Maine

Governor Mills highlighted Maine's highest-ever graduation rate, record CTE enrollment, expanded early childhood education, a $10 million investment in Science of Reading instruction, and free school meals statewide. She proposed a statewide bell-to-bell cell phone ban, called for making free community college permanent, and announced education funding at 55% of costs plus $46 million in supplemental funding. She also announced a new reading and math initiative built on best practices from top-performing districts.

Governor Mills warned that federal healthcare cuts would cause upwards of 33,000 Mainers to lose access to healthcare, with 8,500 already abandoning insurance due to lost ACA subsidies. She proposed $2.25 million to replace federal cuts to Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning, and called for universal healthcare as 'an idea whose time has definitely come.' She also highlighted Medicaid expansion providing access to nearly 230,000 people.

Governor Mills reported 16,200 new private sector jobs and nearly 15,000 new business filings last year, with unemployment below 4% for nearly four years. She highlighted Maine's economic growth in her first six years exceeding the entire 14 years prior and emphasized broadband connectivity reaching every person who wants a connection. She proposed making community college permanently free and investing in workforce training programs.

Governor Mills reported repairing nearly 200 bridges, repaving nearly 8,000 miles of roads, and connecting more than a quarter million homes and businesses to internet. She declared that every person wanting an internet connection now has access to one through the Maine Connectivity Authority. She also emphasized energy infrastructure diversification away from fossil fuels and proposed a $70 million 'American Dream' housing proposal.

Governor Mills referenced the Lewiston mass shooting that killed 18 people and noted subsequent steps to prevent violence, protect public safety, and expand mental health services. She also addressed the need for cellphone bans in schools as related to student safety and mental health. Her public safety discussion was more focused on emergency response to disasters and defending against federal overreach than on traditional crime policy.

Governor Mills addressed electricity costs, noting Maine's overreliance on natural gas for power generation. She advocated diversifying energy sources with more wind, solar, and Canadian hydro while pursuing energy storage, and highlighted Efficiency Maine Trust rebates for heat pumps, water heaters, and weatherization. She noted Maine has reduced heating oil reliance from 62% to 50% of homes and shared the story of the Lovewell family in Caribou who saved significantly through weatherization upgrades.

Governor Mills proposed a $70 million "American Dream" housing package including $17.5 million for two pilot programs to build 530 new homes and apartments for middle-class families, plus $52.5 million to increase investments in housing programs that would trigger $15 million in federal matching funds, totaling 825 new homes. She highlighted $315 million authorized for housing during her administration — nearly five times more than 2000-2018 — and the Mobile Home Preservation fund protecting mobile home parks from out-of-state corporate purchases.

Governor Mills proposed $300 Affordability Relief checks for an estimated 725,000 Maine people, drawn from the state's record-high rainy day fund of over $1 billion. She also proposed a $70 million 'American Dream' housing package. She highlighted increasing direct tax relief from $388 million to nearly $1.1 billion over seven years, including earned income tax credits, dependent exemption credits, student loan tax credits, and property tax fairness credits. She also committed $46 million to maintain 55% state education funding.

Governor Mills proposed a statewide bell-to-bell ban on cellphone use during the school day, citing research showing improvements in student performance, behavior, attendance, and social dynamics. She noted that more than 250,000 homes and businesses had been connected to internet through broadband investments, declaring universal access achieved. She also highlighted the state's cloud and technology modernization efforts.

Governor Mills highlighted that more than 120 school districts provide locally-grown food from Maine farms through free school meals programs. She also mentioned the state's oldest housing stock needing weatherization improvements, which affects rural and agricultural communities.

Governor Mills emphasized the state's credit ratings being upgraded to the second highest possible rating, with agencies citing 'strong fiscal governance.' She highlighted connecting over 250,000 homes and businesses to internet through broadband investments and proposed making community college free permanently as a structural reform.

Governor Mills proposed $300 Affordability Relief checks for an estimated 725,000 Maine residents and a $70 million 'American Dream' housing proposal to build 825 new homes. She highlighted expanding Medicaid to cover 230,000 people, proposed $2.25 million to replace federal cuts to Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning, and called for making community college permanently free. She noted that federal healthcare cuts could cause 33,000 Mainers to lose healthcare access.

Governor Mills proposed $300 affordability relief checks for approximately 725,000 residents from the rainy day fund, a $70 million "American Dream" housing proposal to build 825 new homes, and making community college permanently free. She detailed $1.1 billion in direct tax relief in the current budget (up from $388 million when she took office), including earned income tax credits of $650, child dependent credits up to $610, and student loan tax credits up to $2,500. She also emphasized weatherization and clean energy to reduce energy costs.

Governor Mills delivered a forceful defense of immigrants, declaring "if you seek to harm Maine people, you will have to go through me first." She condemned "masked law enforcement onto the streets of America" and federal agents who "seek to intimidate and to silence us," pledging that Maine would not be intimidated or silenced.