This bill raises legislator pay from under $28,000 for each two-year legislative term, $45,000 per term. This will expand the number of people with low incomes who are able to serve in Maine's legislature, thus making the state's legislature more representative of all Mainers.
Low pay creates an immense structural barrier to legislative service for people of color, young people, and Mainers with lower incomes. The combination of the extremely low pay and enormous time commitment prevents qualified Mainers from serving and leads many who do to struggle. There are vital perspectives that are underrepresented or even missing from the conversation because too many Mainers cannot afford to serve. That limits how representative and responsive state government can be to the needs of everyday Mainers.
The bill passed both houses (the House passed the bill without a roll call). The Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee voted to fund the bill, and on July 26, Governor Mills signed LD 1155 into law.
Senate Roll Call #496, no House roll call.