LD 731 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Prohibit Municipalities From Barring The Creation Of Homeless Shelters

LD 731 prohibits Maine municipalities from passing or enforcing local laws that block the creation or operation of homeless shelters. The bill directly affects all cities and towns across Maine by preventing them from using zoning or other ordinances to ban shelters. Its key provision requires municipalities to allow homeless shelters without special permits or restrictions. This law changes local policy by ensuring homeless shelters can be established without municipal barriers.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed May 30, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
6
Committee
5
May 30, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
upper
May 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-176) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.
upper
May 15, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM
legislature
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT in concurrence
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors