Maine Bills

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 984: An Act To Require Every State And Municipal Building To Have At Least One Automated External Defibrillator

This bill requires every state building and municipal building in Maine to have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED), a device used to treat sudden cardiac arrest. The state Department of Administrative and Financial Services must ensure all state buildings meet this requirement, while municipalities must ensure all their buildings have an AED. The law applies to all existing state and municipal buildings, not just new constructions, and defines AEDs using the same standard from Maine’s health code. It does not specify funding or placement details, only the requirement for the equipment to be present.

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 641: An Act To Support Diversion Efforts To Address Homelessness In Maine

LD 641 allocates $750,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $750,000 for fiscal year 2026-27 to support Maine's Housing Problem Solving Program through the Maine Housing Authority. This one-time funding directly supports existing diversion efforts aimed at preventing homelessness, primarily benefiting individuals and families at risk of losing housing. The bill does not create new programs or policies but provides specific financial resources for current homelessness prevention services. It affects the Housing Authority's operations and the communities served by its Problem Solving Program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

failed · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 127: An Act To Strengthen Legislative Oversight Of Government Agencies And Programs By Reaffirming The Legislature'S Access To Confidential Records

This bill (LD 127) allows Maine's Government Oversight Committee to access confidential records from state agencies, including privileged information like child welfare case files. It directly affects the committee and agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, which handles child welfare services. The key provision amends state law to confirm that records provided to the committee remain confidential and exempt from public disclosure, even if they would otherwise be protected. This change strengthens the committee's ability to investigate agency operations without making sensitive information public.

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 477: An Act To Enhance Public Safety In Rural Counties By Providing State Police Patrol And Policing Services

This bill allocates state funding to add 15 State Trooper and 9 State Police Corporal positions specifically for rural counties in Maine. It directly affects rural counties (including Northern Field Troop, Aroostook, Somerset/Franklin, and Androscoggin) by providing dedicated state police patrols to support local sheriff departments. The funding covers salaries and related expenses for these positions over the 2025-2027 fiscal years. The key provision is the targeted deployment of officers to address public safety needs in underserved rural areas, as outlined in the bill's budget allocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 500: An Act To Ensure Access To Safe Drinking Water From Household Wells In Rural Areas By Expanding Testing

This bill requires the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to provide free water testing for arsenic and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) to low-income rural households using private wells. It expands existing testing programs by adding PFAS testing through state-approved labs, funded by the department's dedicated testing account, with no fees charged to eligible residents. The bill also mandates educational outreach to inform low-income well owners about the free testing and eligibility for state grants to install water treatment systems if contaminants exceed state standards. These provisions directly affect rural low-income residents relying on private wells, aiming to improve access to safe drinking water through expanded testing and treatment support.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 592: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing The Crime Of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child

LD 592 amends Maine's criminal statute (17-A MRSA §554) governing endangering a child's welfare. It clarifies that recklessly violating a duty of care toward a child constitutes the crime, and increases penalties based on harm: a Class D crime for general endangerment, Class C if the child suffers serious bodily injury, and Class B if the child dies. The bill directly affects caregivers, parents, or others with legal responsibility for a child's safety whose reckless actions cause injury or death. It does not change the core definition of the crime but specifies penalty levels tied to outcomes, making the law more precise.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 739: An Act To Reimburse The City Of Ellsworth For An Access Road To A New Court Facility In Hancock County

This bill provides a one-time $750,000 appropriation from the General Fund to reimburse the City of Ellsworth for 50% of the costs incurred in building an access road to the new Hancock County courthouse site. The reimbursement is capped at $750,000 and applies specifically to infrastructure supporting the courthouse construction project. The bill directly affects Ellsworth City and Hancock County by covering half the road construction costs, with no ongoing obligations beyond this single payment.

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 555: An Act To Create A Separate Department Of Child And Family Services

LD 555 proposes creating a new cabinet-level Department of Child and Family Services in Maine, separate from existing state departments. The bill establishes this department to directly manage child welfare, early childhood services, children's behavioral health, maternal health programs, and family support services. It specifies that the department will deliver these programs through state staff and contracted private agencies, focusing on family-centered care. This change affects all Maine children and families who access these state services, shifting their administration to a dedicated department.

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1720: An Act Regarding Benefits And Training For Long-Term Care Workers

LD 1720 (An Act Regarding Benefits And Training For Long-Term Care Workers) expands benefits and provides funding for nursing homes and residential care facilities in Maine. It directly affects nurses, certified nursing assistants, direct care workers, and housekeeping/dietary staff employed in these facilities by: (1) granting them access to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System and state group health plan; (2) requiring MaineCare to reimburse facilities for staff training costs (including English language training for non-native speakers); and (3) requiring reimbursement for interpreter services for both staff and residents. The bill also mandates that the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation offer certified nursing assistant exams in French, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Filipino by January 2026. These provisions aim to improve workforce support and accessibility for long-term care facilities and their employees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 534: An Act To Clarify The Rights Of Crime Victims And Witnesses Regarding Professional Investigator Communications

LD 534 requires professional investigators working for criminal defendants (such as defense attorneys or the Maine Commission on Public Defense) to disclose specific information to crime victims and witnesses *before* contacting them. This includes the investigation's purpose, who the investigator represents (the defendant), and that victims/witnesses are not obligated to speak with them. The bill also mandates that investigators immediately stop all contact if a victim or witness requests it, in writing or orally. For minors involved in criminal cases, investigators must first obtain consent from a parent or guardian (not the defendant) before communicating with the minor.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1219: An Act To Increase State Funding For The Campuses Of The University Of Maine System And To Raise The Minimum Hourly Wage For Employees Of The System

LD 1219 requires the University of Maine System (UMS) campuses to receive state funding at 95% of their peer institution's per-student state funding starting July 1, 2026, and 100% starting July 1, 2027. Peer institutions are defined by UMS trustees and determined using the most recent available data. The bill also raises UMS hourly employee wages to 125% of Maine's state minimum wage, effective July 1, 2025. Funding allocations include $14.37 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $24.53 million for 2026-27 to support these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 331: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Health And Human Services To Ensure Timely Reimbursement Under Mainecare Regarding Hospital Cost Reports

This bill requires the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules so that hospitals participating in MaineCare receive at least 75% of the amount they report for costs within 90 days of submitting their cost reports. It directly affects hospitals that submit cost reports for reimbursement under MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program. The change mandates this timeline and reimbursement rate through updates to the MaineCare Benefits Manual (Chapter 101, Chapter III, Section 45) and must be implemented using existing department resources without new state funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results