COVID-19: Maine Governor Janet Mills Extends State of Emergency

On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Governor Janet Mills issued a proclamation extending Maine’s state of civil emergency through November 27, 2020. This is the eighth proclamation renewing the state of civil emergency (which, by law, terminates in 30 days unless renewed by the governor), and keeps Maine in line with nearly every other state in the nation.

As with the previous renewals, this proclamation allows Governor Mills to continue deploying all available state resources to respond to the pandemic. The proclamation also continues to grant emergency powers to the Department of Health and Human Services, and continues Maine’s eligibility for certain federal aid related to COVID-19. With the onset of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020, the numbering of Executive Orders has started at number one for Fiscal Year 2020/2021. 

The new proclamation does not change the expiration date of Executive Order 55 (FY19/20), An Order to Further Implement the Restarting Plan, or Executive Order 14 (FY 20/21), An Order to Implement Phase Four of the Restarting Maine’s Economy Plan, both of which remain in effect until rescinded. Nor does it change the expiration dates of Executive Order 57 (FY19/20), An Order Regarding Travelers into Maine (which also authorizes the implementation of the Keep Maine Healthy Plan), or Executive Order 2 (FY 20/21), An Order Strengthening the Use of Face Coverings. These orders remain in effect unless sooner amended, renewed, or terminated. 

In addition, several other executive orders (listed below and summarized) have been extended as a result of the new proclamation. These orders remain in effect until the termination of the state of civil emergency unless rescinded sooner:

• Executive Order 23 (FY 19/20), Suspending Provisions of the Maine Pharmacy Act to Facilitate the Continuation of Out-of-State Clinical Trials of Investigational Drugs
• Executive Order 35 (FY 19/20), Suspending Enforcement of Provisions of Certain Licensing Statutes
• Executive Order 42 (FY 19/20), COVID-19 Related Loan Guarantee Program
• Executive Order 43 (FY 19/20), Extraordinary Emergency Financial Orders
• Executive Order 46 (FY 19/20), Law Enforcement Related Licensing Requirements and Training Deadlines
• Executive Order 47 (FY 19/20), Eligibility for Children’s Homeless Shelters
• Executive Order 48 (FY 19/20), Rulemaking for Federal Funding of MaineCare
• Executive Order 54 (FY 19/20), Admissions to the Department of Corrections
• Executive Order 5 (FY20/21), Rent Supports and Housing Protections
• Executive Order 6 (FY 20/21), Outdoor Gatherings and Face Coverings for Children
• Executive Order 9 (FY 20/21), Amending Executive Orders 55 FY 19/20 and 1 FY 20/21
• Executive Order 12 (FY 20/21), Work Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefit Eligibility

The following orders will expire 30 days after the termination of the state of civil emergency unless rescinded sooner:

• Executive Order 18 (FY 19/20), Compliance Dates Under Certain Motor Vehicle Laws
• Executive Order 24 (FY 19/20), Recycling and Solid Waste Facility Operating Hours
• Executive Order 30-A (FY 19/20), Extension of the Current Use Taxation Deadline
• Executive Order 31 (FY 19/20), Extending Deadlines Related to Certain Property Tax Exemptions
• Executive Order 37 (FY 19/20), Modifying Certain In-Person Notarization and Acknowledgement Requirements
• Executive Order 38 (FY 19/20), Expiration of Optometric Lens Prescriptions
• Executive Order 40 (FY 19/20), Unlawful Evictions, Writs of Possession and Initiation of Eviction Proceedings
• Executive Order 44 (FY 19/20), Extending a Certain Reporting Period (pertaining to sentinel events)
• Executive Order 7 (FY 20/21), Pre-K-12 Education
• Executive Order 8 (FY 20/21), November 2020 General Election

The following order will expire 90 days after the termination of the state of civil emergency unless rescinded sooner:

• Executive Order 1 (FY 20/21), Suspending Enforcement of Certain Licensing Statutes and Rules (pertaining to professional licenses)

Please refer to our alert for more information on reopenings and sector-specific guidance in Maine and throughout the region, as well as our alert regarding travel and quarantine restrictions.

For questions regarding this, or any of Governor Mills’ executive orders related to COVID-19, please contact Pierce Atwood attorneys Ann Robinson, or Newell Augur.