Backyard chicken bill making its way through Maine State House

A look back at some notable action in the Legislature this week • Maine Morning Star

Members of the Maine House of Representatives during the first session of 2024 in the State House in Augusta. Jan. 3, 2024. Photo: Jim NeugerThe chambers are not always aligned on every bill. When the Maine Senate votes one way and the Maine House of Representatives another, they have a chance to reconsider or alternately to “insist” on their position. If they are unable to reconcile their differences, legislation then dies in nonconcurrence (th…

Backyard chicken bill making its way through Maine State House

AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill to require cities and towns to allow backyard chickens is flying through the State House and should soon land on Gov. Janet Mills desk. Rep. Jennifer Poirier, R-Skowhegan, sponsored the legislation after hearing that some cities and towns were prohibiting the birds despite the 2021 passage of a right to food constitutional amendment. Maine was the first state in the country to enshrine a right to food in its state constit…