As I write this, we have just begun the new second session of the 132nd Legislature. We have a lot of important work ahead of us in the coming months, including doing more to lower the cost of living for Maine families, remove housing roadblocks and protect our heritage industries. 

One of the most pressing issues our state has been facing in recent years is the urgent need for more housing. As a licensed real estate agent since 1988, I’ve watched this get worse year after year. Working families can’t find apartments near their jobs. Young couples are being priced out of homeownership. Older Mainers on fixed incomes are being forced from communities they’ve called home for decades, all because of rising costs.

This problem extends beyond individual hardship — it’s threatening our local economy. New teachers struggle to find a place to live within commuting distance of our schools. Bath Iron Works, despite offering good-paying jobs, has lost potential workers because housing costs remain out of reach.

To help solve this problem, we need creative solutions. That’s why I have introduced a new bill, LD 2077, An Act to Reduce the Cost of Purchasing a Home by Providing Grants to Reduce Mortgage Rates. This bill would direct the Maine State Housing Authority to provide grants of up to $15,000 to eligible Mainers to reduce their mortgage rates and open the door to homeownership for more families. It would also create an income tax deduction for private mortgage insurance payments on primary residences. 

While common-sense initiatives like LD 2077 could play an important role in improving our housing situation, we must also address local barriers that prevent new housing development. That’s why my colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle have passed legislation that works to cut red tape, streamline permitting processes and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens that add months and thousands of dollars to construction costs. 

We’re also exploring ways to convert underutilized commercial properties into residential units, particularly in our downtown areas. Many of our communities have vacant office spaces and older buildings that could be transformed into much-needed housing while revitalizing our main streets. There has been a bill introduced this session that will assist communities with repurposing vacant school buildings into housing. 

Solving Maine’s housing shortage requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and it won’t be solved overnight. It demands collaboration between state government, municipalities, developers, employers and community members. I am committed to continuing to work in the Legislature to address this issue. 

You can follow legislative developments on all of this session’s housing initiatives here. Additionally, you can submit testimony online or in person here. 

As the Legislature completes its work over the next few months, I look forward to fighting for policies that make Maine more affordable for working families, young professionals and retirees alike. Together, we can ensure that the Mainers from every walk of life can build their lives and futures right here in the communities we love.

As always, please feel free to contact me at Wayne.Farrin@legislature.maine.gov with your questions and concerns. I can best represent our community by hearing your thoughts on legislation and issues both in our district and across the state.

Rep. Wayne Farrin is serving his first term in the Maine House, representing Jefferson, Alna, Whitefield and Wiscasset. He serves as a member of the Marine Resources Committee and the State and Local Government Committee.