A bill that would have sent $450 heating relief checks to most Mainers failed in the Maine Senate by three votes Wednesday following Republican objections about shortcutting the public hearing process.

The legislation proposed by Gov. Janet Mills and negotiated with Democrats and Republicans called for the state to spend nearly $400 million on the one-time payments to an estimated 880,000 Mainers.

The package also earmarked $40 million in supplemental funding for the low-income heating assistance program, $10 million for emergency fuel assistance and $21 million to support emergency housing and shelters.

Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) argued that the bill should be sent to the Appropriations Committee before it comes back to the full Legislature for a vote.

“We have so many needs and the Legislature working with the other agencies has made commitments and many of those commitments are not in this bill,” he said. “I would like to hear from the people whose promises have not been met.”

That effort failed and following additional debate, the final vote was 21-8 in favor of passage, which is three votes shy of the two-thirds needed.

All eight of the "no" votes were cast by Republicans, and six senators were absent.

It was unclear Wednesday evening if a similar bill will be proposed in January when the Legislature meets for its next legislative day.

The measure passed the House 125-16 after about 30 minutes of debate during which some Republicans expressed concern about the effort to pass the legislation quickly.

“We seem to have forgotten we are not a rubber stamp, we are an equal branch of government,” said Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn). “Bypassing the full legislative process is a disservice to our constituents whatever the subject matter.”

Typically, new bills are referred to legislative committees, where they undergo public hearings and at least one work session before heading back to the House and Senate.

But Wednesday was the first day of a new legislative session and committees have yet to be formed. Mills urged swift action because of high home heating fuel prices — the statewide average is currently $5.08 a gallon — and looming increases in electricity prices that will kick-in in January.

Those who voted in support said they see their constituents suffering and felt compelled to act, even though they did not agree with every part of the bill.

“When we’re talking about housing assistance, when we’re talking about heating, it is about survival,” said Rep. Anne Perry (D-Calais).

In a statement reacting to the final Senate vote, Mills said she incorporated feedback from Republican and Democratic leaders in crafting the proposal.

“Tonight, a minority of the minority chose to reject this help for Maine people,” she said. “I hope our Senate Republican colleagues will approach this issue with the concern and urgency that it deserves — the same concern and urgency that Maine people have been expressing to me as the prospect of winter bears down on them.”

An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated the margin by which the bill failed passage. It failed by three votes.