Housing

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 2230: An Act To Invest In The Construction Of Industrialized Housing

Maine LD 2230 expands the state's Housing Opportunity Program to explicitly support industrialized housing and defines income tiers for affordability purposes. The bill creates a new Industrialized Housing Incentive Program that provides grants or loans of $1,500 to $6,000 per unit to manufacturers of modular, panelized, or innovative housing systems operating in the state. Additionally, it requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to launch a public-private partnership for technical support and workforce training, as well as a competitive pilot program offering financial awards for efficient multifamily construction projects.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds industrialized housing construction and expands the Housing Opportunity Program to support affordability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2164: An Act To Assist Communities With Converting Vacant School Buildings Into Housing

This bill creates a new program within the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority to help municipalities convert closed, vacant school buildings into residential housing. The program offers technical and financial assistance to communities that apply, including support for environmental cleanup, zoning navigation, and development planning. A dedicated fund will be established to finance feasibility studies, property improvements, and subsidies for affordable housing units, with an initial appropriation of $5 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Participating municipalities must agree to include a specific percentage of affordable housing in their conversions, as determined through a memorandum of understanding. The redevelopment authority will submit annual reports to the legislature detailing the program's progress and impact on housing supply and local economies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a dedicated fund and provides financial assistance for converting vacant school buildings into housing, advancing fiscal management and community development through targeted government funding.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates funding program to convert vacant school buildings into housing, directly advancing affordable housing development and utilizing underused properties for residential use.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2077: An Act To Reduce The Cost Of Purchasing A Home By Providing Grants To Reduce Mortgage Rates

This bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to administer a program offering grants of up to $15,000 to help reduce mortgage rates for first-time home buyers with incomes within federal limits. The grants are intended for owner-occupied single-family residences and can be used to lower the interest rate on the purchase loan. Additionally, the bill allows Maine taxpayers to deduct private mortgage insurance payments from their state income tax for their primary residence in the state. These changes aim to make homeownership more affordable for lower and moderate-income residents while providing tax relief for mortgage insurance costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides housing assistance grants and allows mortgage insurance tax deductions, supporting affordable housing through state funding and tax relief for first-time home buyers.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides grants to reduce mortgage rates for first-time home buyers and allows tax deductions for mortgage insurance, directly supporting affordable housing access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 847: An Act To Prohibit Housing Discrimination

LD 847 prohibits housing discrimination in Maine by banning landlords from refusing to rent or negotiating for rental housing based on a tenant's **source of income**, such as housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security benefits, or rental subsidies. It also prevents landlords from assessing a tenant's full rent amount when part of the rent is subsidized, requiring financial evaluations to apply only to the unsubsidized portion. The law, effective January 1, 2026, applies to most rental properties (excluding landlords with fewer than four units) and allows victims to seek $1,000 penalties or actual damages for violations. This directly affects renters using government assistance and landlords managing rental housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits discrimination against tenants using housing vouchers/public assistance, directly protecting vulnerable renters and expanding access to affordable housing.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits housing discrimination against tenants using housing vouchers/subsidies, benefiting immigrant tenants reliant on public assistance programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 264: An Act To Remove The 12-Month Waiting Period For The Maine Resident Homestead Property Tax Exemption

This bill removes a 12-month residency and ownership waiting period for Maine residents seeking the homestead property tax exemption. Currently, applicants must have lived in Maine and owned their primary home for 12 months to qualify. The bill amends Maine law to allow immediate eligibility for the exemption once a person becomes a permanent Maine resident and owns a homestead. This change directly affects Maine residents who own their primary homes but previously had to wait a year before receiving the tax break. The exemption amount remains $10,000 of a homestead’s value.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves residency requirement for homestead tax exemption, providing immediate property tax relief to qualifying homeowners. Directly advances tax relief for residents under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves 12-month residency wait for homestead tax exemption, lowering property costs and increasing housing affordability for homeowners.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1022: An Act To Protect And Increase Access To Justice In Civil Legal Matters For Persons With Low Incomes

LD 1022 requires Maine to appropriate $9.5 million annually starting July 1, 2026, for civil legal aid services targeting low-income residents. It directly affects approximately 356,500 Mainers living below 200% of the federal poverty level who face civil legal issues like eviction, domestic violence, or benefits disputes without representation. Key provisions mandate quarterly fund distribution through the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission, annual reporting on unmet legal needs (including attorney-to-resident ratios), and biennial legislative hearings to assess funding adequacy. The bill aims to sustain and improve access to justice by ensuring consistent, increased funding for legal assistance in civil matters.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $9.5M annually for civil legal aid, increasing public service funding under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds legal aid to prevent evictions and address housing disputes for low-income residents, directly protecting tenant rights and housing stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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signed · Maine · House Apr 15, 2026

LD 2116: An Act To Make Permanent The Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit

This bill makes Maine's affordable housing income tax credit permanent by removing its expiration date of December 31, 2028. The program allows developers to receive tax credits for building or preserving affordable housing units, which they can use to offset their state income tax liability. Key provisions include maintaining an annual credit allocation cap of $15 million, setting aside 10% of credits for rural development preservation projects, and allowing unused credits to be carried forward to future years. The legislation directly affects housing developers and property owners who qualify for the tax credit, ensuring continued financial incentives for affordable housing development beyond the previous sunset date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill makes affordable housing tax credit permanent, providing ongoing tax relief for developers and preserving essential housing programs through state tax policy.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill makes affordable housing tax credit permanent, directly funding and strengthening affordable housing development and preservation programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Apr 13, 2026

LD 2231: An Act To Support Owners Of Manufactured Housing, Mobile Homes And Tiny Homes

This Maine bill expands consumer protections and financing options for owners of manufactured housing, mobile homes, and tiny homes by clarifying that these structures are treated as real estate for mortgage purposes. It establishes a mediation process that residents can trigger if a community owner proposes lot rent or fee increases exceeding the regional Consumer Price Index, requiring the owner to provide detailed cost comparisons in advance. The legislation also creates a formal procedure for owners to convert their mobile home titles into real property deeds, which facilitates traditional home financing and requires landowners to consent to this process without unreasonable delay. Additionally, the bill reduces minimum lot size requirements for new mobile home parks and mandates that purchasers of these communities hire a third party to inspect the site's infrastructure before closing a deal.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands consumer protections and financing for manufactured housing owners and limits rent increases via mediation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Apr 13, 2026

LD 2149: An Act To Protect Affordability In Mobile Home Parks And Manufactured Housing Communities

This bill requires buyers of manufactured housing communities to pay a $10,000 fee for each lot in the community when transferring ownership, with exemptions for state housing authorities, municipal housing authorities, cooperatives of home owners, and entities with a net worth under $50 million. The legislation also mandates that applicants for licenses to operate these communities provide specific information about the number of sites and submit proof of their ability to meet minimum standards. Additionally, entities claiming the net worth exemption must submit sworn financial documentation to the Maine State Housing Authority, which will review and determine eligibility within 45 days. The law is designated as an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately rather than waiting the standard 90-day period after the legislative session ends.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill protects affordability in manufactured housing communities by requiring fees on transfers while exempting affordable housing entities, strengthening tenant protections and preventing displacement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Apr 3, 2026

LD 2057: An Act To Support Rehabilitation And Development Of Affordable Manufactured Housing Communities

This bill amends state housing laws to give the Maine State Housing Authority more flexibility in making construction loans for affordable housing projects. It removes a previous requirement that a local financial institution must participate in these loans by acting as an escrow agent, allowing the Authority to make loans directly to public bodies or nonprofit organizations in some cases. The legislation also grants the Authority power to create rules governing loan applications, borrower qualifications, and interest rate restrictions to ensure affordable housing development. Additionally, it repeals an older law that set specific bonding requirements for these construction loans.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases flexibility for affordable manufactured housing construction loans, directly advancing affordable housing development and access.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing