Housing

signed · Maine · House Mar 23, 2026

LD 2079: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing Municipal Reporting On Residential Buildings

This bill requires municipalities with 4,000 or more residents in Maine to submit annual reports by March 31 detailing residential building activity from the previous year. The reports must include data on building permits, demolitions, and certificates of occupancy, broken down by housing types such as single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, and accessory dwelling units. The legislation also mandates reporting on the number of affordable units available to households earning 80% or less of the area median income, as well as those earning between 81% and 120% of that threshold. While the requirement applies only to larger municipalities, the state office will encourage smaller towns to provide similar information voluntarily.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill requires municipalities to report affordable housing data, increasing transparency and enabling better policy decisions for housing development and affordability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Mar 23, 2026

LD 1949: An Act Regarding Energy Fairness

LD 1949, "An Act Regarding Energy Fairness," protects vulnerable Maine residents from utility disconnections by prohibiting disconnections for nonpayment if a customer is elderly, disabled, has a newborn in the household, or is enrolled in or applying for utility assistance programs. It requires utilities to provide clear written notice of unpaid bills, allow customers to set up payment plans, have informal hearings, and appeal disconnection decisions to the commission. The bill also mandates monthly notices for customers with outstanding bills during protected periods, including how to apply for financial assistance, and prevents low-income customers from being charged higher electricity rates without a commission waiver. These changes directly affect residential utility customers in Maine, particularly those facing financial hardship or health challenges.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects vulnerable residents from utility disconnections, preventing housing instability and homelessness, aligning with tenant protection goals.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Mar 9, 2026

LD 161: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry To Convene A Stakeholder Group Tasked With A Comprehensive Overhaul And Modernization Of The State Subdivision Laws

LD 161 is a procedural resolution directing Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to form a stakeholder group to review and recommend updates to the state's subdivision laws (specifically in Title 12, Chapter 206-A; Title 30-A, Chapter 187; and Title 38, Chapter 3). The group must address promoting growth in designated areas, reducing development pressure in rural zones, protecting public health/safety, advancing affordable housing, and streamlining review processes. The department must submit a report with recommendations to legislative committees by December 3, 2025, which could inform future legislation. This affects developers, local governments, property owners, and rural communities governed by current subdivision regulations.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly directs stakeholder group to 'advance affordable housing' as a core goal in reviewing subdivision laws, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 698: An Act To Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters In Maine

LD 698 provides annual funding of $5 million from the General Fund to support emergency homeless shelters across Maine for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This bill directly affects emergency homeless shelters by guaranteeing stable, ongoing financial support to maintain operations. The key mechanism is a dedicated state appropriation that ensures shelters receive consistent funding without requiring annual legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M annual state funding for emergency homeless shelters, directly increasing public service appropriations under budget/funding category.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides $5M annual funding for emergency homeless shelters, directly addressing homelessness and sustaining housing stability through dedicated state appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

failed · Maine · House Jun 25, 2025

LD 1328: An Act To Create Housing And Recovery Services For Lgbtqia+ Individuals

This bill requires Maine's State Housing Authority to contract for at least three certified recovery residences led by LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. These residences must serve LGBTQIA+ individuals and others in recovery, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with locations distributed across three population sizes (60,000+ residents, 20,000-59,999, and under 20,000). Each residence must provide shared living spaces, tailored recovery support, and services addressing LGBTQIA+ needs, staffed by at least two certified peer support workers paid livable wages. The bill also creates the LGBTQIA+ Recovery Residence Fund within the Housing Authority to distribute competitive grants for these services.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates state housing authority to fund LGBTQIA+ recovery residences, advancing targeted housing access for vulnerable populations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

Track

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SP 799: Joint Order, To Require The Joint Standing Committee On Appropriations And Financial Affairs To Report Out 2 Bills To The Senate

This procedural bill (SP 799) directs the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs to immediately recall and report two specific bills to the Senate. The recalled bills are L.D. 1140/S.P. 471 (a bond measure for Maine's agricultural economy) and L.D. 1912/S.P. 753 (a bond measure for housing shortages). The order overrides standard committee procedures to expedite consideration of these funding proposals. This action affects the committee's workflow and the Senate's schedule for these bills.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDirects committee to expedite housing bond bill (L.D. 1912/S.P. 753) addressing housing shortages, enabling funding consideration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

Track

signed · Maine · House Jun 22, 2025

LD 1471: An Act To Require Energy Efficiency Disclosure Statements And Energy Efficiency Standards For Certain Rental Housing In The State

This bill requires landlords in Maine to provide tenants with energy efficiency disclosure statements starting January 1, 2030, detailing a rental unit’s energy performance. Beginning January 1, 2035, landlords must meet minimum insulation standards for rental units, with tenants able to terminate leases or receive 50% of monthly heating costs (if they pay for heat) until standards are met. Exemptions apply to owner-occupied buildings with three or fewer units, short-term rentals under 30 days, and units rented less than two years in a five-year period. The law also prohibits landlords from retaining security deposits for lease terminations due to non-compliance and protects tenants from retaliation if they assert these rights.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates energy efficiency standards and insulation for rental housing, directly promoting reduced energy waste and improved building performance per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates energy efficiency standards and tenant protections (50% heating cost refund/lease termination) for rental housing, reducing long-term costs and strengthening tenant rights in housing policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Jun 20, 2025

LD 1723: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing Manufactured Housing Communities To Prevent Excessive Rent And Fees Increases

This bill limits annual rent and fee increases in manufactured housing communities to no more than 10% of the base amount over a 4-year period. It directly affects residents who pay lot rent and community owners/operators who set those rates. The key provision (Section 9084-A) prohibits increases exceeding this 10% cap, aiming to preserve affordable housing. The bill also establishes a new Manufactured Housing Board with tenant and resident representation to oversee implementation. These changes apply to all licensed manufactured housing communities in Maine.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCaps annual rent/fee increases at 10% over 4 years to preserve affordability, establishes tenant-represented board for oversight. Directly protects manufactured housing tenants from excessive cost burdens.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Jun 20, 2025

LD 427: An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Parking Space Minimums In State And Municipal Building Codes

This bill prohibits Maine state and local governments from requiring a specific minimum number of parking spaces for new buildings or developments in building codes. It directly affects developers, property owners, and municipalities planning new construction projects. The law bans mandatory parking minimums but allows governments to recommend parking levels instead. This change applies only to new developments, land use, or building occupancy, not to existing structures.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves mandatory parking minimums, lowering development costs and increasing potential for affordable housing units by reducing construction expenses for new projects.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Jun 20, 2025

LD 1016: An Act To Establish The Manufactured Housing Community And Mobile Home Park Preservation And Assistance Fund

LD 1016 establishes the Manufactured Housing Community and Mobile Home Park Preservation and Assistance Fund under the Maine State Housing Authority. The bill requires new purchasers of manufactured housing communities or mobile home parks to pay a $50,000 fee per lot to the fund, effective January 1, 2026, with exemptions for state/municipal housing authorities, resident-owned cooperatives, and entities with less than $10 million net worth. The fund will maintain housing affordability and support transitions to resident-owned cooperatives or nonprofit management in these communities. This policy directly affects buyers of manufactured housing properties in Maine, beginning in 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates fund to preserve manufactured housing affordability via mandatory fees on new buyers, exempting vulnerable entities to maintain access and prevent displacement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing