As the end of my term as your state senator approaches, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the past couple of years and all that we have been through together. When I was sworn into office in December 2020 as the state senator representing Senate District 13, our country was experiencing some of the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was hope that brighter days were ahead, but we all knew it would take hard work and cooperation to get us there. Nearly two years later, we still have work to do, but we can also look back on all of the good work we accomplished by listening to each other and working toward a common goal.

To start, we worked on concrete ways to address Maine’s opioid crisis by listening to those who have personal experience with substance use disorder. Last year, I partnered with the recovery community to pass a law to help expand recovery resources in underserved areas of Maine, a key step to helping people get treatment right in the community they call home, so they can reclaim their lives. And this year, I was so proud to sponsor the bill that made Maine’s Good Samaritan Law one of the strongest in the nation, to encourage people to call for help when someone is experiencing an overdose. This new law will help save lives, and none of this would have been possible without the advocacy of people on the ground. I’ll be eternally grateful for their partnership.

I also sponsored legislation to strengthen our democracy, to ensure that Maine people are the ones deciding the future of our state. I sponsored a law to improve Maine’s laws regarding spending by political action committees, a necessary step in making our politics more honest and transparent. Running for office shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity to enrich oneself, and this safeguard is one way to make sure that doesn’t happen. And this year, the Legislature passed my bill to create semi-open primaries in Maine, allowing unenrolled voters to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary each cycle, without changing their party affiliation. This new law will go into effect in time for the 2024 elections, and it will help more Mainers make their voices heard in our political process, especially groups like young people and veterans, who are more likely to register as independents, which benefits all of us.

As a firm believer that the health of our environment is directly tied to the health of our people, our culture and our economy, I also worked hard on measures to protect and conserve our natural resources. We began in earnest the hard work of undoing decades of PFAS contamination done to our farmlands, and of preventing more damage from being done. And while we weren’t able to get the Pine Tree Amendment over the finish line this year, I’m hopeful that there will soon be a day where the right to clean air, pure water and a healthy environment is enshrined in Maine’s Constitution.

But the highlight of my service has been meeting with you during my Coffee with Chloe office hours, which I’ve held nearly every month since I was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2018. These chances to connect over a coffee, ice cream or glass of kombucha have given me the opportunity to understand what’s really on the minds of the people in our community so that I can advocate for solutions to these issues in Augusta. To everyone who has taken some time out of their week to attend my office hours and share their point of view, thank you. Without your input I couldn’t effectively do this job, and I’m truly so appreciative. It’s been the honor of a lifetime serving you in the Maine Legislature, and I hope that you will continue engaging with the people who represent you in Augusta.

Meanwhile, I’m still your state senator until the new Legislature is sworn in this December, and I’m here to help however I can. You can send me an email at Chloe.Maxmin@legislature.maine.gov, call or text my cell phone at (207) 200-6224, or find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChloeForSenate.