The first day of the legislative session in Augusta on Wednesday included debate over taxes and affordability.

Democrats have put forward 20 bills they say would address affordability.

Republicans are pushing for the state to accept tax breaks under President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

Democrats have blamed the Trump administration for rising costs faced by struggling Mainers.

Republicans say majority Democrats are to blame for affordability problems, citing votes to increase taxes.

Gov. Janet Mills also vetoed proposed changes to the state’s right-to-repair law.

The bill was approved in a statewide referendum in 2023, allowing independent auto repair shops to access diagnostic information on newer vehicles.

According to the Portland Press Herald, Mills said the changes would have allowed automobile manufacturers to determine how the data can be accessed by independent repair shops.

It was the only bill vetoed by Mills on the first day of the new session, with 52 bills allowed to become law without her signature.