Transportation

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.

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.

This bill modifies Maine parking enforcement laws to reduce costs for municipalities and improve notice to vehicle owners. It requires parking fee signs to be prominently posted at entrances and exits of public parking areas, rather than at every single entrance and exit. Additionally, it mandates that written parking violation notices be affixed to the vehicle at the time of the violation, including details like the date, time, nature of the violation, fine amount, payment instructions, and the vehicle's license plate information. The legislation takes effect immediately due to an emergency clause citing financial burdens on towns and the need for timely violation notices.

This emergency bill, submitted by the Governor of Maine, proposes to make supplemental financial allocations from the Highway Fund and other state funds for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027. The legislation aims to adjust certain legal provisions to ensure the proper operation of state government agencies during this period. As a concept draft, it serves as a placeholder for the specific budgetary details and operational changes that will be finalized in subsequent documents.

LD 1457 authorizes the Maine Turnpike Authority to test automated speed detection systems in highway work zones on limited access state highways with speed limits of 45 mph or higher. The pilot program, running from 2026 to 2028, would use camera systems to capture license plates of vehicles exceeding speed limits by 11 mph or more, but only after posting clear advance signage and publicly listing locations online. Drivers would receive a written warning for a first violation in a work zone, with subsequent violations subject to fines via mail notice (similar to standard traffic citations). The program is limited to three locations at a time and prohibits using recorded images for surveillance beyond speeding detection.