AUGUSTA, Maine — On Jan. 3, the 131st Legislature reconvenes in Augusta to weigh in on bills ranging from homelessness to education, along with guns and power utilities.
For all of the returning lawmakers, it is business as usual since many bills that were tabled will resurface.
But after a year that featured intense and deadly weather, along with one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings, there is inspiration for some bills that could have some sway come the new year.
Democrats like Representative Vicki Doudera of Camden are proposing a bill that would allow people to self-report to add themselves to a federal list prohibiting them from purchasing a firearm.
Doudera said it was submitted before the Lewiston mass shooting and would target episodes of gun violence when they have to do with self-harm.
The representative added that there could be more talks after the shooting such as closing what she called a "background check loophole," along with moving on to a red flag law instead of Maine's yellow flag law.
"I'm not saying abandon the yellow flag law because it has worked out in some cases, and that is great... it certainly seems like something went awry for sure when it came to Robert Card," Doudera said.
The yellow flag law was criticized following the Lewiston mass shooting for not preventing the shooter, who was committed to a mental health facility, from accessing guns.
Republican House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham said the yellow flag law should have stopped the Lewiston gunman.
"This was clearly a mental health issue and our yellow flag laws should have taken care of this guy," Faulkingham said.
Faulkingham added that he is looking forward to the findings of the governor's commission investigation, before discussing what steps the Legislature can further take.
"I haven't heard a single gun control legislation that would have addressed what happened in Lewiston," he said.
The House minority leader said that Republicans this coming year are looking at reducing taxes, along with reducing energy costs.
"We'd like to work on a bill such as the one that failed last time on net energy billing... that's one of our top priorities," he said.
Following last week's storm that cut off power and water supplies for hundreds of thousands and claimed the lives of four Maine residents, Faulkingham said it will be a top priority to provide aid to rural towns to help prepare for future storms.
Homelessness is also a key issue the state saw, specifically in Portland where city leaders struggle to deal with the increasing number of people who need help. The struggles led to multiple sweeps of homeless encampments, with many people pushed into larger encampments.
Democrat Representative Traci Gere said the report in 2023 showed Maine is behind 80,000 housing units, and emphasized the dire need to build more housing stock.
"We need more housing for both people moving into Maine as well as people who are changing locations," Rep. Gere said.
Gere said people can be brought from transitional housing into more permanent housing with more housing stock, allowing unhoused people to acquire more housing for themselves.
She added her committee will look toward funding emergency, low barrier shelters.
"People need to keep in mind in Maine, we are in a great situation, we have communities that are engaged," she said.
The legislative session returns Jan. 3.