Governor Mills Signs Bills Into Law

Announces she will hold onto others for continued review until next Legislative session

Governor Janet Mills has signed the following bills into law:

"I have signed more than six hundred bills into law this Legislative session. These new laws – sponsored and supported by Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Greens alike – will move Maine in a positive direction, " said Governor Mills. "From expanding access to health care, embracing renewable energy, improving our education system, diversifying our economy, and much more, I am proud of the progress we have made, and I look forward to continued collaboration on behalf of the people of Maine. "

Governor Mills has signed 606 bills. She has allowed 45 to become law without her signature, and she has vetoed eight bills, all of which were sustained.

Other legislation has been "held by the governor " for further review, meaning that the bills have neither been signed, or vetoed, or become law without her signature. According to the Maine Constitution, if the governor does not act on legislation within ten days, it then becomes law unless:

"...the Legislature by their adjournment prevent its [legislation] return, in which case it shall have such force and effect, unless returned within 3 days after the next meeting of the same Legislature which enacted the bill or resolution. "

With the Legislature having adjourned Sine Die on June 20, 2019, the Governor is holding onto some bills for further review until the start of the next Legislative session, at which time she will have three days to act on them.

"The Legislature has passed a significant number of bills this session, and I take seriously my constitutional obligation to thoroughly review all of them, evaluate their implications, and decide whether they are in the best interest of Maine people, " said Governor Mills. "In order to meet that responsibility, I will continue to review these bills and gather more information, and I look forward to acting on them at the beginning of the next legislative session. "

Bills "held by the governor" include:

Governor Mills has taken action on all other legislation sent to her office by the Legislature this session.

In addition, she worked with all parties to secure timely, bipartisan enactment of a biennial budget, to draft and enact significant workers compensation reform, first-of-its-kind paid leave legislation and firearm safety legislation.

Governor Mills praised legislative leaders for ending the session on time, only a few hours after statutory adjournment.