Housing

LD 1036 amends Maine's housing discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "status as a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance," including housing subsidies and medical assistance. The bill directly affects housing providers (landlords, managers, agents) and public assistance recipients by making it unlawful to refuse housing, make discriminatory inquiries, or advertise based on this status. Key provisions ban actions like denying rentals, setting different terms, or evicting tenants solely because of public assistance status, adding it to existing protected categories like race and disability. This creates concrete legal protections for individuals relying on public assistance to secure housing.

This bill prohibits Maine public utilities from requiring new residential customers to pay an upfront deposit solely based on their income level. It specifically bans deposits for applicants who haven't used the utility's service within the past 30 days, defining such applicants as "new" customers. Utilities may still require deposits if they can prove a customer is a credit risk or likely to damage property, but must provide that proof upon request. The Public Utilities Commission must create implementing rules by October 1, 2025. The law directly affects low- and middle-income households applying for new utility service.