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 · Senate Jan 11, 2026

LD 1871: An Act To Permit Sealing Criminal History Record Information Of Victims Of Sex Trafficking Or Sexual Exploitation

This bill allows victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation to have their criminal history records sealed. It requires business screening services (like background check companies) to delete any sealed records from their databases and stop sharing inaccurate or sealed information. Specifically, if a victim's record is sealed through legal process, the screening service must remove it and notify the individual within 30 days. The law ensures these services update records within 30 days and verify accuracy every 90 days. It applies directly to trafficking victims seeking to limit how their sealed records are used by private background check providers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows sealing of trafficking victims' records, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 18, 2025

LD 532: An Act To Protect Health Care Workers By Addressing Assaults In Health Care Settings

LD 532 expands Maine's assault law to specifically protect all health care workers in hospital emergency rooms. The bill defines assault on these workers as a Class C crime, covering anyone employed or contracted by a state-licensed health care entity (including hospitals and clinics) while performing their job in the emergency room. This change directly affects health care workers in Maine's emergency departments by strengthening legal consequences for assaults against them. The key provision amends existing statute §752-F to broaden the definition beyond previous limitations, ensuring all licensed health care workers in emergency settings receive the same legal protection.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands assault law to protect health care workers, strengthening penalties for assaults in ERs under criminal justice framework95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill classifies assaults on healthcare workers in ERs as Class C crimes, directly protecting medical staff through strengthened legal safeguards in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands assault law to protect health care workers in ERs, strengthening workplace safety protections for a key labor group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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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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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1034: An Act To Decriminalize Personal Possession Of Therapeutic Amounts Of Psilocybin For Adults

LD 1034 would decriminalize the personal possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin for adults aged 21 or older in Maine. Currently, possessing psilocybin is a criminal offense, but this bill removes that penalty for small amounts held by adults. The key provision specifies that possession of one ounce or less of psilocybin by a person 21 years or older would no longer be considered a violation of state law. This change applies solely to personal possession and does not affect the legal status of psilocybin for sale, distribution, or other uses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes psilocybin possession for adults, reducing criminal penalties and aligning with drug reform efforts in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · Senate May 29, 2025

LD 771: An Act To Include Possession Of Compounds, Mixtures Or Substances Containing A Detectable Amount Of Certain Scheduled Drugs To Prove The Offense Of Unlawful Trafficking Of Scheduled Drugs

LD 771 amends Maine's criminal code to redefine "amphetamine" and "methamphetamine" as any compound, mixture, or preparation containing these drugs in *any quantity*, including detectable traces. This change allows prosecutors to use even minimal amounts of these substances to prove unlawful trafficking charges, rather than requiring measurable quantities. The bill directly affects drug trafficking prosecutions by lowering the evidentiary threshold for proving the offense under Maine law. It amends specific sections of the Maine Revised Statutes (17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§27 and §28) to implement this definition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers evidentiary threshold for drug trafficking by prosecuting detectable traces, expanding criminalization and opposing reform efforts to reduce over-criminalization.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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