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What to Expect: 2nd Session of the 132nd Legislature Kicks Off

 On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the second session of Maine's 132nd Legislature began.  
Here's what to expect: 
  • In the first three days, Governor Mills has to act on the roughly 60 bills passed and carried over during the first session. She has three days to either veto these bills or let them become law without her signature. You can read more about her actions on these bills here.  
  • There will be a sizable focus on the supplemental budget for several reasons, the primary being how leaders plan to manage the estimated $250 million in unanticipated state revenue.  
  • Accordingly, Governor Mills will give her State of the State address on January 27. For those wanting to watch in real-time, it'll broadcast at 7pm and will be picked up live by many broadcasters including MainePublic, the major news stations, and live streamed through the legislature's website. 
  • Pundits and those in the know are suggesting the topic areas for session to be heavily focused include: Healthcare—though not necessarily LTC; housing; Maine's traditional industries, i.e., forestry, agricultural, and environmental impacts; cost of goods, impact to Maine families; and the response to federal policy changes and their impact on programs and services within the state.  
  • Lastly, politics itself will be a heavy issue. Lots of politics, from all walks of party affiliation and political races, the impact of campaigns and reactions to/from campaigns will heavily influence the shape of things in the State House during this session. 
To give you better context about how much politics itself will play into the session I've provided a list below of sitting legislators, former legislators, and/or current politicians who are running for higher office. 
These races invariably will have an impact on the day-to-day work and functionality of the legislature.  
Here's the quick rundown  

Three sitting legislators are running for Governor: 
  • Senator Rick Bennett 
  • Representative Ed Crockett 
  • Senator Jame Libby 
Two sitting legislators are running for U.S. House of Representatives: 
  • Representative Tiffany Roberts-challenging Chellie Pingree in the 1st Congressional District primary 
  • Senator Joe Baldacci—running for the 2nd Congressional District seat that Jared Golden will vacate.  
  • Other sitting legislators have made public intention to run for Congress, including Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham 
Four former legislators are running for Governor: 
  • Troy Jackson, former President of the Maine Senate 
  • Hannah Pingree, former Maine House Speaker  
  • Shenna Bellows, former state senator 
  • Garrett Mason, former Maine Senate Majority Leader 

Four additional big names in Maine politics are running for office who haven't been mentioned previously: 
  • Current Governor Janet Mills is running for U.S. Senate 
  • Former Governor Paul LePage is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat 
  • Former Secretary of State and former legislator Matt Dunlap is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat 
  • Former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah is running for Governor  

If you're interested in following along with bills, hearings, and all the other legislative fun, please reach out.  
 
 
 Staff contact: ablack[at]mehca.org 

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