Rep. Annie Graham

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine firearm dealers and gunsmiths to display a standardized public health warning sign at their business locations and provide a brochure to every firearm purchaser or transferee. The warning states that firearms in the home increase risks of suicide, domestic violence fatalities, and unintentional deaths (especially among children), and advises secure storage practices. The Department of Health and Human Services must develop these materials, distribute them to businesses, and monitor compliance. Violations result in a written warning for a first offense and fines up to $500 for repeat violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine public and private schools to implement specific safety measures for students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Starting July 1, 2026, schools must employ at least one staff member trained to recognize seizures and assist with administering seizure rescue medication, following national guidelines. Schools must also collaborate with parents to create individualized seizure action plans for affected students, keep these plans on file, and provide annual one-hour self-directed staff training on seizure disorders. Additionally, schools must offer age-appropriate seizure education to all students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, and require parental written authorization with physician documentation for medication administration.

Maddy summaryLD 1676 establishes a commission to study how to improve recruitment and retention of rural emergency medical services (EMS) personnel by addressing health insurance access. The commission, including EMS workers from different-sized communities, state associations, and government representatives, will examine solutions related to health insurance coverage for rural EMS staff. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Criminal Justice Committee by December 3, 2025, potentially leading to future legislation. This resolve does not change current law but sets up a formal study focused on a specific barrier faced by rural EMS providers. The direct impact is on rural EMS personnel, both paid and volunteer, who often lack affordable health insurance options.

Maddy summaryLD 623 updates Maine law to expand support services for individuals with acquired brain injuries, specifically targeting underserved groups including veterans, domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, those ineligible for MaineCare, and individuals with brain injuries from opioid overdoses. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with Maine-based brain injury organizations or their state affiliates - directed by affected families, caregivers, and individuals - to provide "core brain injury support." Key new provisions include access to an online screening and support system, a joint state-national helpline, and collaboration on federal grants. This policy change directly affects vulnerable brain injury patients by improving access to coordinated, community-based resources through state partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the maximum repayment period for certain school construction bonds from 25 to 30 years. It directly affects Maine school administrative districts and regional school units that issue bonds to fund temporary notes while awaiting permanent bond sales. The key provision changes existing law (20-A MRSA §1311 and §1490) to allow the combined period of bond issuance and temporary note loans to last up to 30 years instead of 25. This adjustment provides school districts with additional flexibility in managing short-term borrowing tied to long-term construction projects.

Maddy summaryLD 1887 requires Maine's Department of Education to amend school construction rules to set air quality and ventilation standards specifically for newly built public schools. This replaces a prior requirement that applied to all public schools, focusing the new standards solely on new construction (not existing schools). The updated rules must be adopted by January 4, 2026, and will apply to all new public school buildings completed between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryLD 1747 replaces the existing charter for the Yarmouth Water District with a new one. The bill defines the district's territory as including the Towns of Yarmouth and North Yarmouth, and states its purpose is to provide safe drinking water for residents and protect water sources within that area. Key provisions clarify that the district can use water from the Royal River, local springs, and aquifers, but requires joint approval from Yarmouth/North Yarmouth trustees and New Gloucester officials to access water sources in New Gloucester. The district is also authorized to build infrastructure like pipes, treatment plants, and dams to deliver water throughout its territory.

Maddy summaryLD 1576 extends Maine's existing one-year prohibition on compensated lobbying for former state employees to include staff who worked in the legislature. Specifically, it applies to former partisan and nonpartisan legislative employees, committee clerks, and staff of the Senate Secretary or House Clerk. The law, effective January 1, 2026, requires these individuals to wait one year after leaving their legislative positions before engaging in lobbying. This change aligns legislative staff with the current rule already covering former executive branch employees.

Maddy summaryLD 1148 improves absentee ballot access for Maine voters serving in the military or living overseas during municipal elections. It extends the validity of absentee ballot requests for these voters to 18 months, covering all federal, state, and municipal elections held on the same day as statewide elections. The bill requires municipalities to send local ballot copies to the Secretary of State, who then centrally processes and delivers these ballots to eligible voters. This system ensures uniformed and overseas voters can receive and return municipal election ballots electronically and in a timely manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maine's insurance and hearing aid dealer laws to remove a barrier for people needing replacement hearing aids. It ensures health insurance (for both individual and group plans) cannot deny or delay coverage for a replacement hearing aid solely because the person is too ill or infirm to attend a required hearing examination. Similarly, it allows hearing aid dealers to sell replacements without an exam when the person is unable to safely attend due to illness, provided they are replacing an existing aid of the same type. The change directly affects Maine residents who require hearing aid replacements but face health challenges preventing them from completing routine exams.