AUGUSTA, Maine (WGAN) Governor Janet Mills signed legislation on Thursday that will keep two Maine Veterans’ Homes in Machias and Caribou open.

Maine Veterans’ Homes said the two facilities would be closing this spring because it was the only course of action to continue serving veterans in the future. A spokesperson said this month they had 640 beds across their homes but were caring for only 384 veterans.

Since that announcement, Gov. Janet Mills and lawmakers have vowed to try to keep the homes open. Mills has proposed the use of $3.5 million in her budget to fund legislation brought forward by Senate President Troy Jackson, which saw unanimous approval from lawmakers.

The Mills administration says the bill lays out a public and transparent closure process that requires legislative approval, and puts back into statute the six municipalities where Maine Veterans’ Homes must be located.

“Our promise to Maine veterans is that we will stand by them, just as they stood by us in their service to our state and our nation,” Gov. Mills said in a statement on Thursday. “The veterans who live in the Caribou and Machias homes, along with their families and the hardworking, compassionate staff, all deserve for these facilities to stay open.”