This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to cap annual property tax increases at 2% for Maine residents aged 65 or older who own and occupy their primary residence for at least 12 months. It would require the state to reimburse municipalities for revenue lost due to this cap using 90% of revenue from a 2% tax on lottery tickets and sports betting. The amendment would apply only to primary residences owned by seniors and would end the tax cap if the property is sold to someone outside the owner's immediate family. The proposal must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum before becoming part of Maine's Constitution.
LD 774 requires all state-owned buildings (occupied, nonresidential buildings where state employees work) to have bleeding control kits by October 1, 2026. These kits must include specific items like tourniquets, wound-packing gauze, and specialized dressings approved by medical authorities, and must be inspected regularly for expiration and condition. The bill also creates a fund to provide grants or reimbursements to schools, businesses, or organizations that place kits or offer related training. It protects individuals who use kits in good faith during emergencies from liability, unless gross negligence occurs. This applies to all state-owned buildings except vacant, construction, or renovation sites.
This bill establishes a 13-member commission to study how Maine’s state-municipal revenue sharing programs could be revised to lower property taxes for municipalities. The commission will analyze existing programs like Revenue Sharing I and II, focusing on equitable distribution and addressing disproportionate tax burdens across municipalities of different sizes. It must submit findings and recommendations - including potential legislation - to the Taxation Committee by December 3, 2025. The study directly affects all Maine municipalities by examining how state funding impacts their property tax rates.
LD 1371 requires Maine's judicial compensation commission to annually calculate the average salaries of judges and chief justices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It mandates that Maine's judicial salaries (for Chief Justices, Associate Justices, and Superior/District Court judges) must be set at 80% of that regional average, adjusted each year. This automatic adjustment mechanism directly affects all Maine state judges and justices, tying their pay to neighboring states' levels. The bill creates a specific formula for salary calculations and requires a December report detailing the average salaries from other New England states. The change would take effect at the start of the fiscal year following the report date.
This bill increases the funding weight for economically disadvantaged students in Maine's school finance formula from 0.15 to 0.25, effective fiscal year 2026-27. It uses the most recent elementary free or reduced-price meals percentage to calculate the number of disadvantaged students in each school district, applying this metric to both elementary and secondary grades. The change directly affects all Maine school administrative units serving students from low-income households, adjusting their state funding based on this updated calculation. The policy aims to provide more equitable funding by increasing the financial support tied to student need.
This bill requires Maine's Attorney General to obtain legislative approval before filing any civil lawsuit on behalf of the state. The Attorney General must submit a proposal to the judiciary committee, which can then recommend approval to the full Legislature; a majority vote in both chambers and the Governor's signature are required for approval. Registered voters can also initiate a petition with 500 valid signatures to request dismissal of an ongoing lawsuit, temporarily halting proceedings while the petition is processed. These provisions directly affect the Attorney General's office and registered voters, altering how state legal actions are authorized and challenged.
LD 1594 reduces the annual funding for the Governor's Expense Account from $40,000 to $30,000. It requires the Governor to provide a quarterly accounting of all expenses paid from this account and post the detailed reports on the Governor's public website. The bill directly affects the Governor's office by changing the available funds and mandating regular public disclosure of spending. This creates transparency by making all expenditures from the account accessible to the public online, without altering how the funds may be used.
This bill prohibits eating establishments and grocery stores in Maine from using dynamic pricing, which changes prices based on demand, weather, consumer data, or AI algorithms. It requires fixed prices for at least one business day, visible to customers through menus, price tags, or displays. Excluded from the ban are standard discounts, limited-time specials (like lunch menus), and market-based pricing for traditionally volatile goods such as seafood (set only once daily). Violating this rule is classified as an unfair trade practice under Maine law.
LD 1388 lowers the voter participation threshold for municipal charter changes in Maine from 30% to 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality during the last gubernatorial election. This means a smaller percentage of voters must participate in a charter vote for it to be valid, making it easier for proposals to advance. The bill does not change the requirement that a majority of votes cast must support the proposal. It directly affects Maine municipalities considering new charters, charter revisions, or amendments.
LD 1767 amends Waldo County's budget committee rules to allow voting-age residents (not required to be municipal officers) to serve on the committee if no municipal officer volunteers from their county commissioner district. It removes the requirement that committee members must remain municipal officers during their term and permits any voting-age resident from the same municipality to fill vacancies. The bill also changes the budget process: the committee adopts the final budget after a public hearing, and county commissioners can only alter it with unanimous consent - otherwise, the committee can reject changes with a two-thirds vote. This directly affects Waldo County residents seeking committee roles and modifies how county budgets are approved.
This bill allows Maine towns and cities that built their own fiber-optic broadband networks to use new loans or grants from the Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund to repay the debt from that construction. It specifically permits the Maine Connectivity Authority to provide direct loans or grants to municipal entities (including groups of towns working together) for this purpose. The law requires the authority to permit using grant funds for debt repayment related to municipally owned broadband infrastructure, unless federal rules prohibit it. This applies only to networks already built by local governments.
This constitutional amendment would allow Maine municipalities to set different property tax rates based on how property is used. Specifically, it would authorize taxing homestead residences (primary homes), nonhomestead residences (like second homes), and commercial properties at separate rates. The amendment requires voter approval through a statewide referendum, where voters would decide "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature to provide that municipalities may apportion differentiated tax rates on real property according to the following uses: as homestead residences, as nonhomestead residences and as property for commercial use?" If approved, it would change the state constitution to permit this tax structure, though municipalities would still need to enact specific ordinances.
