LD 195 Maine Senate · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Create The Small Business Capital Savings Account Program

This bill creates Maine's Small Business Capital Savings Account Program, allowing eligible small businesses in farming, fishing, or forestry to earn tax deductions for contributions to special savings accounts. To qualify, businesses must be headquartered in Maine, have 99 or fewer employees, operate in one of the three specified industries, and meet federal tax classification rules. The program sets strict account rules: balances cannot exceed $250,000, funds can only cover business equipment or property purchases (capital expenditures), and all money must be withdrawn within a year if the business closes. Businesses must report withdrawals to the state for tax deduction verification, with the program capped at certifying up to 30 total businesses across the three industry categories.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Failed
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2026
Floor votes · House Jun 5, 2025

How they voted

5868
Failed · 10 other
Total votes 136
Jun 5, 2025
D Democratic66
55 Yea 6 Nay 5
83% Yea
I Independent3
1 Yea 2 Nay
66% Nay
R Republican67
2 Yea 60 Nay 5
89% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
7
Committee
7
Jun 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
Jun 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-252) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
Jun 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subsequently, on motion of Representative GERE of Kennebunkport, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (58-68-10)
house
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-252) READ and ADOPTED.
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subsequently, Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-252) Report ACCEPTED.
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
legislature
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence
upper
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors