OPINION | Proud of my work during this session

State Sen. Henry Ingwersen reflects on the past year and several of the bills he sponsored that are now laws, providing help to some of Maine’s most vulnerable citizens

By HENRY INGWERSEN | State Senate, Dist. 32

Now that the Legislature has adjourned for the year, I am taking some time to think about our work to lower everyday costs for Maine families and support our state’s hardest workers. Several bills that I sponsored were signed into law, tackling issues ranging from rising childcare and food costs to the health of Maine workers.

One of my top priorities was helping families access quality, affordable childcare in their communities – without breaking the bank.

As the Senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, I worked to support the childcare businesses and providers that are the anchors of Maine communities — I sometimes refer to them as the “workforce behind the workforce.”

My new law, LD 1728, lowers the co-pays for families participating in the Child Care Affordability Program. It also ensures that providers are being reimbursed fairly when families use the program. It’s a win-win that helps keep the doors open to childcare centers like St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford or the Arundel Children’s Garden.

My colleagues and I also took action to make sure no Mainer goes hungry — protecting access to critical food assistance in the face of federal funding cuts. Another new law I authored, LD 2004, better protects Maine’s food security programs, including Maine Harvest Bucks and Senior FarmShare, when the federal government reduces or eliminates match dollars.

I sponsored this priority bill after the federal government delayed SNAP benefits last fall, causing anxiety and fear throughout our state. Children and seniors should never have to go hungry while politicians debate in Washington.

Another one of my bills, LD 468, advanced in the first legislative session and finally got the funding needed to become law this year. It will help Maine residents stretch their SNAP dollars further and access locally produced food through investments in the same programs that LD 2004 protects. It is a win for both Maine residents, who can continue access fresh, farm-grown local products, and the farmers throughout Maine who grow that food and bring it to markets.

Taken together, both LD 2004 and LD 468 reflect my commitment to address food insecurity. As a father and grandfather, I personally know how important it is to help families afford to put local, nutritious food on their kitchen tables for their kids and grandkids.

Additionally, my conversations with farmers in our area (and my own experience as a beekeeper!), strengthen my resolve to support the folks who produce our food. Strengthening local food systems has the added benefit of protecting our people as extreme weather events like droughts, hurricanes and wildfires disrupt other food-producing regions.

My grandkids and their generation are always on my mind, whether I’m sitting in my committee room or pressing my button to vote in the Senate chamber. They remind me that I have an obligation to fight to protect Maine’s future, including by defending the heritage industries that have sustained so many Maine families, and must continue to thrive.

These critical industries – farming, fishing, logging – play an important role in our communities and economy. Recognizing the intense everyday strain on farmers, fishermen and loggers, I sponsored a bill, LD 2144, that establishes a working group to identify ways to improve wellness and mental health for them. I look forward to seeing that effort get underway in the coming months.

These four bills that have now become law are just a few examples of the work that I was proud to lead this year. In the coming weeks and months, as I see you out and about in the district, I hope that we’ll talk about the rest. When I hear from you, I do some of my best work.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Henry Ingwersen (D) is serving his second term, representing District 32 in the Maine Senate, which includes Biddeford and the surrounding communities of Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman. He may be reached at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov

NOTE | In fairness to all candidates, the Gazette is temporarily suspending this monthly column from now until after the Nov. 2026 election. Sen. Ingwersen is being challenged for his Dist. 32 seat by Jason Litalien, an unenrolled, independent candidate from Biddeford.

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