April in Maine was dominated by the Legislature's data center moratorium, which passed and then was vetoed, alongside a new millionaire's tax and $300 relief checks. The month also brought court rulings on ranked-choice voting, new consumer and health-care laws, and a shakeup in the U.S. Senate race.
Energy and data centers
State lawmakers introduced a bill to pause new data center construction in Maine, State Affairs Pro reported. (State Affairs Pro)
On April 15, Maine became the first U.S. state to block new data center construction, capacityglobal.com reported. (capacityglobal.com)
By April 21, a first-in-the-nation law pausing data center construction was awaiting Gov. Mills' signature, Maine Beacon reported. (Maine Beacon)
On April 24, Gov. Mills vetoed the temporary data center ban, the Center Square reported. (The Center Square)
On April 29, the Legislature sustained Mills' veto of the data center moratorium, the Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
A data center project in Jay can proceed after clearing a legislative hurdle, the Maine Monitor reported. (The Maine Monitor)
Maine's Public Utilities Commission voted to reopen the bid window for its Northern Maine renewable energy generation and transmission RFP, foleyhoag.com reported. (foleyhoag.com)
Budget, taxes and relief checks
A Maine budget proposal would add a 2% tax on millionaires, expected to raise $150 million over two years, WGME reported. (WGME)
On April 9, a millionaire tax cleared the Maine Legislature, Bloomberg Tax reported. (news.bloombergtax.com)
Lawmakers approved $300 affordability checks, and questions followed over who is eligible, the Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
Bangor Daily News reported on when Mainers can expect Gov. Mills' $300 relief checks to arrive. (Bangor Daily News)
Troy Jackson unveiled a plan to further increase the newly passed millionaires tax, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
Governor's and Senate races
A new poll showed Graham Platner opening a 33-point lead over Janet Mills and leading Susan Collins in Maine's U.S. Senate race, Maine Beacon reported. (Maine Beacon)
A Maine GOP straw poll put Ben Midgley atop the Republican field for governor, WGME reported. (WGME)
GOP gubernatorial candidates criticized Janet Mills and Democrats while making their case at the state convention, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
A wave of political ads targeting Susan Collins ahead of the 2026 election got a fact check from Bangor Daily News, which reported on the claims. (Bangor Daily News)
On April 30, Maine's governor suspended her U.S. Senate campaign, CNN reported. (CNN)
The Collins-Platner Senate race sharpened after the governor's exit from the contest, Bloomberg Government News reported. (Bloomberg Government News)
Courts, voting and public safety
Maine's high court heard arguments over ranked-choice voting, Spectrum News reported. (Spectrum News)
On April 6, Maine's high court ruled that expanding ranked-choice voting would be unconstitutional, WGME reported. (WGME)
An appellate court said Maine's 3-day waiting period on gun purchases is likely constitutional, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
Janet Mills' veto of a criminal records bill will stand, the Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
Former gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler was denied bail after an alleged probation violation, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Health care and social policy
Lawmakers approved a bill requiring hospitals to give 120 days' notice before closing a birthing center, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
Gov. Mills signed a law strengthening protections for Mainers from the harmful impacts of medical debt, Bar Harbor Story reported. (Bar Harbor Story | Carrie Jones | Substack)
A proposal to create a Maine Office of Child Advocate advanced through the House, WABI reported. (WABI)
On April 17, Gov. Mills signed a bill establishing the Office of the Child Advocate, WABI reported. (WABI)
A new Maine law allows naturopaths to prescribe more medications and treatments, WGME reported. (WGME)
A bill to protect rural maternity care became law, the Maine AFL-CIO reported. (Maine AFL-CIO)
Maine is tightening limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water, the Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
Consumer, business and housing law
An emergency clarification of Maine's ban on paper statement fees was signed into law, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Gov. Mills signed LD2007, banning sweepstakes casinos in Maine, PennLive.com reported. (PennLive.com)
Cookware manufacturers expressed concern over a new Maine law, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Maine enacted the first state law to regulate home equity investments, HousingWire reported. (HousingWire)
Gov. Mills signed a bill to strengthen enforcement of shoreland zoning laws, WGME reported. (WGME)
Gov. Mills signed a bill extending an affordable housing measure, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
