Rep. Amy Kuhn

Maddy summaryLD 1259 prohibits Maine local law enforcement agencies and officers from entering into any written or oral agreements with federal immigration authorities. The bill specifically bans contracts that would grant federal immigration enforcement powers to local agencies, including those under federal 8 U.S. Code §1357(g). This directly affects all Maine municipal police departments, sheriffs' offices, and individual officers who interact with federal immigration enforcement. The law aims to clarify and limit local law enforcement's role in federal immigration enforcement activities.

Maddy summaryLD 1919 expands Maine's law allowing individuals to seal certain criminal convictions from public records. It adds new eligible offenses, including pre-2017 marijuana cultivation and possession crimes (Class D), some drug possession cases under Title 17-A, and specific non-violent Class D crimes under Title 17-A, chapter 45. The bill excludes most domestic violence crimes, crimes involving firearms, and certain violent offenses, though some offenses like domestic violence may qualify after 20 years. This change allows people with qualifying convictions to file a motion to seal their records through existing court procedures. The bill amends Maine Revised Statutes §§2261, 2262, and 2263 to implement these eligibility expansions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 2032) is a procedural amendment adding an emergency preamble and emergency clause to an existing Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) bill. It does not change ERPO procedures but allows the bill to take effect immediately upon approval instead of waiting 90 days after legislative adjournment. The emergency justification cites increased petition filings for ERPOs and the need to meet statutory hearing deadlines for affected individuals. The amendment solely addresses the bill's implementation timeline, not the substance of ERPO processes.

Maddy summaryLD 1136, titled "An Act to Defend the Rights of LGBTQ+ Persons in the State," is a concept draft that proposes updating Maine's laws to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill aims to strengthen legal safeguards for LGBTQ+ persons through legislative changes, though specific provisions are not detailed in the concept draft. As a concept draft, it serves as an early step in the legislative process and has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary. The bill does not specify exact mechanisms or affected groups beyond the general intent to protect LGBTQ+ rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 411) changes Maine law regarding firearms seized as part of criminal cases. It requires all firearms forfeited under certain criminal sentences - including those used in murder or unlawful homicide - to be destroyed by the state, removing a previous exception that allowed third parties to claim ownership. The bill also aligns juvenile court procedures for firearm forfeiture with these updated adult sentencing rules. These changes apply to both adult criminal cases and juvenile proceedings involving firearms used in qualifying offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Maine's Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program, which provides funding to colleges and universities to develop programs supporting students with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder. The program awards competitive grants to institutions to create inclusive higher education opportunities, requiring them to design "program plans" that mirror standard college experiences for students without disabilities. Institutions must meet federal standards for transition programs under the Higher Education Act, and the Department of Health and Human Services will administer the grants, including outreach and application support. The bill directly affects Maine's public and private colleges/universities and students with qualifying disabilities seeking postsecondary education.

Maddy summaryLD 1098 requires Maine school districts to stop placing students in abbreviated school day programs (shorter instructional days) without strict justification and parental consent. It directly affects students with disabilities who are often placed in these programs, requiring schools to document medical or behavioral needs through special education plans (like IEPs), provide detailed plans showing how students will catch up academically, and obtain written parental consent every 45 days. The bill prohibits using abbreviated days due to staffing or resource shortages and mandates that schools return students to full-day instruction within 5 days if parents object. This law aims to ensure all students in the same grade receive equal instructional time, with the emergency clause allowing immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine public schools to provide at least four hours of de-escalation and behavior intervention training to all teachers, administrators, and education technicians starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with training repeated every three years thereafter. New staff must receive this training within 60 days of hiring beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. The training covers specific topics like positive behavior strategies, communication of student behavior, alternatives to restrictive procedures, and safe use of restraint and seclusion. The Maine Department of Education will maintain a list of approved training programs and experts, and must develop and distribute best practices for the training by September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryLD 109 directs Maine's Arts Commission to study federal and national efforts protecting artists from copyright infringement by AI companies and monitoring educational use of copyrighted works. The commission must consult with the Attorney General and examine relevant laws, including the proposed No Fakes Act and Tennessee's likeness protection law, as well as past legal cases. It will report findings - including potential legislative recommendations - to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee by December 3, 2025. This study specifically affects artists whose work may be used without permission by AI developers and educational institutions using copyrighted materials. The resolution does not enact new law but sets a process for future legislative action based on the commission's findings.

Maddy summaryLD 1691 creates the Access to Justice Loan Program to address attorney shortages in rural Maine. It offers eligible Maine law students and recent graduates up to $25,000 per year for up to 4 years to cover law school debt, with loan forgiveness tied to practicing in designated underserved areas. To qualify, applicants must be Maine residents, meet financial or educational criteria, and commit to providing legal services in areas identified by the Finance Authority of Maine as having insufficient attorneys. Participants who fulfill this commitment receive 25% forgiveness of their original debt for each year they practice in these underserved regions.