As a lifelong Mainer, I'm rooted in our shared values of hard work and community. Today, I want to outline some significant steps we've taken in Augusta that aim to make daily life easier for everyone, particularly focusing on new laws taking effect related to safety, housing and property tax initiatives.

First, a road safety update: I want to make you aware that starting this month, Maine's law requiring drivers to slow down or move over for emergency or transportation crews will now extend to include any disabled vehicle. If your vehicle breaks down on a public way, the law requires you to turn on your hazard lights and, if available, place one or more external warning devices like a warning triangle or flare to alert approaching drivers.

For everyone else on the road, we are now required to pass a disabled vehicle a lane over from (not the lane adjacent to) the disabled vehicle. If that's not possible or safe, we must slow down and pass at a careful speed. Failure to do this could result in a fine of at least $275. With winter approaching, the conditions on our roads can become unpredictable. Please be safe out there! 

Additionally, the supplemental budget we passed includes important new measures taking effect soon that you should know about. These are initiatives that prioritize affordable child care, rural emergency services, and a new approach to homelessness that aims to provide stable housing first. These changes will benefit every Mainer, whether you're a parent, a senior, or someone struggling to make ends meet. 

The budget also included funding for my bill, LD 724, which empowers the Maine State Housing Authority to create affordable homes in rural areas. The importance of building housing Mainers can afford in rural areas cannot be understated. This is a crucial step toward making our local communities more prosperous. 

We also took a multifaceted approach to help address property taxes. The revamped Property Tax Fairness Credit is now more accessible and offers a maximum benefit of $2,000 for residents who are 65 and older. We've also built in protections to ensure that widows and widowers won’t see a reduction in their benefits. This program simplifies the existing system and could save the average senior citizen around $500 annually.

For retirees, we've boosted the annual income tax pension deduction from its original $30,000 to $35,000, and with further increases set to take effect in the coming years. 

For working families, we created the Maine Dependent Tax Credit, a fresh and refundable financial benefit scheduled to take effect in 2025. This new $300 exemption replaces the older child care tax credits and is designed to adjust with inflation. What makes it even more inclusive is its availability for various dependents — young children, foster children, or older adults requiring care. 

If you have questions about these tax changes, there are folks who can help. We're fortunate to have organizations like CA$H Maine, which offers free tax assistance to those who qualify. To find more information, visit www.cashmaine.org. 

If you or someone you know has questions about these policies or needs assistance with any state services, please reach out. My office is always here to help. You can contact me directly at Cameron.Reny@legislature.maine.gov or call my Senate office at (207) 287-1515. 

Being your state senator is an honor, and I'm committed to making Maine the best place it can be for all of us. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to continuing to serve you.