Speaker Ryan Fecteau

This is the last week of in-person early voting. You can cast your ballot through the end of business hours at your town office.

If you received an absentee ballot by mail, the Secretary of State recommends you bring it right to your town office or secure drop box to avoid any postal delays. It must be received by the town clerk by 8 pm on November 3rd to be counted. www.maine.gov/sos/election...

Young people shouldn't have to leave the state to find a good-paying job that fits their skills. The Maine Career Catalyst program is strengthening our workforce and helping high schoolers and new grads get their careers started right here.

bangordailynews.comMaine heating oil prices reach new record highFilling a standard 275-gallon oil tank costs about $750 more than it did last year, according to a state agency.

Heating oil is at $6.04 a gallon now in Maine. You're paying about $750 more to fill your tank than last year before the Iran war. Outrageous.

thenewdeal.substack.comMaine Shows How Clean Energy is Reducing CostsBy Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau

As temps drop, Maine people are seeing their heating and electric bills go up significantly. In traveling across the state recently, I saw how renewable energy is lowering costs, creating jobs and helping small businesses.

pressherald.comMaine has a shortage of home health workers. Is there any way to fix it?High demand for services combined with low pay are causing the shortages – and the problem is going to get worse.

I pushed for direct care workers to earn more— to better reflect the importance of their work for Maine people. I'm proud that we increased their pay with a cost-of-living adjustment. We need to do everything we can to get more people into direct care careers and strengthen the workforce.

bangordailynews.comNew Bangor childcare center with space for hundreds of children sees high demandThe large facility merges three that were run by the social services agency Penquis in leased spaces around the city.

Even with space for 200+ kids, the waitlist for this new childcare site in Bangor is filling up fast. We need more high-quality, safe and affordable childcare for working parents in all parts of Maine.

wgme.comNew 55-and-older apartment community opens in South PortlandThere's now more affordable housing for adults 55 and older in southern Maine.

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My October newsletter is out now. In it, you'll find information about heating assistance, college planning and voting. 🔗 mailchi.mp/dffb07da6c5d...

Today, we recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, an important reminder of the people and tribes who first occupied Maine territory.

There will be a celebration hosted by the Wabanaki Alliance from 10 am to 2 pm at Capitol Park in Augusta. This is a great opportunity to listen and learn about Indigenous culture and traditions.

sunjournal.comFarmington-area adult education enrollment surges as programs expandFranklin County Adult & Community Education is seeing sharp enrollment growth as new Director Donna Seppy expands workforce training, college and career preparation and community outreach.

Great to see Maine people taking advantage of Adult & Community Ed programs. They offer hands-on training, college prep/financial aid assistance and more to help people get ahead.

Federal cuts mean Mainers are paying more and getting a lot less from their health insurance. The cuts are also pushing hospitals to cut critical services, like birthing units. I'm committed to doing all I can to protect healthcare across Maine in the face of Trump's cruel policies.

bangordailynews.com50 apartments for low-income seniors open in BangorRents for the one- and two-bedroom units range from $1,163 to $1,395 per month with utilities included.

This Bangor apartment complex will help get low-income seniors off the housing waitlist. This is a great step towards helping more of our neighbors find safe & affordable places to live.

Maine's direct care workers are helping older folks & people with disabilities across the state. Their experience and the services they provide are incredibly valuable to our communities. I championed a bill to raise their wages and, hopefully, encourage more folks to choose these important careers.

Since Paid Family and Medical Leave started in March, workers have used it largely to take time off for serious medical needs or to have kids. PFML is allowing Maine workers to take time off when they need it most.

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pressherald.com30 condo units coming to GorhamMost of the one-bedroom units in a new neighborhood off County Road will be reserved for residents older than 55.

Early voting is now underway in Maine. You can register to vote and cast a ballot at your town hall through October 29. Those who have already requested an absentee ballot by mail will receive those in the coming days. More info here: www.maine.gov/sos/election...

Trump's Big Bad Bill has taken food assistance away from 7,000 Maine kids. It's shameful. mainemorningstar.com/2026/09/30/a...

wabi.tvGroundbreaking held for Augusta supportive housing complexGround broke Thursday afternoon on the first project: a complex in Augusta designed for 25 residents who are experiencing chronic homelessness.

These apartments will house our neighbors experiencing chronic homelessness and also provide meaningful services.

mainepublic.orgLow-income Mainers auto-enrolled for electric discountsGovernor Janet Mills says up to 67,000 households could receive money off of their power bills.

Maine families in need will now be automatically enrolled in the Low Income Assistance Program, or LIAP. This ensures that those who are eligible will get meaningful savings. Some could see their electric bills cut by about 80%!

In June, I directed the House Ethics Committee to investigate the conduct of Representative Randall Hall. Today, the committee voted on party lines, with Democrats voting in favor of Rep. Hall's expulsion.

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The residents of House District 74, and all Maine people, deserve representation by those who hold themselves to the highest ethical and moral standards.

Rather than convening the House at taxpayer expense to vote on the expulsion of Representative Hall — who has already admitted his guilt in court — I once again urge him to do what most people who plead guilty to committing campaign finance fraud would do: to resign.

I called on Representative Hall to do the right thing and resign following his indictment in February 2025. I again called for him to resign after he pleaded guilty to unsworn falsification and criminal violation of the Clean Election law in May of this year.

I really enjoyed being interviewed by journalism students at Biddeford High School today. They had lots of great questions and thoughts about the 'no cells after the bell' law. Great to hear that they are noticing a difference already!

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pressherald.comWork begins on 183-unit housing development in TopshamThe Lupine complex will add to Topsham's housing stock and is expected to be completed in 2028.

wgme.comDeveloper hopes to build 12 homes in Ellsworth amid housing shortageState lawmakers recently updated rules for accessory dwelling units.

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bangordailynews.comA new program in Belfast is helping homeless families find permanent housingCoastal communities like Belfast don’t have hundreds of people without homes, but the region’s high housing prices and precious few openings are a barrier for low-income families struggling to get ahe...

Maine people who were charged inflated prices for hundreds of generic drugs may be eligible for compensation. The process is simple and you don't need a receipt. Learn more about the process at aggenericdrugsclaims.com.

bangordailynews.com18 affordable apartments to be built in pricey Maine townThe project will be the first development with exclusively affordable units built in Cape Elizabeth since the 1970s.

It's been 50 years (!) since a new housing development in Cape Elizabeth has included exclusively affordable units.

I am appalled by the firings of hardworking CMMC nurses by Prime Healthcare. It is unconscionable that a hospital system would fire healthcare workers for exercising their right to organize a union. This is blatant and illegal union-busting.

All workers should have the right to form a union free from intimidation. Here in Maine, we have worked steadfast to strengthen our healthcare workforce and ensure all Mainers can access the care they need.

It is unacceptable to put corporate interests above the health and well-being of Maine people and the rights of workers. I stand in solidarity with the nurses of CMMC.

My latest newsletter is out now. In it, you'll find voting resources, property tax relief information and upcoming events. 🔗 mailchi.mp/e1776d9fd736...

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21 Sept

bangordailynews.com30 new apartments to open in former Bangor retirement homeThe former Country Villa retirement home on Kenduskeag Avenue has been renovated into studio and one-bedroom apartments.

20 Sept

Heating oil is over $5/gallon statewide— rapidly approaching $6. Mainers are buying that right now and wondering how much more they can afford this winter. While Republicans in Washington allow the Iran war to continue, families here in Maine will be pinching pennies to stay warm.

19 Sept

Maine needs more childcare options for working families. Ensuring childcare providers can open in our neighborhoods creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs and parents.

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18 Sept

Great work by UNE students and volunteers. These meal kits will help hungry families across the state.

mainemorningstar.comEveryday increases cost Maine households $4,300 since Trump returned to office • Maine Morning StarYou’re not imagining it: everyday costs are going up. From gas to groceries, heating oil to healthcare, Mainers are paying substantially more for goods and services than they were a year ago. The aver...

17 Sept

Gas and heating oil, groceries, health insurance. The price of these essentials keeps rising because of Trump's tariffs, the war in Iran, and the Big Bad Bill. We're all paying the price for Trump's policies.

mainepublic.orgMore than a year after cuts to SNAP, Mainers forced to make tough budget decisionsHundreds of Mainers are facing changes to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as a result of last year's budget reconciliation bill, also called the "Big Beautiful Bill."

15 Sept

Mainers like Kasey, a single mom with two kids, work hard to provide for their families, but it's not always enough. SNAP offered a lifeline. Now, folks across our state are struggling to put food on the table because of cruel Trump administration cuts.

14 Sept

I'm now on Threads! Follow me @speaker_fecteau.

12 Sept

This week, I visited Limestone, Bangor and Lisbon Falls to see municipal solar projects, learn how community colleges are preparing students for careers in the field, and hear how a small business owner is leveraging clean energy.

12 Sept

I enjoyed meeting with local leaders and hearing their ideas for expanding clean energy opportunities across our state.

I’ll never forget September 11, 2001. I was only 9 years old at the time, but the day is more vivid than any other early childhood memories. I remember seeing the news coverage with the image of a tower with billowing smoke. And then the horror of another plane crashing into the other tower.

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People whose exposure to the particulates in the air led to cancer diagnoses. Too many families have continued to face the horrors of that day, long after it happened.

I remember the Super Bowl - Rams and Patriots - where all the names of those who perished were illuminated. I remember the flags on houses, cars, and just about everywhere. There was strength in our unity, our determination to overcome. I’ll never forget that day.

The lives lost. The lives forever impacted both physically and mentally. The first responders. We know, these 25 years later, that many lives have been lost since. People who escaped from the buildings who dealt with the mental anguish of what they witnessed.

Blue Ox Malthouse believes in using sustainable, clean energy throughout their production process. They’ve seen a big benefit from switching to solar. It’s saving them on their electricity bills— lowering overhead costs and meeting green goals.