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Maine Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 11,715 Active 1,983 In committee 1,771 Passed 1,646 Signed 3,583 Failed 4,371

Bill results

failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1585: Resolve, To Direct The Maine State Housing Authority To Amend Its Rules Governing The Fuel Assistance Program Regarding Benefit Payments For Wood Fuel

This bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to change its rules for the state's fuel assistance program. It requires that payments for wood fuel be made directly to vendors before the wood is delivered to households, rather than to recipients. This change affects low-income households in Maine who use wood for heating and receive fuel assistance benefits. The policy update ensures vendors receive payment upfront, streamlining the process for wood fuel deliveries under the program.
Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines wood fuel assistance payments to vendors, ensuring reliable heating access for low-income households under housing assistance program.90% confidence
Gary Drinkwater (R) · 1 co-sponsor
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1273: An Act To Make Paid Family And Medical Leave Voluntary

This bill repeals Maine's mandatory paid family and medical leave program, making participation voluntary instead. It limits the program to employers with 50 or more employees and requires the Department of Labor to refund all contributions made under the previous mandatory system to both employers and employees by June 2026. Unappropriated funds from the leave program must be transferred to the state's general fund by June 30, 2026. The changes take effect retroactively to October 25, 2023.
Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill defunds mandatory leave program by refunding contributions and transferring unappropriated funds to general fund, eliminating dedicated revenue stream for the program.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals mandatory paid family/medical leave, limits coverage to large employers, and refunds contributions - reducing access to healthcare-related leave benefits and defunding the program.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals mandatory paid leave program, making it voluntary and limiting coverage to employers with 50+ employees, weakening worker protections and reducing benefits.95% confidence
Billy Bob Faulkingham (R) · 9 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 1538: An Act To Index Unemployment Benefits To The Unemployment Rate

This bill (LD 1538) adjusts Maine's maximum unemployment benefits based on the state's unemployment rate. It adds a provision that increases the maximum weekly benefit amount for eligible unemployed workers when the state average unemployment rate exceeds 5.5%. Specifically, for every 0.5% the rate rises above 5.5%, beneficiaries receive an additional week of benefits, up to a total cap of 26 weeks. This change directly affects unemployed Mainers who qualify for state unemployment benefits under the Employment Security Law. The adjustment automatically applies without requiring new legislation during economic downturns.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases unemployment benefits during high unemployment, expanding financial security for workers through indexed benefit adjustments.95% confidence
Trey Stewart (R) · 1 co-sponsor
failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 553: An Act To Assert State Sovereignty Over Ocean Waters And Marine Resources Up To 12 Nautical Miles Off The State'S Coast

Maine's LD 553 asserts the state's legal authority over ocean waters and marine resources within 12 nautical miles of its coast, directly affecting Maine's commercial fishing industry - particularly lobster operations dependent on herring as bait. The bill amends state law to declare Maine's ownership and control of these waters and their living resources, requiring the Attorney General to take legal actions (including negotiations or lawsuits) to enforce this sovereignty by May 1, 2025. It also mandates a report to the Marine Resources Committee detailing progress on these efforts. This change aims to counter federal restrictions on herring fishing in the Gulf of Maine that threaten local fisheries.
Joe Martin (R) · 6 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1333: An Act To Make Changes To The Paid Family And Medical Leave Benefits Program

LD 1333 updates Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program to clarify eligibility and administration. It requires employees to have worked for an employer for at least 120 days to qualify, shortens the deadline for filing leave applications from 90 to 30 days after leave begins, and adjusts employer contribution rules: companies with 15+ workers can deduct 50% of premiums from employee wages and send 100% to the fund, while smaller employers send 50%. The bill also specifies that leave under this program runs concurrently with federal FMLA, and defines "self-employed" to include small business owners with fewer than 15 employees. These changes directly affect Maine workers seeking leave and their employers managing contributions.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies eligibility and administration of paid medical leave, improving access to healthcare services without income loss for workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies eligibility and funding for paid family leave, expanding worker benefits under Maine's program while maintaining program sustainability.85% confidence
Jennifer Poirier (R) · 9 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 741: An Act To Increase Preparedness For Solar Power Adoption In Maine

LD 741 requires Maine's Technical Building Codes and Standards Board to update the state's building code to include solar energy standards from Appendix CB of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code for all new commercial buildings. This affects developers and builders constructing new commercial properties after the effective date. The bill exempts buildings that already secured all permits before July 1, 2026, and any projects receiving funding from the Maine State Housing Authority. The key change ensures new commercial construction incorporates solar-ready infrastructure from the start, without mandating solar panel installation.
Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates solar energy standards in commercial building codes to advance renewable adoption, directly promoting solar infrastructure compliance for new developments.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires solar energy standards in new commercial buildings, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance per bill's mandate.95% confidence
Charles Skold (D) · 7 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1063: An Act To Require Competitive Procurement Of Electricity From Generators Fueled By Municipal Solid Waste In Conjunction With Recycling

LD 1063 requires Maine's Public Utilities Commission to direct investor-owned electric utilities to competitively bid for contracts to purchase electricity and renewable energy credits from generators using municipal solid waste (trash) in combination with recycling. The bill mandates a competitive solicitation by November 1, 2025, for up to 35 megawatts of power, with contracts requiring pricing below 7 cents per kilowatt-hour and terms of 5-15 years. Only generators that pay Maine state excise, income, property, and sales taxes qualify for these contracts. This policy directly affects utilities (who must procure the power) and qualifying waste-to-energy generators (who must meet tax requirements to participate).
Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires competitive procurement of renewable energy from municipal solid waste generators, promoting waste-to-energy as a renewable resource under Maine's clean energy framework.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates renewable electricity from waste-to-energy with recycling, reducing landfill use and promoting clean energy sources.95% confidence
Jim Dill (D) · 3 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1759: An Act To Allow Firefighters To Be Eligible For State College Funding

LD 1759 redirects $800,000 in state funding from the community college scholarship program to the Maine Fire Service Institute. It reduces one-time funding for the "MCCS Free Community College" program by $800,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and allocates that same amount to the Regional Fire Service Training Fund. The bill does not change eligibility for state college funding; it simply shifts existing one-time funding from community colleges to fire service training. This is a procedural budget reallocation, not a new eligibility provision for firefighters.
Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRedirects $800k from community college scholarship program (MCCS) to fire service training, reducing funding for higher education access program.92% confidence
Ben Hymes (R) · 1 co-sponsor
failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 1349: An Act To Require Legislative Approval For A Contract To Operate The Juniper Ridge Landfill

LD 1349 requires Maine's Legislature to approve any contract or contract renewal for operating the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town. This directly affects the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (which manages the landfill) and the Legislature (which must vote on such contracts). The bill amends state law to add that legislative approval is mandatory before the department can enter or renew the landfill operation contract. It does not change existing licensing requirements but adds a new step for contract approval.
Mike Tipping (D) · 5 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 830: An Act To Protect Maine'S Scenic Beauty By Requiring Solar Panel Fields To Be Hidden From View

LD 830 requires solar energy developments in Maine to be concealed from view using a barrier like trees, bushes, or fencing that hides the panels from adjacent properties. The Department of Environmental Protection must verify this concealment before approving any new solar project. This bill directly affects solar developers, who must design projects with such barriers, and the Department, which gains authority to enforce this requirement during approvals.
Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyMandates visual barriers for solar projects, increasing development costs and complexity, which restricts renewable energy deployment rather than promoting it.85% confidence
David Haggan (R) · 6 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 952: An Act To Exempt Agricultural Employers And Employees From The Maine Paid Family And Medical Leave Benefits Program

This bill exempts agricultural employers and employees from Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program, directly affecting those working in agriculture as defined by state and federal law. It requires the Department of Labor to refund all contributions paid by agricultural employers and self-employed individuals to the program, including any premiums deducted from employee wages that must be returned to workers. The refunds apply retroactively to October 25, 2023, when contributions began. The legislation aims to halt economic harm to the agricultural sector by eliminating these financial obligations.
Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExempts agricultural workers from medical leave program, restricting access to benefits under healthcare access policies.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExempts agricultural workers from paid leave benefits, removing a key worker protection and requiring refunds of prior contributions, weakening coverage for this workforce.95% confidence
Russell Black (R) · 3 co-sponsors
failed · Maine · House Jun 3, 2025

LD 1372: An Act To Establish A Special Committee To Review Routine Technical Rules

LD 1372 establishes a Special Committee on Regulatory Review to examine routine technical rules created by state agencies. The committee, composed of 6 evenly split Senate and House members from each major party, will assess rules for necessity, efficiency, and public benefit, and decide whether to approve them with changes, approve them as-is, or reject them. The committee must develop a formal review process by February 1, 2026, and propose legislation to update the rules for adopting such technical rules. Starting in 2028, the committee will annually report to the Legislature on reviewed rules and recommend improvements to the regulatory process. This bill directly affects state agencies that issue routine technical rules and the Legislature through its new oversight committee.
Mike Soboleski (R) · 8 co-sponsors
Showing 1,393 to 1,404 of 11,715 bills
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