He currently lives in Guilford with his wife Melissa, an elementary school teacher. They have two children; Sara is a pre-school teacher in Portland, Maine and Benjamin is a U.S. Border Patrol agent stationed in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Paul enjoys hunting, fishing, woodlot management, maple syrup production, as well as following the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and the Maine Black Bears.

Committee on Education & Cultural Affairs

The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs oversees legislation pertaining to the Department of Education; State Board of Education; school finance, governance and administration; school budgets; school facilities; curriculum, instruction and assessment; teachers and administrators; special education and child development services; education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students; career and technical education; charter schools, alternative education, school choice and home schooling; school district reorganization; online learning; student health, nutrition and safety; truancy and dropouts; educational services at juvenile correctional facilities; adult education; Maine Education Policy Research Institute; University of Maine System; Maine Community College System; Maine Maritime Academy; postsecondary education finance and governance; Maine State Library; and cultural affairs, including Maine Arts Commission, Maine State Museum, Maine Historical Society, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Maine Humanities Council and Maine Public, formerly known as Maine Public Broadcasting.

Constituent Services

Congratulatory letters, Legislative Sentiments, flags flown over the Capitol, assistance with state departments, general comments or questions about legislative matters. 

Contact Information

Mail: 2 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04330

Email: Paul.Stearns@legislature.maine.gov

Legislative Office: (207) 287-1440

Sponsored Legislation (2019-2020)

LD 14	(HP15)
An Act To Improve Science and Engineering Education for Maine’s Students
LD 29	(HP30)
Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force To Address the Opioid Crisis in the State by Establishing a Work Group To Develop Educational Programming for Prevention of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders among Youth and Adolescents
LD 33	(HP34)
An Act To Establish a Thanksgiving Youth Turkey Hunting Season
LD 55	(HP52)
An Act To Return the Normal Cost of Teacher Retirement to the State
LD 56	(HP53)
An Act To Ban the Use of Personal Watercraft on Lower Wilson Pond and Upper Wilson Pond
LD 95	(HP81)
An Act To Clarify Residency Requirements for Legislative Candidates
LD 108	(HP90)
An Act To Protect Historic Places and Structures on the Federal Aid Highway System
LD 160	(SP47)
An Act To Add Instruction in Personal Finance to the Statewide System of Learning Results
LD 225	(HP188)
An Act Regarding Transportation Management Software and School Bus Replacement
LD 229	(HP192)
An Act To Increase the Safety of Home Buyers Concerning Chimney Inspections
LD 236	(HP199)
An Act Regarding the Use of Unanticipated State Aid for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education
LD 237	(HP200)
An Act To Appropriate Funds for Coaching Services for Existing and New Prekindergarten Programs
LD 337	(HP262)
An Act To Start a Spring Bear Hunting Season
LD 375	(HP284)
An Act To Promote the Forest Products Industry in School Construction and Renovation Involving Heating Systems
LD 386	(HP295)
An Act To Establish a Comprehensive Wildlife Biology Internship Program
LD 629	(HP458)
An Act To Ensure a Seat on the Shellfish Advisory Council Is Held by a Person with a Background and Credentials in a Field of Marine Science
LD 649	(HP470)
An Act To Enhance Collaboration among State Agencies To Improve Landowner Relations
LD 650	(HP471)
An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Landowner Relations Program
LD 651	(HP472)
An Act To Facilitate School Access to Federal Title I Funds and Improve the Delivery of Special Education Services
LD 654	(HP475)
An Act Regarding Instruction in Civics in Secondary Schools
LD 672	(HP493)
An Act To Allow Local Flexibility in Teacher Assignment To Enhance Student Achievement
LD 695	(SP208)
An Act To Require Biodegradable Hooks and Lures for Freshwater Fishing
LD 713	(HP518)
An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Endangered Species Laws
LD 727	(HP532)
An Act Concerning Funding of Alternative Organizational Structures
LD 859	(HP633)
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund Equipment for Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions
LD 865	(HP639)
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Funding Sources of the Maine Controlled Moose Hunt Season
LD 911	(SP265)
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation
LD 932	(HP687)
An Act Regarding Moose Permit Subpermittees
LD 939	(HP694)
An Act Regarding the Regulation of Rabbit Production for Local Consumption
LD 965	(HP720)
An Act To Restrict Cell Phone Use by Students While in School
LD 979	(HP734)
An Act To Provide Consistent Data Regarding Education Funding
LD 1013	(SP292)
An Act To Clarify the Disqualification from Unemployment Benefits of a Person Who Is Terminated from Employment for Being Under the Influence of Marijuana
LD 1081	(SP313)
An Act To Impose Further Restrictions on where Marijuana May Be Smoked
LD 1118	(SP338)
An Act To Give the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Rule-making Authority To Establish a Bear Season Framework and Bag Limits
LD 1147	(HP836)
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Size and Weight of All-terrain Vehicles, the Operation of Motor Vehicles on Designated All-terrain Vehicle Trails and the Operation of All-terrain Vehicles on Trails Posted with Size or Weight Limits and To Update and Improve Funding Mechanisms for All-terrain Vehicle Trail Development and Maintenance
LD 1171	(SP357)
An Act To Prevent Sexual and Domestic Violence and To Support Survivors
LD 1182	(HP856)
An Act To Improve School Safety by Requiring Law Enforcement Visits
LD 1220	(HP880)
An Act To Remove Certain Restrictions Imposed on Retired State Employees Who Return to Work as Educators
LD 1267	(SP387)
An Act To Allow the Awarding of Graduation Credits by Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions
LD 1313	(HP948)
An Act To Enact the Maine Death with Dignity Act
LD 1350	(SP418)
An Act To Improve Rural Health Care
LD 1382	(HP1003)
An Act To Establish Computer Science Courses and Content in Kindergarten to Grade 12 Schools
LD 1425	(HP1038)
An Act To Maintain the Integrity of the Department of Education by Prohibiting Its Promotion of Policies and Practices That Are Not Based on Rigorous Peer Review and Analysis, Limiting Acceptance of Private Funding in Implementing and Influencing State Policy and Retaining the Home Rule Powers to School Administrative Units
LD 1433	(HP1043)
An Act To Protect the Environment and Public Health by Further Reducing Toxic Chemicals in Packaging
LD 1481	(HP1083)
An Act To Establish the Big Moose Mountain Regional Development Authority
LD 1489	(HP1091)
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Election of Senators
LD 1551	(HP1126)
An Act To Clarify Fishing Laws between the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources as They Relate to Striped Bass in Inland Waters
LD 1553	(SP488)
An Act Directing That the Towns Constituting Hospital Administrative District No. 4 Hold a Vote on the Proposed Merger with Northern Light Health
LD 1579	(HP1141)
An Act To Allow Municipalities To Stock Ponds in Their Areas with Fish
LD 1708	(HP1220)
An Act To Provide for the Merger of Hospital Administrative District No. 4 into MRH Corp., a Maine Nonprofit, Nonstock Private Corporation
LD 1799	(HP1280)
Resolve, Authorizing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To Convey Certain Land in the Little Moose Unit of Moosehead Junction Township
LD 2096	(HP1493)
An Act To Save Lives by Capping the Out-of-pocket Cost of Certain Medications