayor Dion made a motion to support; seconded by Councilor Sykes, vote (2-0). LD 2040: Mayor Dion made a motion to support; seconded by Councilor Sykes, vote (2-0). V. Adjournment Mayor Dion made a motion to adjourn the meeting, moved by Mayor Dion, seconded by Councilor Sykes, vote (2-0). The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 am. Page 2 Memorandum To: Portland, City of From: Bernstein Shur Date: March 11, 2026 Re: New Legislative Bills Report (Updated) 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 2232 (HP1507) An Act to Increase County Jail Funding Page 3  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 3/6/2026 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) 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 6/25/25 690 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 6/25/25 826 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 2112 Electricity An Act to Authorize Municipalities to Form Rep Runte EUT Bill Text Support 1/22/26 3/5/26 Voted 2/10/26: Troy doing written testimony 2849 Community Choice Aggregation Programs to 1:00 PM 1:10 PM 3/5/26 ahead of WS. Procure Electricity Rm 211 COB Rm 211 COB MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 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 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 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 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 Page 4  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 3/6/2026 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 # 2196 Health An Act to Lower Health Insurance Costs, Rep Gattine HHS Bill Text Support 3/5/26 3/12/26 2/10/26: Anne on COP staff working on 2841 Insurance Reduce Barriers to Health Care and Ensure 1:00 PM 1:00 PM testimony Fair Prices for Health Care Rm 209 COB Rm 209 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 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 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 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 2164 Housing An Act to Assist Communities with Rep Gere HED Bill Text 2/17/26 3/3/26 Voted veterans 2846 Converting Vacant School Buildings into 10:00 AM 1:30 PM 3/3/26 Housing Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 2173 Housing An Act to Update the Laws Regarding Rep Collamore HED Bill Text 2/17/26 2/26/26 Tabled 2757 Housing Developments and Accessory 10:00 AM 2:00 PM 2/26/26 Dwelling Units (Emergency) Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB 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) 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 Page 5  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 3/6/2026 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 # 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) 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 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 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 1870 Other An Act to Establish a Climate Superfund Cost Sen Brenner ENR Bill Text 5/5/25 Work session Voted Carried over 6/25/25 2359 Recovery Program to Impose Penalties on 10:00 AM reconsidered 3/3/26 Climate Polluters Rm 216 COB 3/3/26 MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 2040 Other Resolve, to Study Food Insecurity Measures Rep Pluecker ACF Bill Text Support 1/7/26 1/27/26 OTP-AM 2/10/26: Maggie has drafted testimony 2744 in Maine (Title change) 2:00 PM 2:00 PM Reported out already. Rm 214 COB Rm 214 COB 2/26/26 1/13/26: Consistency in info re food 2051 Other An Act to Ensure Access to the Rep Pluecker HHS Bill Text 1/14/26 2/25/26 Voted insecuritySNAP for lawfully present 1/13/26: 2773 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 2/25/26 immigrants; Maggie preparing testimony in Maine Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB MAJ: OTP-AM for Mark's signature MIN: ONTP Not rpt out 2079 Other An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Rep Gere HED Bill Text 1/20/26 1/27/26 MAJ: OTP 2639 Municipal Reporting on Residential 1:00 PM 1:00 PM MIN: ONTP Buildings Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB Reported out 3/4/26 2106 Other An Act to Prohibit the Disclosure of Rep Sato JUD Bill Text 1/29/26 2/25/26 Voted 2939 Nonpublic Records Without Proper Judicial 1:00 PM 10:00 AM 2/25/26 Review (Emergency) Rm 438 SH Rm 438 SH MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: ONTP 2119 Other An Act to Expand Reimbursement for Rep DeBrito HHS Bill Text Support 2/11/26 3/10/26 Not rpt out Tabled 2/10/26: PFD doing written testimony 2793 Treatment in Place, Community 10:00 AM 1:00 PM 3/4/26 ahead of 2/11 PH. Paramedicine and Alternate Destination Rm 209 COB Rm 209 COB Transport Page 6  City of Portland Legislative Tracking Report 3/6/2026 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 # 2137 Other An Act to Modify Provisions of Law Sen Nangle TRA Bill Text Oppose 1/22/26 Work session Voted 2/10/26: COP opposes the 1st amendment, 2938 Governing Parking Enforcement on Property 10:00 AM reconsidered 3/3/26 and are ok with the 2nd. Councilor Sykes Accessible to the Public (Emergency) Rm 126 SH 3/3/26 MAJ: OTP-AM drafting testimony opposed for 2/10 WS. MIN: OTP-AM Not rpt out 1/13/26: Lobbying team to investigate bill 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 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 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 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 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 2121 Safety An Act to Enhance the Safety of Rep Faircloth JUD Bill Text 1/20/26 3/4/26 Voted 2650 Judicial and Elected Officials, 1:00 PM 10:00 AM 3/4/26 Constitutional Officers and the Rm 438 SH Rm 438 SH A: OTP-AM State Auditor by Allowing Certain B: ONTP Personal Information to Be Removed C: OTP-AM from Designated Public Records 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 2124 Shelter An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Rep Gattine HED Bill Text Support 2/10/26 3/3/26 Voted 2/10/26: Maggie and Alyisa coordinating on 2746 Funding Using Revenue from the Real 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 3/3/26 testimony that Mayor will deliver. Estate Transfer Tax Rm 206 COB Rm 206 COB MAJ: OTP-AM MIN: OTP-AM 1/13/26: Investigate impact of LD 2124, re: Not rpt out public records 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 7 COP HHS Submitted Priorities for Council Conference 2026.03.12 Preserving Housing Voucher Assistance for Mixed-Status Households ●​ ADVOCACY: Oppose HUD rule “Preserving Housing Voucher Assistance for Mixed-Status Households and Reducing Administrative Barriers,” the proposed ruling to restrict housing assistance based on immigration status of mixed households, risking the increase of homelessness and separation of families. ●​ BACKGROUND: Historically, HUD policy has allowed mixed-status households to receive partial subsidies to U.S. citizens or eligible immigrant members living there, but not undocumented residents. The new HUD rule would bar most mixed-status households from receiving any kind of assistance, including families where a child is a U.S. citizen but their parents or caregivers are not. Families will be forced to make a difficult choice: separating or giving up rental assistance and facing eviction or homelessness. Additional requirements will also be placed on eligible individuals to document their status, creating administrative barriers to accessing the support they are qualified to receive. Nearly 80,000 people are at risk of losing assistance if this rule changes, with children being affected the most (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities). ●​ ACTION: The City can submit comment in opposition via public comment portal by April 21, 2026 at 11:59PM, however, also good to discuss with other delegations to increase collective action ●​ RELEVANT LINKS ○​ HUD press release ○​ HUD rule ○​ CBPP Analysis here Protecting Our Workforce: The Urgent Need to Fast-Track (Not Block) Asylum Work Permits ●​ ADVOCACY: Oppose “Employment Authorization for Asylum Applicants,” which would indefinitely pause the issuance of work permits to asylum seekers, making it impossible for asylum seekers to legally work, increasing dependency on General Assistance and other safety net programs, and preventing progress on workforce solutions. ●​ BACKGROUND: The current wait time for an asylum seeker to apply for employment authorization is 180 days and the required period to process the employee authorization document (“work permit”) is 30 days after it is received. During this period, asylum applicants cannot join the workforce and face challenges to support themselves. Under the proposed new rule, the waiting period to apply would be doubled to 365 days and the processing of new work permits would be extended to 180 days. Furthermore, work permit applications would not even be accepted when the average processing time for affirmative asylum applications exceeds 180 days. Given the current case backlog, DHS's own estimates suggest it could take between 14 and 173 years to reach that threshold, Page 8  effectively creating a permanent pause on legal employment for the current population of asylum seekers. ●​ ACTION: Submit a public comment by April 24, 2026 at 11:59PM and discuss with other delegations to prioritize ●​ RELEVANT LINKS ○​ US Citizenship and Immigration Services Press Release ○​ Proposed rule: Employment Authorization for Asylum Applicants ■​ Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion Addressing Substance Use Disorder- Expanding/Stabilizing our BH Workforce ●​ ADVOCACY: Prioritize and support initiatives which can help to expand, or at the very least stabilize, our behavioral health workforce. ●​ BACKGROUND: A significant barrier to increasing the availability of substance use disorder/behavioral health treatment and recovery resources is the lack of a sufficient workforce. The root causes are manifold from licensing standardization and administrative challenges, reimbursement rates, housing shortages, etc. This limits our capacity to link individuals who are ready for treatment with appropriate providers, as well as our ability to resource recovery solutions that increase abstinence rates. ○​ ACTION: While there is no specific pending legislation or rule in this moment, initiatives tied to insurance coverage and provider reimbursement, housing, DHHS (Federal) funding are all relevant. As such, this is a good one to keep aware of and discuss with other delegations for prioritization. ○​ RELEVANT LINKS ■​ HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce- State of BH Workforce (2025)- link ■​ ME’s Behavioral Health Workforce Challenge- link ■​ ME specific policy solutions- link Page 9