This bill would ban online sweepstakes games in Maine that simulate casino-style gaming like slots, poker, and sports betting using a dual-currency payment system. The law defines these games as those accessible on the internet or mobile devices that require players to purchase or earn virtual currency that can be exchanged for cash prizes or the chance to win them. Operators or promoters of such games would face civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, and any existing gambling licenses held by violators would be revoked. Fines collected from violations would be directed to a fund dedicated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment. The bill also updates legal definitions to include new internet gaming licenses and aligns the statute with recent state law changes.
LD 1772 establishes a "Fund for a Healthy Maine" to finance community health initiatives, primarily using revenue from cigarette and tobacco product taxes and the Philip Morris settlement lawsuit. The fund will be managed by a Trust for a Healthy Maine Board, which will distribute money for disease prevention and health improvement programs - excluding medical care or existing tobacco prevention programs. The bill defines key terms like "health equity" and "community resilience" to guide funding decisions, ensuring resources address health disparities and strengthen community health systems. This legislation replaces an older trust structure and creates a sustained funding mechanism for public health.
LD 1507 requires owners and operators of oil terminal facilities in Maine to create and implement community notification plans. These plans must allow the public to sign up for electronic text message alerts (via SMS or similar technology) about oil transfers occurring at or near their facility. The alerts must include details like the transfer time, oil type, vessel name, and potential hazards, and must be sent once daily for upcoming transfers. Existing terminals must submit their plans for review by the Department of Environmental Protection and their local municipality by January 1, 2026, and implement them by July 1, 2026, with annual updates required thereafter.
LD 1365 allows municipalities to locally license or approve "cannabis hospitality lounges" where adults 21+ can consume adult-use cannabis and cannabis products. These lounges, defined as public locations for 21+ patrons, operate without state cannabis licensing or oversight under this bill. Local governments (including towns in unorganized areas) can set their own rules, such as fees, while exempting lounges from state cannabis regulations. The bill amends existing law to permit consumption in these locally approved spaces, excluding them from the definition of "cannabis establishment." It does not change where consumption is allowed elsewhere (e.g., private property remains the only other legal option).
LD 1939 requires large corporations operating in Maine to report their global income through a "combined return" system, closing a loophole that allowed companies to shift profits offshore to avoid Maine taxes. It applies to businesses meeting specific thresholds: those reporting over $1 billion in consolidated gross revenues, subject to federal corporate alternative minimum tax, or covered by OECD's Pillar Two global tax rules. The law mandates that these companies file unified tax returns including worldwide income and apportionment factors, rather than just domestic earnings. This directly affects major out-of-state corporations with significant Maine operations that previously minimized their Maine tax liability through offshore profit shifting. The bill creates a new reporting requirement under Maine law to align with international tax standards and ensure fairer tax contributions from large multinationals.
LD 1643 establishes the Maine Life Science Innovation Center as a state agency to coordinate and grow Maine's life science sector. The center will manage a new fund providing grants, loans, and incentives to certified life science businesses (defined as entities meeting specific health and innovation criteria), while developing strategic growth plans and workforce programs. It will work with state agencies, universities, and businesses to align with Maine's economic development goals and improve health outcomes related to life sciences. This directly affects life science businesses seeking funding and Maine's broader economic development strategy.
LD 1343 defines the term "harvest" in Maine's marine and inland fisheries/wildlife laws to clarify that it includes gathering, hunting, fishing, or trapping for food, sport, management, or population control. The bill declares that Maine residents have the right to harvest wildlife through hunting, fishing, or trapping, as recognized in the state constitution. This right is subject to existing state laws, rules, and regulations enforced by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The bill does not create new hunting or fishing rights but formally defines the term "harvest" to align with current practices and constitutional protections.
This bill would allow large vehicle rental companies to receive a two-year inspection certificate for their noncommercial vehicles instead of the standard annual requirement. To qualify, a business must have at least 1,000 vehicles registered in Maine each year and file an affidavit with the state police confirming that its fleet will meet or exceed existing safety standards over the two-year period.
Signed by Governor
This Maine legislative bill formally establishes and confirms the specific geographic boundary line separating the Town of Kittery and the Town of York. The act provides a detailed legal description of the border, tracing its path through 219 distinct segments defined by precise survey bearings, distances, and physical landmarks such as granite monuments, stone walls, iron pipes, and road centerlines. By codifying these specific coordinates and markers into state law, the bill clarifies jurisdictional limits for both municipalities to resolve any potential ambiguity regarding their shared border.
This Maine bill reinstates a recently expired law that requires the state's public defense commission to pay private attorneys appointed by courts to represent people who cannot afford legal representation. The measure directly affects indigent defendants and civil parties in District, Superior, and Supreme Judicial Court cases where no standard public defender or contract counsel is available. Under the new provisions, a court may appoint a qualified private attorney with at least three years of relevant experience, provided the attorney agrees to take the case and meets specific eligibility criteria. The commission must compensate these appointed attorneys at rates equivalent to those paid to assigned counsel, while its supervisory role is limited to handling complaints from the clients they represent. This requirement is set to expire on February 1, 2028, serving as a two-year extension of the previous mandate.
This Maine bill updates state water quality standards and reclassifies specific rivers and streams to better protect aquatic life and public health. It establishes stricter numerical limits for dissolved oxygen, pH levels, and bacteria counts across various water classes, including fresh and estuarine waters. The legislation also designates certain areas as fish spawning zones with enhanced protection requirements during specific seasons. These changes directly affect landowners, industrial operators, and hydropower facilities that discharge into or operate near the affected water bodies by requiring them to meet the new environmental thresholds.
