Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

March 10

Legislative Committee Hearings, Monday, March 11

STAFF REPORTS

MONDAY

9 a.m.

State and Local Government Committee; work sessions; room 214, Cross Building

L.D. 255, "An Act To Establish July 27th as Maine Korean War Veteran Recognition Day": emergency bill, establishes July 27 of each year as Maine Korean War Veteran Recognition Day.

L.D. 274, "An Act To Preserve and Protect Ancient Burial Grounds and Burial Grounds in Which Veterans Are Buried": authorizes a municipality to delegate to a caretaker their responsibilities and removes the requirement of war service that requires the municipality to care for the public burring ground.

L.D. 339, "An Act To Require Public Hearings by the Legislature To Be Recorded and Posted on the Internet": requires that all joint standing committee public hearings are recorded and made accessible to the public as a written transcript, audio recording, video recording or other electronic recording on the Legislature's website within 72 hours of a public hearing, beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

L.D. 474, "An Act To Require Edible Landscaping in a Portion of Capitol Park": requires edible landscaping in a portion of Capitol Park, subject to availability of funding.

10 a.m.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee; public hearings; room 436; State House

L.D. 111, "An Act To Restrict the Sale, Purchase and Use of Fireworks in the State": repeals the law that permits the sale, purchase and use of consumer fireworks.

L.D. 168, "An Act To Establish Reasonable Restrictions on the Use of Fireworks": restricts the sale and use of fireworks based on factors such as the fire danger level, presence of farm animals, interests of summer residents and tourists, interests of year-round residents, etc.

L.D. 456, "An Act To Protect Farm Animals from Noise from the Discharge of Fireworks or Explosives": prohibits the use of consumer fireworks or explosives, either loose or contained in a tube or other enclosure, within one mile of a field or pasture that contains livestock.

L.D. 478, "An Act To Require a Local Permit for the Use of Fireworks": provides that a person who wishes to use consumer fireworks must obtain a permit from the same authority as those who issue open burning permits, and will be issued in the same manner as open burning permits.

L.D. 663, "An Act To Change the Time Restriction on the Use of Fireworks": reduces the permissible hours when fireworks may be used to between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Taxation Committee; public hearings; room 127; State House

L.D. 614, "An Act To Adjust Fuel Taxes To Improve Sustainability": changes the excise tax on gasoline, distillates and low-energy fuel to a formula that includes a fixed amount per gallon plus 5 percent of the retail value of that gallon.

L.D. 631, "An Act To Change the Taxes on Fuel Purchased for Use Other Than on the Highways": changes the taxes on fuel purchased for use other than for vehicles used on the highways to 5 cents per gallon.

L.D. 698, "An Act To Provide an Exemption from Fuel and Sales Taxes to Persons Engaged in Snowmobile Trail Grooming": emergency bill, makes the existing sales tax exemption for the purchase of snowmobiles and snowmobile trail grooming equipment by snowmobile clubs available to persons operating registered snowmobile trail grooming equipment .

L.D. 720, "An Act To Eliminate Sales Tax Exemptions for Snowmobiles and All-terrain Vehicles Purchased by Nonresidents for Use in the State": eliminates the sales tax exemptions for all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles purchased in the state for nonresidents who are required to register and who store or use in the state the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.

Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee; public hearings; room 437; State House

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