Rep. Amy Kuhn

Maddy summaryThis bill is labeled as a "concept draft" under Maine's Joint Rule 208, meaning it is a preliminary proposal without finalized text or specific provisions. The provided summary only states the general intent to "protect the human rights of individuals in the State" without detailing mechanisms, affected groups, or concrete policy changes. No specific provisions, affected populations, or implementation methods are described in the available context. As a result, a substantive summary of the bill's content or impact cannot be provided from the given information.

Maddy summaryLD 884 establishes a 3-year pilot program at the University of Maine School of Law to create a criminal justice legal aid clinic. The bill directly affects low-income individuals facing criminal charges who may access free legal services through the clinic, and law students who will gain practical experience. It provides $1 million in one-time funding for the pilot (2025-26 fiscal year) and requires the University of Maine System to submit interim and final reports to legislative committees by 2027 and 2028, detailing clients served, student participation, challenges, and recommendations. The reports will inform future decisions about expanding the clinic within the law school’s existing clinic structure.

Maddy summaryLD 1099 would remove sales tax on disposable and reusable diapers, including diaper covers, wraps, and fasteners, starting January 1, 2026. This exemption applies to diapers marketed for use by children or adults, including those designed for individuals with incontinence. The bill directly affects consumers who purchase diapers by eliminating the sales tax on these essential items, reducing their out-of-pocket cost. Retailers selling qualifying diaper products will no longer collect sales tax on these items beginning the effective date.

Maddy summaryLD 875 provides $4 million in state funding from the General Fund to support essential services for victims of domestic violence in Maine. The bill directly affects victims by ensuring access to critical resources like shelter, counseling, and legal assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services. It allocates $4 million annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 under the "Purchased Social Services" initiative. The legislation is designated as an emergency to ensure funding begins at the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, addressing immediate needs for safety and support.

Maddy summaryLD 1647 amends Maine's Human Rights Act to allow courts to award compensatory damages for intentional educational discrimination. It provides remedies for victims of intentional discrimination in education, covering losses like disrupted learning, emotional harm, and financial impacts. However, schools can avoid these damages if they demonstrated good-faith efforts to provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities without causing undue hardship. The bill explicitly excludes cases where discrimination was unintentional (based solely on disparate impact) and clarifies these damages are in addition to existing remedies under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill is listed as a "concept draft" under Maine's procedural rules, meaning it only identifies the proposed topic (safeguarding reproductive rights) without detailing specific policy changes. The provided text contains no substantive provisions, mechanisms, or concrete policy language - only the title and a statement that it "proposes to safeguard reproductive rights." As a concept draft, it does not yet specify who would be affected, how rights would be protected, or any implementation details. No voting record or further legislative content is included in the provided document.

Maddy summaryLD 1740 establishes a Maine Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Education Matching Grant Program to fund hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students across the state. The program provides state grant funds to eligible organizations - including schools, public libraries, museums, youth groups, and nonprofits - which must contribute 33% of the grant amount as matching funds for the same STEAM activities. Grants support specific hands-on programs like robotics competitions, STEAM-focused film challenges, and creative problem-solving teams that promote critical thinking and innovation. The Maine Department of Education will administer the program, develop eligibility criteria, and review similar initiatives in other states to guide grant awards.

Maddy summaryLD 1618 is a procedural resolution establishing a 12-member study group to examine the feasibility of creating a dedicated family court in Maine. The group, appointed by legislative leaders and including judges, advocates, and individuals with family court experience, will study current case volumes, resolution times, delays, best practices from other states, resource needs, and multi-judge case handling. The study must be completed by December 3, 2025, with findings and recommendations submitted to the next legislative session. This resolution does not create a new court but only authorizes a study to assess whether one would be beneficial. It directly affects Maine's judicial system by initiating a formal review process for potential structural changes.

Maddy summaryLD 1626 requires Maine school districts to provide annual professional development for educational technicians and hourly-paid school support staff. Districts must offer at least 6 hours of paid, in-person training yearly, with 4 hours completed before the school year starts or within 30 days of hiring. New school support staff must receive initial training within 60 days on topics like emergency procedures and school policies, while educational technicians must also get training on student disabilities and behavioral needs, plus time to review student individualized education programs within 5 days of starting to work with a student.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies Maine's Criminal History Record Information Act regarding dismissed criminal charges that occur as part of plea agreements. It specifies that if a defendant pleads guilty to and is convicted of another criminal charge in the same agreement, the dismissal of the original charge is **not** confidential. However, if the plea agreement only involves a civil violation or traffic infraction (without a criminal conviction), the dismissal is treated as confidential information. The bill also codifies a court ruling that allows a defendant's admission of guilt during a deferred disposition to be used in later legal proceedings, even if the charge was later dismissed.