Yesterday at 6:59 PM The so-called Red Barn bill earned unanimous support from the Legislatures Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee and now heads to the full Legislature.

By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA A bill proposed after the a state official ordered the Red Barn restaurant to stop holding its community fundraisers won the unanimous approval of a legislative committee Tuesday.

click image to enlarge

GREEN LIGHT: Red Barn restaurant owner Laura Benedict, shown in NOvember 2014, is ecstatic that lawmakers support a bill to make it easier for businesses to raise money for charities, according to her spokeswoman.

Staff file photo by Joe Phelan

The proposed law change would allow businesses to raise funds for nonprofit organizations and people in need without registering as nonprofits themselves. Over the last five years, Red Barn in Augusta has raised $635,000 for various charities.

But in November, a letter from an assistant attorney general directed the restaurant to cease engaging in solicitation as a charitable organization until you become licensed as a charitable organization or show why you do not need to be licensed as such.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lori Fowle, D-Vassalboro, received a unanimous ought to pass endorsement from the Legislatures Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee after a work session Tuesday.

Alicia Barnes, business manager of the Red Barn and volunteer executive director of the Red Barn Cares Foundation, which is being established as a nonprofit organization to further the Red Barns charitable activities, said she and owner Laura Benedict hope the law change will encourage more businesses to hold fundraising events for people and organizations in need in their communities.

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Committee OKs fundraising bill spurred by Augusta restaurant