| General Updates, Legislative Campaigns, Safe Water | Tags: , , , , ,

For the past few months I had the opportunity to work with Defend Our Health as an intern, where I focused on supporting priority bills in Maine’s 2023 legislative session. With my background in environmental health, and my current work as a public health analyst and a Physician’s for Social Responsibility Next Generation Climate Ambassador, I came to Defend looking to engage in work concerning PFAS contamination in Maine. PFAS contamination affects the health and well-being of people across the state, in particular marginalized communities who are more susceptible to its effects. 

Over the last few months, I have been able to work on Maine PFAS policy, as well as other related environmental legislation. I collaborated with Sarah Woodbury, Director of Advocacy, and Roopa Krithivansan, Director of Research, to prepare background materials such as testimonies, fact sheets, and action alerts for use during the legislative cycle, learned more about the environmental and social issues the proposed bills addressed, and followed the bills to better understand the governance process. 

As the 2023 Maine legislative cycle comes to a close, I am reporting on the priority bills I was able to work on, and where they stand currently:

LD 132: An Act to Require Health Insurance Carriers to Provide Coverage for Blood Testing for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

  • LD 132 has been carried over to the next session because it requires a mandate review from the Board of Insurance. This bill requires that insurance companies cover the cost of PFAS blood serum testing for those impacted by PFAS contamination.

LD 1006: An Act to Ensure Access to Safe Drinking Water from Household Wells in Rural Areas by Expanding Testing

  • LD 1006 passed during this session, however, it will be carried over to the next legislative session to see if it can be funded. This bill requires a program to provide free testing for PFAS in household well water of low-income residents through contracts with qualified laboratories.  

LD 1488: An Act to Expand Testing for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Private Drinking Water Wells

  • LD 1488 passed, however, like LD 1006, it will be carried over to the next session to see if it can be funded. This bill requires testing of well water for PFAS and other contaminants by a landlord of a residential building supplied by a private drinking water well. It will require the landlord to test every 5 years and disclose the results of the water testing to tenants. 

LD 1537: An Act to Amend the Laws Relating to the Prevention of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Pollution and to Provide Additional Funding

  • LD 1537 was tabled and will be carried over into the next legislative session. However, sections of LD 1537 were added to LD 217 “An Act to Support Manufacturers Whose Products Contain Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances,” including language to exempt small businesses with less than 25 employees from reporting and extending the deadline for reporting to Jan 1, 2025. LD 217 passed and has been signed by the Governor

LD 1645: An Act to Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste

  • LD 1645 did not pass during this session unfortunately, but the fight will continue. This bill would have banned the sale of polystyrene peanuts in the state, following the lead of several other states including New Jersey and Oregon. 

Defend Our Health has made great strides this year to pass critical legislation for the health and wellbeing of all Mainers. As an intern at the organization, it has been incredibly impactful to be a part of this process, knowing that future Mainers will be benefiting from this work. With additional support Defend Our Health can continue advocating for healthier communities for all. 

Support Defend Our Health today!