This bill creates a legal framework allowing survivors of abuse to request the immediate disabling of connected vehicle services for vehicles involved in their situation. It defines abuse broadly to include domestic violence, stalking, and trafficking without requiring a criminal conviction, and applies to motor vehicle manufacturers and service providers. When a survivor submits a request, providers must terminate or disable the abuser's access within two business days and cannot charge fees or require additional conditions to comply. The law also prevents abusers from accessing any data generated after their service is disabled and informs survivors about in-vehicle options to disconnect services themselves.
LD 1911 (An Act to Automatically Seal Criminal History Record Information for Certain Crimes) automatically seals eligible criminal convictions from public records without requiring individuals to file a separate court petition. It applies to people convicted of certain Class E and D crimes (like non-violent drug offenses or minor property crimes), excluding domestic violence, crimes involving firearms, assault, stalking, or specific drug convictions under Title 17-A. The Administrative Office of the Courts will manage this process, automatically sealing records for qualifying cases after a waiting period (e.g., less than 20 years since conviction for some offenses). This directly affects Mainers with eligible past convictions who previously had to navigate a complex court process to seal their records. The bill does not apply to serious offenses like Class A crimes or convictions involving family violence.
LD 586 amends Maine law to allow courts issuing protection from abuse orders to include specific proximity restrictions. Starting January 1, 2026, judges can order defendants to avoid being within a set distance of the plaintiff or to stay away from particular locations like the plaintiff’s home or workplace. This directly affects individuals seeking protection from abuse (plaintiffs) and those subject to such orders (defendants) in Maine court cases. The bill adds this authority to existing protection order provisions without altering the application process.
This bill provides financial assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or sex trafficking for relocation expenses when moving to escape immediate danger. Victims can receive up to $3,000 per incident for actual, unreimbursed relocation costs, with a lifetime maximum of $5,000 if multiple incidents occur. To qualify, a victim must have written certification from a qualified counselor confirming the relocation was part of a safety plan, or a prosecutor must certify the move was necessary to avoid future violence during an ongoing investigation. The assistance is funded through Maine’s Victims’ Compensation Board and applies to crimes defined in the bill’s specific legal descriptions.
This bill adds "coercive control" to Maine's legal definition of domestic abuse, making it a specific form of abuse under protection from abuse laws. It defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate or exploit a dating partner or family/household member, including limiting financial access, monitoring movements, isolating from support systems, using intimidation, or exploiting vulnerabilities like disabilities or immigration status. The law directly affects victims of domestic abuse who experience these tactics and provides courts and law enforcement with a clear standard to address such cases. This change updates existing statutes without altering penalties for other abuse types, focusing on expanding legal recognition of controlling behaviors.
This bill (LD 1780) allows criminal defendants in Maine to formally request pretrial statements from non-defendant witnesses by serving a written notice and subpoena 14 days before the statement is to be taken. It requires defendants to describe the requested information, schedule the statement reasonably, and use acceptable recording methods (audio, video, or stenography). The bill includes special rules for domestic violence cases: if the witness is a victim of family violence, the subpoena must go through the District Attorney, who must notify the victim 14 days in advance, and statements must be taken via remote means unless a safe in-person location is confirmed. Witnesses who fail to comply may be barred from testifying in the case, and defendants must prove bad faith if a witness terminates a statement.
LD 1817 eliminates the criminal charge of "Violation of Condition of Release" from Maine law, specifically targeting cases where the violation relates to conditions tied to domestic violence cases. It directly affects people on pretrial release who might otherwise face new criminal charges for minor breaches like missing a check-in or failing to report, particularly when the original case involved family or household members. The bill repeals Section 1092 of Title 15 (which created the offense) and amends sentencing laws to remove references to this violation, ensuring such breaches are no longer treated as new crimes. This change applies specifically to conditions related to domestic violence cases as defined under Maine law.
LD 1933 requires law enforcement officers employed by tribal governments in Maine to complete the same basic training as officers working for municipalities, counties, or the state. Specifically, it mandates that tribal officers successfully finish the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's basic training course within their first 12 months of full-time employment. The bill also extends existing firearm handling and domestic violence training requirements to tribal officers, ensuring they receive the same standardized instruction on firearm storage, safety, and protection order procedures. This applies to all full-time officers meeting the definition in the amended statute, including those working for tribal governments.
LD 1919 expands Maine's law allowing individuals to seal certain criminal convictions from public records. It adds new eligible offenses, including pre-2017 marijuana cultivation and possession crimes (Class D), some drug possession cases under Title 17-A, and specific non-violent Class D crimes under Title 17-A, chapter 45. The bill excludes most domestic violence crimes, crimes involving firearms, and certain violent offenses, though some offenses like domestic violence may qualify after 20 years. This change allows people with qualifying convictions to file a motion to seal their records through existing court procedures. The bill amends Maine Revised Statutes §§2261, 2262, and 2263 to implement these eligibility expansions.
LD 666 allocates $2.5 million annually from the General Fund to provide ongoing funding for certified domestic violence intervention programs mandated by courts. This funding supports programs that help individuals who have committed domestic violence address their behavior, directly affecting those court-ordered to participate. The bill specifies the funds will be administered through the Department of Corrections' Office of Victim Services for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. It creates a concrete financial mechanism to ensure these certified programs remain operational and accessible statewide.
