Last week, the Commission on Paid Family and Medical Leave presented their report to the Labor and Housing Committee. After good questions and discussion, the committee voted 7-4 to include funding for PFML start-up costs in their recommended budget.

Committees are completing their recomendations to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee, and then will get cracking on finalizing a full budget. The Legislature can pass a 'majority budget' - with votes from 50% plus one - but it would take 90 days to go into effect, so would have to pass by April 1 (ahead of the state's new fiscal year). *OR* they can pass a budget with a 2/3 vote, which could go into effect immediately... but getting 2/3 requires more negotiation. See our budget reels here and here, and a longer discussion here (BDN, subscription needed). 

Speaking of budgets - President Biden presented a budget last week that includes funding for a national Paid Family and Medical Leave program and we are heref or it.

The *first* State of the Tribes address in over 20 years is at the Legislature this Thursday. Our partners at Wabanaki Alliance invite allies to join their rally from 8:30-11, registration here.

Finally, huge congratulations to Michelle Yeoh, who made history as the first Asian American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress last night (and love to her and Jamie Lee Curtis for #FriendshipGoals). 

Destie, Dania, Catie, and Brook

PS - Big thank you to all the legislators, legislative staff, and administration folks who joined us to celebrate Women's History Month at our Legislative Reception last week! Here we are being cute. Thanks to the First Amendment Museum for hosting us! 

Weekly Calendar

The weekly House Calendar is here. The weekly Senate Calendar is here. 

March 13

10:00 - LD 178 - PH - An Act to Support Reentry and Reintegration into the Community (Beebe-Center)

March 14

1:00 - LD 767 - PH - An Act to Provide Uniform Protections from Retaliation for Maine Workers in Connection with the Exercise of Rights Protected Under the Laws Governing Employment Practices (Carney) 

1:00 - LD 827 - PH - An Act to Allow Employees to Request Flexible Work Schedules (Roeder)

March 15

9:00 - LD 336 - PH - An Act Regarding State Recognition of Native American Tribes (Poirier)

1:00 - LD 603 - PH - An Act to Make Electric Breast Pumps More Accessible by Providing for MaineCare Reimbursement (Murphy)

1:00 - LD 707 - WS - An Act to Update the Maine Human Rights Act with Respect to Gender Identity (Sheehan)

March 16

1:00 - LD 443 - WS - An Act to Prohibit Marriage of Any Person Under 18 Years of Age (O'Connell)

2:00 - LD 300 - PH - An Act to Establish Pilot Initiatives to Promote, Grow and Sustain Adult Day Care and Respite Programs in Maine (Craven)

March 17

10:00 - LD 237 - WS - An Act to Require a Registered Voter to Update the Registration (Griffen)

**Not sure about the difference between a PH (public hearing) and a WS (work session)? Check out our How-To here!

Skills-Builders & Community

Creative Activism: Paint Banners with Artist Rapid Response Team! 

April 2

ARRT will be dreaming up and painting banners to support the Maine Equal Rights Amendment and other social justice causes. Email [email protected] for more info and details.

Let's Visit the State House! in March

March 15 6-7pm VIRTUAL

March 16 12-1pm VIRTUAL

March 16 3:30-5:15 IN PERSON

These are casual opportunities to learn everything you need to know about getting in and around the State House. Register here. 

People Power Hours - April Session

April 5, 3:30p OR 6:00p / Zoom

This monthly session offers community, connection, and skills building. In April, participants will learn how to write their story and submit a letter to the editor. 

Register here. 

Citizen Advocacy Toolkit

Legislative, Policy, And Feminist Events

BIPOC Women's Business Navigator - CEI Women's Business Center
This 12-week cohort provides technical guidance to 10-12 women of color who are either at the pre-start or very early stages of their entrepreneurial journey. More info here.

Maine Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

March 18, 1:00-2:30

This year the BPW/Futurama Foundation and UMaine Augusta will induct Dr. Sandra Caron into the Hall of Fame. Dr. Caron is a pioneer in sexuality education, widely known throughout Maine, respected nationally and internationally for her creative teaching and groundbreaking research in sexuality education. More info here.

2023 Justice for Women Lecture

April 26 / 7:00pm

The Justice For Women Lecture brings a distinguished speaker to Maine annually to contribute to a global conversation about justice for women and girls in the developing world. More info here.

Maine TransNet Lobby Day

May 2 - More details to come!

Maine Feminist Events Calendar

What We’re Reading

We're celebrating the release of the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality Progress Report. It provides a check-in on the 2021 strategies released by the Biden-Harris administration. 

The Women’s Bureau at the US Dept. of Labor has released a new Issue Brief: National Database of Childcare Prices. This is the most comprehensive federal source of childcare prices at the county level. 

UN Women convened the UN Commission on the Status of Women, with the theme "Open, Safe and Equal – Shaping a Feminist Digital Future". Resources and recordings are here.