Maine Senate President Troy Jackson’s Major Legislative Actions Reviewed
Troy Jackson, a longtime Maine legislator and 2024 U.S. Senate candidate, is noted for shifting policy positions and leading several high-profile bills on abortion access, gun safety, school meals, heating assistance, childcare, and budget spending.
Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a former logger who has served 20 years in the state legislature, was re-elected to the Senate leadership in 2020 and is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. During his tenure, Jackson oversaw a period when Democrats controlled both chambers and the governor’s office.
In 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Jackson supported Governor Janet Mills’ bill that allows abortions at any stage of pregnancy when medically necessary. He appeared at a press conference with Dana Peirce, who had traveled out of state for a procedure, and said the state should not impede doctors and patients.
Following the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Jackson co-sponsored a package of gun-safety measures, including a waiting period for purchases, a ban on rapid-fire devices, and expanded background checks. He said the tragedy prompted his shift on the issue.
In early 2024, Jackson challenged Governor Mills by submitting additional spending bills on veto day, a move the governor rejected as contrary to constitutional rules.
Jackson also championed a 2021 bill that provides free meals to all public-school students, a program that passed unanimously and remains funded. He highlighted food-insecurity stories from his district during the pandemic.
He advocated for an emergency heating-assistance program in 2022 that would issue $450 checks to residents facing high fuel costs. After initial Senate opposition, he helped negotiate a faster review process that led to the bill’s eventual passage.
In 2023, Jackson sponsored legislation that doubled wage subsidies for childcare workers and increased assistance for families, gaining bipartisan support from the state chamber of commerce and labor unions. The bill passed overwhelmingly and was incorporated into the state budget.
During the final days of the 2024 legislative session, Jackson pushed for an additional $100 million in spending tied to a storm-recovery package and later advocated for a $10 million amendment to fund education staff, veterans, and nursing homes. Both proposals were ultimately rejected, and Jackson acknowledged the strain the negotiations placed on his relationships with colleagues.
Jackson’s record shows a gradual shift from earlier conservative positions toward more progressive policies on reproductive rights, gun control, and social services, reflecting his stated goal of leading with a focus on working-class concerns.