Criminal Justice

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 JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for endangering child welfare (Class D to B based on harm), aligning with 'oppose' indicator of increasing mandatory sentences.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 1009: An Act To Restore Full Civil Rights To Possess Firearms To Persons Previously Convicted Of Certain Nonviolent Felony Crimes

This bill amends Maine law to allow people previously convicted of certain nonviolent felonies to restore their right to possess firearms through the existing process under Title 15, section 396. It specifically removes convictions for nonviolent felonies (excluding those involving firearm use or serious bodily injury) from the list of offenses that automatically prohibit firearm possession. The change affects individuals with past convictions for crimes like drug offenses or property crimes that don't involve violence or weapons. It modifies the statute to clarify that such individuals can regain firearm rights once their civil rights are restored, without requiring new legislative action for each case. The bill does not automatically restore rights but streamlines the process for qualifying individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores firearm rights for nonviolent felons, advancing civil rights and reintegration - core criminal justice reform aligned with reducing unnecessary barriers post-conviction.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Maine · House Apr 16, 2026

LD 2232: An Act To Increase County Jail Funding

Maine's LD 2232 increases state funding for county jails by raising the annual appropriation to the County Jail Operations Fund from $20.3 million to $28.3 million starting July 1, 2026, with a requirement for a 4% annual increase thereafter. The bill also mandates an additional $5 million in state funding specifically for community corrections and pretrial release programs, such as electronic monitoring and alternative housing. These changes directly affect county taxpayers by shifting more of the operational cost burden to the state, while ensuring that unspent funds carry over to future years rather than lapsing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases state appropriations for county jails and mandates annual funding growth, directly advancing fiscal support for public safety infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases state funding for county jails and mandates additional funds for community corrections and pretrial release programs, directly strengthening the criminal justice infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Apr 13, 2026

LD 2157: An Act To Prohibit The Unauthorized Use Of Drones On Or Over The Premises Of Correctional Facilities And Jails

This bill makes it a Class C crime for anyone to fly a drone over or land on correctional facilities and jails without authorization. The law specifically prohibits using drones to deliver contraband to these facilities and bans flying drones within 400 feet of the ground near these locations. Exceptions are made for law enforcement officers, corrections staff, and other personnel with official approval from facility administrators. The legislation clarifies that holding a federal drone license does not exempt individuals from these restrictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens correctional facility security by prohibiting unauthorized drone use, protecting facilities from contraband delivery and unauthorized access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 82: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Laws By Extending Indefinitely The Presumption Applying To Law Enforcement Officers, Corrections Officers, E-9-1-1 Dispatchers, Firefighters And Emergency Medical Services Persons Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

LD 82 extends a permanent presumption in Maine's workers' compensation law that automatically considers post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) work-related for certain public safety workers. This applies to law enforcement officers, corrections officers, E-9-1-1 dispatchers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel diagnosed with PTSD. Currently, this presumption was set to expire on October 1, 2025, but the bill removes that expiration date. As a result, these workers no longer need to prove their PTSD was caused by job duties to qualify for compensation benefits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends permanent workers' compensation presumption for law enforcement/corrections personnel with PTSD, directly supporting public safety workers within the criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends automatic workers' comp coverage for PTSD (mental health) for first responders, strengthening healthcare access without proving work connection.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends permanent presumption for PTSD compensation for public safety workers, removing expiration to protect their workers' comp benefits under Labor & Employment protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 179: An Act To Amend The Maine Bail Code To Eliminate The Class E Crime Of Violation Of Condition Of Release

LD 179 repeals the law that classified violating a court-imposed release condition (while on preconviction or post-conviction bail) as a Class E crime. This directly affects individuals released before trial or after conviction who fail to follow court-mandated conditions. The bill eliminates this specific offense and removes a related reference in Maine law, but it does not change the existing Class C crime for the same violation. The policy change simplifies the legal consequences for minor release violations without altering more serious charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates Class E criminal charge for violating release conditions, reducing minor criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by simplifying consequences for non-compliance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 13, 2025

LD 677: An Act To Update The Statutory Definition Of "Machine Gun" And Prohibit Possession Of A Rapid-Fire Device

This bill updates Maine's definition of "machine gun" to include any part or combination of parts designed to convert a standard firearm into a machine gun (such as devices enabling multiple shots per trigger pull or crank/lever systems). It also creates a new Class D crime for knowingly possessing a "rapid-fire device" without authorization. A rapid-fire device is defined as any part or device that increases a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire beyond normal operation, including recoil-powered triggers or manual crank/lever mechanisms. The law directly affects individuals who own or possess such devices, making their possession illegal without legal authority.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class D crime for rapid-fire device possession, expanding criminalization per bill's definition of 'rapid-fire device'.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1930: An Act Regarding Acts Of Violence Committed Against A Pregnant Woman

LD 1930 defines "unborn child" as the offspring from conception until birth for certain criminal laws in Maine. It specifies that the terms "person" and "human being" in murder, manslaughter, and assault statutes include an unborn child, meaning violence harming a fetus during pregnancy could be prosecuted under these laws. The bill includes exceptions for acts committed by the mother, lawful medical procedures performed at the mother's request, or the administration of prescribed medication. This directly affects cases involving violence against pregnant people where fetal harm occurs, expanding criminal liability for such acts under existing statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal liability for harm to fetuses under assault/murder statutes, increasing criminalization per bill's explicit inclusion of 'unborn child' in criminal definitions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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