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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 212 In committee 7,728 Passed 1,646 Signed 3,583 Failed 4,371
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2117: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Health And Human Services To Amend Its Rule Chapter 101: Mainecare Benefits Manual, Chapter Ii, Section 21, Home And Community Benefits For Members With Intellectual Disabilities Or Autism Spectrum Disorder

This bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to update rules governing MaineCare benefits for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder living in shared housing. Specifically, it changes how providers manage vacancies in two-person homes by extending the time a bed can be held for a hospitalized resident from 30 to 60 days and increasing the search period for a replacement housemate from 90 to 120 days before issuing an eviction notice to the remaining resident. The legislation also allows for additional 60-day extensions of the search period under certain conditions, including when a resident has lived at the address for at least five years, ensuring more time to find suitable housing arrangements without immediate displacement.
Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill extends time for housing vacancy management and replacement search, preventing premature eviction and stabilizing shared housing arrangements for vulnerable populations.85% confidence
Melanie Sachs (D) · 8 co-sponsors
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2094: An Act To Authorize A General Fund Bond Issue To Support Maine'S Agricultural And Forestry Sectors

This bill authorizes Maine to issue up to $40 million in state bonds to support its agricultural and forestry sectors, subject to voter approval through a referendum. The funds would be distributed across several programs, including $24 million for the Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund, $4 million each for drought relief and healthy soils programs, $5 million for farmland access, and $3 million for dairy improvement. If approved by voters, the money would be used to strengthen infrastructure and economic activities in farming, forestry, and related industries. The bonds would be repaid over a maximum of 10 years from the date of issuance, with any unspent funds after that period used to retire other state debt.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $40M in state bonds to fund agricultural and forestry programs, directly increasing government spending on essential sectors.90% confidence
Bill Pluecker (I) · 3 co-sponsors
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2159: An Act To Require School Buses To Be Equipped With And To Use School Bus Crossing Arms

This bill mandates that all school buses in Maine, including older models, must be equipped with a crossing arm and requires operators to activate it whenever the bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students. The law establishes a Class E crime for failing to use the crossing arm when required and imposes a minimum two-year revocation of the operator's school bus endorsement as a penalty. By making these safety measures mandatory, the legislation aims to improve child safety during student transportation without changing other aspects of school bus operations.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves student safety on school buses, protecting children during transportation to and from school, which supports educational access and student welfare.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by mandating crossing arms on school buses, protecting students and improving road safety standards.95% confidence
Valli Geiger (D)
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2164: An Act To Assist Communities With Converting Vacant School Buildings Into Housing

This bill creates a new program within the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority to help municipalities convert closed, vacant school buildings into residential housing. The program offers technical and financial assistance to communities that apply, including support for environmental cleanup, zoning navigation, and development planning. A dedicated fund will be established to finance feasibility studies, property improvements, and subsidies for affordable housing units, with an initial appropriation of $5 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Participating municipalities must agree to include a specific percentage of affordable housing in their conversions, as determined through a memorandum of understanding. The redevelopment authority will submit annual reports to the legislature detailing the program's progress and impact on housing supply and local economies.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a dedicated fund and provides financial assistance for converting vacant school buildings into housing, advancing fiscal management and community development through targeted government funding.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates funding program to convert vacant school buildings into housing, directly advancing affordable housing development and utilizing underused properties for residential use.95% confidence
Traci Gere (D)
died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 2147: An Act To Provide Funding To Improve The College And Career Readiness Of Certain Students In Androscoggin And Oxford Counties

This bill (LD 2147) provides state funding to improve college and career readiness programs for specific students in Androscoggin and Oxford counties. It allocates resources to support educational initiatives that prepare students for post-secondary education or workforce opportunities. The bill focuses on targeted support within these two counties, though the exact programs or eligibility criteria aren't detailed in the provided text. As a funding measure, it directly affects students and educational institutions in those regions.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds college/career readiness programs in targeted counties, aligning with educational support indicators like program funding and Upward Bound program focus.95% confidence
Jill Duson (D) · 4 co-sponsors
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2077: An Act To Reduce The Cost Of Purchasing A Home By Providing Grants To Reduce Mortgage Rates

This bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to administer a program offering grants of up to $15,000 to help reduce mortgage rates for first-time home buyers with incomes within federal limits. The grants are intended for owner-occupied single-family residences and can be used to lower the interest rate on the purchase loan. Additionally, the bill allows Maine taxpayers to deduct private mortgage insurance payments from their state income tax for their primary residence in the state. These changes aim to make homeownership more affordable for lower and moderate-income residents while providing tax relief for mortgage insurance costs.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides housing assistance grants and allows mortgage insurance tax deductions, supporting affordable housing through state funding and tax relief for first-time home buyers.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides grants to reduce mortgage rates for first-time home buyers and allows tax deductions for mortgage insurance, directly supporting affordable housing access.95% confidence
Wayne Farrin (D) · 6 co-sponsors
died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 2062: An Act To Enhance The Safety Of Public Transit Bus Operators Through The Installation Of Vehicle Security Barriers

This bill requires urban transit providers in Maine to install protective security barriers in large buses by August 1, 2029, to protect bus operators from potential attacks. The law defines a large heavy-duty bus as one weighing over 26,001 pounds and measuring 30 feet or longer, and specifies that security barriers must be transparent, durable, and allow operators to see clearly and communicate with passengers. A new state fund will provide grants to help transit providers purchase and install these barriers, with an initial $1 million transfer from the General Fund to support the program. Transit providers must also submit annual progress reports to the Department of Transportation by August 1 each year from 2027 through 2029, and operators cannot run non-compliant buses after the 2029 deadline.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates installation of protective security barriers for bus operators, directly improving workplace safety and protecting workers from potential attacks.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates security barriers on buses to enhance public transit operator safety, directly strengthening transportation security and protecting public transit infrastructure.95% confidence
Teresa Pierce (D)
died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 2066: An Act To Establish The Child Care Employment Award

LD 2066 establishes a new state-funded Child Care Employment Award program to support child care providers and workers in Maine. The bill allocates $3 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year to fund direct payments to eligible child care providers, with an additional $122,318 to create a new Social Services Program Specialist position to administer the award. This program, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, provides ongoing financial support to help child care providers retain staff and cover operational costs. The funding is specifically designated in the state budget under the Child Care Services initiative.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M state funds for child care provider support, increasing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $3M to fund child care providers' retention, directly supporting employment stability and workforce retention in labor sector.95% confidence
Henry Ingwersen (D) · 5 co-sponsors
died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 2064: An Act To Expand Access To Early Childhood Nutrition By Establishing A Grant Program For Public Preschools

This bill creates a state grant program to provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks to students in off-site public preschool programs, such as those located in private child care facilities. The Department of Education will administer the program in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, and grants will be based on federal reimbursement rates for school meals. Eligible programs must meet nutritional standards and licensing requirements similar to those for child care centers, and the bill includes funding for infrastructure improvements like meal transportation. The legislation allocates approximately $866,000 for the program starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a state grant program to fund nutrition services for public preschools, increasing government spending on essential early childhood education services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes grant program to fund nutrition for preschool students, expanding educational access and supporting early childhood education programs.90% confidence
Mattie Daughtry (D) · 6 co-sponsors
died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1996: An Act To Clarify Responsibilities Of The State In The Laws Governing General Assistance

This bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to create an online, real-time database that will help determine eligibility for general assistance benefits, with implementation delayed to July 1, 2028. The legislation requires the department to submit a progress report to the Legislature by February 1, 2027, detailing its work on building this statewide system. To support these efforts, the bill allocates $2.8 million in one-time funding for database construction and $450,000 annually for ongoing maintenance. The changes directly affect how the state manages general assistance applications and the resources available to administer the program.
Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates funding to create an online real-time database for government services, advancing digital infrastructure and technology implementation in public administration.75% confidence
Henry Ingwersen (D)
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 1624: An Act To Provide Funding For Summer School Programming

LD 1624 allocates $9.3 million annually from the General Fund to fund summer school programs for Maine public schools. It directly affects school administrative units, prioritizing those with 25% or higher student poverty rates, and also considers students from asset-limited or income-constrained households. The bill provides funding for high school credit recovery to help students graduate on time, as well as summer enrichment and intervention programs for elementary and middle school students to strengthen foundational skills and prevent learning loss. This funding is intended to be ongoing for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $9.3M annually from General Fund to fund summer school programs for low-income schools, directly increasing public education spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $9.3M annually for summer school programs, prioritizing high-poverty schools and credit recovery, directly advancing educational access and funding.95% confidence
Sophie Warren (D) · 8 co-sponsors
died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 1848: An Act To Implement Recommendations For Improved Dam Safety

LD 1848 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection to implement new dam safety standards. It mandates that dam owners of high- and significant-hazard dams conduct downstream hazard evaluations every 5 years and perform potential failure mode analyses using federal guidelines. The bill also requires the department to develop a comprehensive digital database for dam records, establish written safety policies, hire licensed dam inspectors, and create emergency action plans. These changes directly affect all dam owners in Maine, particularly those managing high-risk structures, and aim to improve safety oversight through standardized inspections and reporting. The department must submit annual reports starting in 2028 detailing program operations and needs.
Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates dam safety standards to prevent environmental damage from failures, aligning with environmental protection through risk mitigation and regulatory strengthening.90% confidence
Nina Milliken (D) · 4 co-sponsors
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