Rep. Amy Kuhn

Maddy summaryLD 194 amends Maine's Unfair Trade Practices Act to broaden who can seek legal remedies. It removes the requirement that a person must have purchased goods or services "primarily for personal, family, or household purposes" and eliminates the need for losses to be "of money or property." This change allows any consumer who suffers harm from unfair business practices - regardless of the purchase's purpose or type of loss - to file a private lawsuit in court. The bill directly affects Maine consumers by expanding access to legal action against deceptive business practices under the existing law.

Maddy summaryLD 1690 requires political advertisers in Maine to disclose when campaign materials - like images, audio, or video - have been materially altered using AI or digital tools to create misleading content. It mandates a specific disclosure statement ("THIS COMMUNICATION CONTAINS AUDIO, VIDEO AND/OR IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED OR ALTERED") and exempts bona fide news broadcasts, satire, and materials published by traditional media outlets with clear disclaimers. Violations could trigger civil penalties of up to 500% of the ad's cost, with enforcement handled by Maine's campaign finance commission. The bill specifically targets deceptive synthetic media designed to misrepresent candidates or political parties, not all AI-generated content.

Maddy summaryLD 1293 prohibits organized coyote-killing contests in Maine, where participants compete for prizes by killing coyotes. The law makes it illegal to arrange, host, provide a venue for, or knowingly participate in such contests, with violations classified as Class E crimes. It explicitly excludes self-defense, property protection, and government-sanctioned coyote culling from the prohibition. The bill directly affects organizers, venues, and participants in these contests, while allowing existing legal wildlife management practices to continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 693) provides funding for three new positions within the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Specifically, it allocates $263,361 in the 2025-26 fiscal year and $271,308 in 2026-27 to establish three "Office Specialist II" roles. The funding covers both personal services and "All Other" costs for these positions. This directly affects the Bureau's staffing capacity, supporting its operations related to corporations, elections, and commissions.

Maddy summaryLD 1651 removes the word "alleged" from Maine law when referring to victims of sexual assault in two specific statutes: §3360-M (covering forensic exam payments) and §2905-B (addressing examinations for unconscious victims). The bill changes legal language from "alleged victims" to "victims" without altering existing procedures for forensic examinations, victim compensation, or healthcare protocols. This update aims to eliminate language that could imply doubt about the victim's experience, aligning with victim-centered approaches in legal contexts. The bill directly affects how Maine statutes describe sexual assault victims in these two sections of the Maine Revised Statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1828) updates Maine's public records law to clarify which information must remain confidential and which becomes public. It makes most details of concealed handgun permit applications confidential, but requires public disclosure of the applicant's residence, permit issue date, and expiration date. It also protects personal information in museum research records until the individual authorizes release or 25 years after death, and specifies that job application materials (like resumes) become public after hiring - except for personal contact details. These changes directly affect permit applicants, museum researchers, and job candidates whose applications are processed by state agencies.

Maddy summaryLD 983 amends Maine law to require hospitals to facilitate law enforcement notifications to hospitalized patients identified as "restricted persons" under Title 34-B, section 3862-A. The bill allows police to request hospital access to inform patients they are restricted persons - typically those taken into protective custody due to potential harm to themselves or others. Hospitals must provide a clinically appropriate time for this notification and may disclose patient status without consent to enable the notice. This directly affects hospitalized individuals classified under Maine's restricted person criteria, changing hospital protocols for law enforcement coordination.

Maddy summaryLD 1045 amends Maine's tax increment financing (TIF) law to allow municipalities and plantations to use TIF revenue for public safety costs, including construction, expansion, and operation of facilities outside the TIF district. It specifically adds public safety facilities (like fire stations or police buildings) and related equipment to the list of eligible TIF project costs, and increases the allowable percentage of TIF revenue for such costs from 15% to 50% when tied to economic development. This change directly affects communities using TIF districts, enabling them to fund public safety improvements that support broader economic growth. The bill does not alter existing TIF district boundaries or create new funding streams, only expands authorized uses of existing TIF revenue.

Maddy summaryThis Maine legislative joint resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Mayaguez incident (May 12-15, 1975), recognized as the last U.S. combat mission in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It honors the 18 U.S. service members who died and 50 wounded during the rescue operation involving the seized SS Mayaguez cargo ship and Marines on Koh Tang Island. The resolution specifically acknowledges Maine’s connection, noting 48,000 Mainers served in Vietnam, 343 are memorialized at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and 11 remain missing. It expresses gratitude for all Maine veterans’ service and sacrifice during the conflict, with no policy or financial provisions.

Maddy summaryLD 1545 clarifies that the $40,000 threshold for small estates under Maine's probate code (allowing collection of personal property via affidavit) must be adjusted for inflation annually. It directly affects Maine residents handling small estates valued under this inflation-adjusted amount, typically avoiding full probate court processes. The bill adds a requirement for county probate courts to publish the current inflation-adjusted threshold value on their public websites each year. This ensures the $40,000 figure remains relevant as living costs change over time. The bill does not change the underlying $40,000 amount but mandates its annual inflation adjustment and public disclosure.