Policy Priorities and Research Agenda

CEI strongly supports the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which has been the driver of much-needed investment to communities with low to medium incomes over the past 40+ years. While the proposal overall represents important progress, there are some areas where we believe the rule needs modification to achieve the desired outcome of increased capital flow, especially to low- and moderate-income communities and people. CEI’s highest priority recommendations are outlined in the linked comment letter.

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary
in support of LD 1626, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of
LD 2013, An Act Relating to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Contamination in the State

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs
in support of
FY22 Supplemental General Fund Budget Providing Funding to Accommodate the Increased Costs
Associated with Staff Support for the Maine Economic Growth Council

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing
in support of
LD 2003, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by
Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of
LD 856, An Act to Balance Renewable Energy Development with Natural and Working Lands
Conservation

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology
in support of
LD 1955, An Act To Facilitate Net Energy Billing

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation
Neither For Nor Against
LD 1941, An Act To Clarify and Update the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology

Neither for, Nor Against LD 1894, An Act To Support Municipal Broadband Infrastructure through Incentives and Competition

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs
in support of LD 1838, An Act To Improve Student Access to Postsecondary School Transcripts and Diplomas

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of LD 1805, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 26: Producer Margins, A Major Substantive Rule of the Maine Milk Commission

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs
In support of LD 1733, An Act To Provide Allocations for the Distribution of State Fiscal Recovery Funds

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology
In Support of LD 709, Resolve, To Provide a Brief Moratorium on Certain New Net Energy Billing Arrangements and To Examine the Costs and Benefits of Net Energy Billing

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Health & Human Services
in support of LD 1712, An Act To Support Children’s Healthy Development and School Success

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
in support of LD 1652, An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine’s Early Childhood Educators Workforce

Testimony to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in support of LD 1684, An Act to Strengthen Maine’s Workforce by Expanding English Language Acquisition and Workforce Training Programs

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology in support of LD 1659, An Act to Create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator and in support of LD 1556, Resolve, To Create the Commission to Study and Recommend a Financing Model to Increase Capital Investment in Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Technology, Energy Efficiency Projects and Jobs in Maine

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry in support of LD 1565, An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Agriculture, Food and Forest Economy

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in support of LD 1573, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term
Care Workforce Issues

Testimony to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in support of LD 1329, An Act To Establish the Career Advancement and Navigation Initiative in the Department of
Education To Lower Barriers to Career Advancement

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology in support of LD 1555, An Act to Fund Broadband Internet Structure for Marginalized Groups in the State

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs in support of LD 983, An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation

In support of LD 1475, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Food Processing Infrastructure in Targeted Areas of the State.”

In support of LD 1235, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Connect Maine with a World-class Internet Infrastructure.”

Testimony Submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government in support of LD 1034, An Act To Provide Funding To Support the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations

Testimony to the Committee on Marine Resources
Opposition to LD 1146 – An Act To Protect Maine’s Ocean Waters and Support Regulatory Oversight and the Long-term Health of the Aquaculture Industry

In support of LD 870, “Resolve, Directing the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations To Study the Impact of Policies Regarding Agriculture, Access to Land, Access to Grants and Access to Financing on African-American and Indigenous Farmers in the State.”

in support of LD 229, An Act To Increase Investment Caps in the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program
AND
in opposition to LD 950, An Act To Improve Maine’s Economic Development Incentives

Testimony to the Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology
in support of LD 340, An Act to Allow for the Establishment of Commercial Property Clean Assessed Clean Energy Programs

In support of LD 221, “An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State
Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to
the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and
June 30, 2023 – Sec. AA-1. 35-A MRSA §9211 – Extension of 10-Cent Surcharge for ConnectMaine Fund”

Testimony to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology in support of LD 143, An Act To Make the Arrearage Management Program Permanent

Testimony to the Committee on Taxation in support of LD 201, An Act To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promote Weatherization in the Buildings Sector by Extending the Sunset Date for the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit

Testimony Submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government in support of LD 2, An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process