Maine in April 2026: a data center ban passes, then is vetoed

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)
• Maine's pool of money from taxes on home sales is growing, Bar Harbor Story reported. (Bar Harbor Story | Carrie Jones | Substack)

State government and jails

• Maine's wildlife and fisheries commissioner announced plans to step down after nearly two decades in the role, WABI reported. (WABI)
• A Maine jail received a $4 million funding boost amid rising costs, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
• Municipalities said the $4 million allocated for county jails is not enough to cover rising costs, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
• State lawmakers approved raising the minimum teacher salary over the next three years, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
• MaineHealth announced it will relocate its headquarters to administrative offices in Westbrook, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)

This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.