Legislative Update: Rep. Lucas Lanigan

Rep. Lucas Lanigan
Photo: maine.gov

By Zendelle Bouchard  

In the 131st Maine Legislature, Sanford’s four state legislators have focused on priorities including taxation and health care. In this article, we profile the work of Rep. Lucas Lanigan. Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio is also profiled in this issue (see that story). Next week, we will profile Rep. Ann Fredericks and Sen. Matt Harrington. 

Lucas Lanigan (R) represents District 141, which includes Newfield and Shapleigh, as well as parts of Sanford and Springvale. Lanigan sits on the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business, and was primary sponsor on three bills in 2023. 

• LD 161 – An Act to Modify the Law Regarding Tinted Glass in Motor Vehicles. This bill sought to amend the provisions of law governing the use of tinted windows to allow tinting of the windshield and increased tinting of the side and rear windows. The Committee on Transportation took up the bill and voted it out as Ought Not to Pass. 
• LD 533 – An Act to Exempt Overtime Pay from Individual Income Tax. This bill sought to exempt overtime pay from income tax if the employer is required by law to pay the overtime to the employee. The Committee on Taxation took up the bill and voted it out as Ought Not to Pass. 
• LD 550 – An Act to Increase Correctional Officer Salary and Benefits. This bill proposed to increase the base salary and benefits provided to correctional officers in order to aid efforts to recruit and retain correctional officers. The Committee on Labor and Housing took up the bill and recommended it be carried over to this year’s session, but, after another work session, the Committee voted it out as Ought Not to Pass. 

It should be noted that Lanigan is serving in his first term in the legislature. Freshmen lawmakers are advised not to submit too many bills. 

Lanigan’s cosponsored bills that became law include: 

• LD436, which provides career and technical education (CTE) students with core credit toward a high school diploma for work completed at a CTE center. 
• LD1155, which increases legislative salaries. 
• LD1970, which created the Maine Indian Child Welfare Act to establish procedures and standards for cases concerning custody proceedings, foster care placements, termination of parental rights and adoptions involving Indian children. 

Lanigan is also a cosponsor of LD1975, which would decriminalize possession of small amounts of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, and create a fund to improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The bill had a public hearing before the Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 17. Read the Maine Monitor’s article about the bill here: https://themainemonitor.org/drug-decriminalization-oregon-data/, which quotes Lanigan’s testimony about his family’s experience with SUD. Read his full testimony here: https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getTestimonyDoc.asp?id=180327. 

Lanigan did not respond to our request for more information on his bills or his other legislative priorities. 

For more information, read this detailed article on the path a bill takes through Maine’s legislature: https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/Documents/PathofLegislation. 

Lanigan’s House webpage is here: https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/Details/1481.