Maine Heart at the Capitol 2025: Advocates uniting to change the future of health.
On February 25th, 2025, the American Heart Association hosted the annual Maine Heart at the Capitol 2025 in Augusta, Maine. The event brought together fifty passionate advocates, legislators, and partners to champion critical public health policies. This year’s focus was on addressing acute cardiac events in schools and increasing the tobacco tax.
Throughout the day, advocates engaged in many conversations with legislators and staff. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many lawmakers expressing their support and committing to further discussions. Notably, members of the Health and Human Services Committee, the legislative leadership voiced strong backing for these priorities. The event yielded promising outcomes, particularly in securing support for the inclusion of a tobacco tax increase in the final budget and reinforcing funding for Maine’s tobacco prevention program.
Overall, Maine Heart at the Capitol 2025 was a success. It showcased the power of advocacy, uniting voices to drive meaningful policy change that will improve lives and create healthier communities across the state.