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Maine Senate dispenses with reading of many bills, refers them to committees; adopts recognitions and condolence orders
Summary
On the Senate floor the body dispensed with readings and referred numerous bills to standing committees, recognized high school and pro sports teams and individuals, and adopted condolence joint orders for two recently deceased community members.
The Maine State Senate on Feb. 4, 2025 dispensed with the reading of multiple bills and communications and referred them to appropriate joint standing committees, adopted several ceremonial recognitions for athletes and public servants, and passed condolence resolutions honoring Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall and Duane Bickford.
Throughout the morning the Senate moved by unanimous consent to refer groups of bills and petitions to committees: items 1-1 through 1-3 to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry; items 1-4 through 1-8 to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety; items 1-9 and 1-10 to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs; items 1-11 through 1-13 to the Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Technology; items 1-14 through 1-17 to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; items 1-18 through 1-20 to the Committee on Health and Human Services; items 1-21 through 1-23 to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services; items 1-24 through 1-29 to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development; items 1-32 through 1-37 to the Committee on Judiciary; items 1-39 through 1-40 to the Committee on State and Local Government; items 1-41 through 1-46 to the Committee on Taxation; and items 1-47 through 1-49 to the Committee on Transportation, among other referrals. Supplement items were similarly referred under unanimous consent.
The Senate also adopted joint orders recognizing community achievements: it honored the Washington Academy girls volleyball team for winning the Class B state championship; it recognized Emmett Apple of Windsor as one of two Maine delegates to the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program; it acknowledged Officer Jose Gomez of the Topson Police Department for rescuing a man from a bridge; and it welcomed the Portland Hearts of Pines professional soccer club to the chamber ahead of their inaugural season. Each recognition was moved on the floor by the presenting senator and ordered sent to the House for concurrence.
The Senate adopted condolence orders on the deaths of Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall (item 4-25) and Duane Bickford (item 4-29). The condolence text for Coggeshall noted his work in marketing, support for land conservation and green-hydrogen advocacy and that he was remembered for public service; the condolence for Bickford recounted his 32 years with the Fairfield Fire Department, his role in creating a regional fire training center and the naming of the Duane Bickford Fire Training Facility. Both condolence orders were moved and adopted by unanimous consent and ordered sent to the House for concurrence.
The Senate adjourned under a joint order until the next scheduled session day, with the adoption of the condolence items noted as part of the adjournment motion.
Why it matters: The referrals set the path for legislative review by standing committees; the recognitions signal community accomplishments and the condolence orders formally record the Legislature’s acknowledgments of the deaths of two public figures.
