Senator Dawn Hill (D–York) is serving her third term in the Senate in the 127th Legislature, was elected to be the Assistant Democratic Leader and is serving on the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Read Dawn's Extended Bio»
Professional Leadership
Legislative Accomplishments
Legislative Experience
Present - 126th Maine State Senate
Professional Leadership
- Small Business Owner, it's a dog's world, York (1997-Present)
- Board of Directors, MMG Insurance (1991-Present)
- Maine Democratic Woman of the Year 2014
- Past Owner, Real Estate and Corporate Law Practice
- Member Leadership Maine's Omicron Class
Legislative Accomplishments
- Negotiated in the 126th session a two year budget and subsequent budget supplements that: garnered unanimous Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee votes on each of the hundreds of line items in them, passed with super majorities in both the House and the Senate, and then won override votes of the Governor's vetoes with even larger margins.
- Submitted bills that resulted in greater transparency and fair play in the treatment of York Hospital by the healthcare networks and Maine employee insurance program.
- Negotiated five balanced budgets during 125th session that passed the House and Senate with a super majority (2/3 approved)
- Holding MTA (Maine Turnpike Authority) accountable to citizens (See Bangor Daily News)
- Fought to secure state and federal funding for repair and replacement of Maine's three gateway bridges
- Pushed through legislation allowing Coast Bus lines to expand service in District 1
Legislative Experience
Present - 126th Maine State Senate
- Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee, Senate Chair
- Senate Committee on Senatorial Vote
- Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee, Ranking Senate Democrat
- Senate Conduct & Ethics Committee
- Chair, Government Oversight Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Right to Know Advisory Committee
- Criminal Justice Committee
About Senator Dawn Hill
Senator Hill is serving in her third term in the Maine Senate 127 th Legislature. She was elected as Assistant Democratic Leader and is serving on the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, the Senate Rules Committee and the Senatorial Votes Committee. In the 126th Legislature, she was the Senate Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
During her first Maine Senate term, the 125th Legislature, she served as the Ranking Democratic Senate Member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and on the Ethics Committee. In 2014 Senator Hill was chosen as one of the Maine Democratic ‘Women of The Year’ by Emerge Maine. Hill’s prior legislative service includes two terms in the Maine Legislature as Maine State Representative for District 149 (2006 – 2010). In the 124th Legislature she served on the Judiciary Committee and as the House chair of the Government Oversight Committee, which directs the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) to conduct independent evaluations and investigations for government effectiveness. Hill served on the Right to Know Advisory Committee which oversees Maine’s freedom of access laws.
During her first term in the 123rd Legislature, Hill served on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, the House Ethics Committee and was House chair of the Commission to Develop Strategies to Increase Postsecondary Access, Retention and Completion for Low-wage, Low-skilled Adults. Hill was also appointed by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley during the 123rd Legislature to serve on the Indigent Legal Services Study Commission. In May 2008, Hill graduated in the Omicron Class “Leadership Maine,” a program of the Maine Development Foundation. Hill has resided in Cape Neddick, Maine, a part of York, since 1979. She graduated from West Virginia University Law School and practiced corporate and real estate law from 1980 to 1989 at her law firm in York.
Hill is a licensed (inactive status) attorney in both Maine and West Virginia. Hill has extensive small and mid-size business experience. She is the senior serving member of the board of directors for MMG Insurance of Presque Isle, Maine – a property and casualty insurer doing business in ME, NH, VT, PA and VA. In her capacity as a board member she has served on the company’s compensation, governance, and investment committees. In 1998, Hill founded it’s a dog’s world, a large canine training and activity facility in southern Maine with more than 10 employees. She continues to oversee the direction and development of the business.
In the past, Hill has served on and chaired the following: York Planning Board, York Historic District Commission, the Maine State Planning Office Critical Areas Advisory Board and its Rare Plant Technical Advisory Committee. She was also a former board member of Emerge Maine and York Land Trust.
During her first Maine Senate term, the 125th Legislature, she served as the Ranking Democratic Senate Member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and on the Ethics Committee. In 2014 Senator Hill was chosen as one of the Maine Democratic ‘Women of The Year’ by Emerge Maine. Hill’s prior legislative service includes two terms in the Maine Legislature as Maine State Representative for District 149 (2006 – 2010). In the 124th Legislature she served on the Judiciary Committee and as the House chair of the Government Oversight Committee, which directs the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) to conduct independent evaluations and investigations for government effectiveness. Hill served on the Right to Know Advisory Committee which oversees Maine’s freedom of access laws.
During her first term in the 123rd Legislature, Hill served on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, the House Ethics Committee and was House chair of the Commission to Develop Strategies to Increase Postsecondary Access, Retention and Completion for Low-wage, Low-skilled Adults. Hill was also appointed by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley during the 123rd Legislature to serve on the Indigent Legal Services Study Commission. In May 2008, Hill graduated in the Omicron Class “Leadership Maine,” a program of the Maine Development Foundation. Hill has resided in Cape Neddick, Maine, a part of York, since 1979. She graduated from West Virginia University Law School and practiced corporate and real estate law from 1980 to 1989 at her law firm in York.
Hill is a licensed (inactive status) attorney in both Maine and West Virginia. Hill has extensive small and mid-size business experience. She is the senior serving member of the board of directors for MMG Insurance of Presque Isle, Maine – a property and casualty insurer doing business in ME, NH, VT, PA and VA. In her capacity as a board member she has served on the company’s compensation, governance, and investment committees. In 1998, Hill founded it’s a dog’s world, a large canine training and activity facility in southern Maine with more than 10 employees. She continues to oversee the direction and development of the business.
In the past, Hill has served on and chaired the following: York Planning Board, York Historic District Commission, the Maine State Planning Office Critical Areas Advisory Board and its Rare Plant Technical Advisory Committee. She was also a former board member of Emerge Maine and York Land Trust.