Rep. Benjamin Collings

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a commission to identify state lands and waterways that hold sacred or traditional significance to the Wabanaki People. It creates a nine-member commission with staggered terms, ensuring that members representing different groups and the public serve for one, two, or three years to maintain continuity. The commission is required to submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2025, and the bill includes funding for administrative costs and staff positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the state minimum hourly wage in Maine to $15 per hour by January 1, 2024. The increase happens in steps, starting at $9.00 per hour in 2017 and rising by $1.00 each year until reaching the $15.00 target. After 2024, the wage will automatically adjust annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. The law also ensures that if the federal minimum wage goes up more than this state plan, Maine's rate will match the higher federal amount.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to create a rental subsidy program specifically for homeless students, replacing the original plan to establish a housing voucher system. The program is designed to provide financial assistance directly to homeless students or their guardians to help secure housing, with special provisions for minors who lack adult family members to arrange accommodation. To implement this, the Authority must coordinate with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services and report progress to the Legislature by January 15, 2024. The legislation also allocates $2 million in state funding for each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to support these subsidies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amendment clarifies the role of the Maine Agricultural Water Management Board in notifying agricultural producers about specific water use requirements set by the Board of Environmental Protection. It replaces vague references to low-flow areas with a mandate to address in-stream flows and lake or pond water levels, while also requiring the board to submit annual reports to the legislature's agriculture committee. Additionally, the bill allocates funding to hire a part-time hydrogeologist to support these oversight activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Maine to issue up to $50,000,000 in bonds to fund investments in railroad infrastructure, primarily managed by the Department of Transportation. The funds are designated to expand passenger rail service, with a specific focus on track corridors that can support both passenger and freight intermodal operations as well as the transport of agricultural products. Before the money can be spent, the bill must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum held after its passage. If approved, the state treasurer will manage the sale of the bonds and ensure the proceeds are used only for the specified railroad projects. Any unspent funds after ten years or any bonds not issued within five years of approval must be returned to the state treasury.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to add a right to housing to the Maine Constitution by first requiring the Department of Economic and Community Development to form a diverse stakeholder group. The group must include representatives from various state agencies, housing authorities, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness to draft the specific constitutional language. Once the group finishes its work, the department must submit a report with the proposed amendment to the legislature by January 15, 2025, which will then allow lawmakers to introduce legislation in the next session to enact the change.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $250,000 in state funding for Maine's free health clinics, which serve uninsured and underinsured populations. The money is allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute based on the number of clients each clinic serves. The legislation only applies to the 2024-25 fiscal year, as it removes any funding that was previously planned for 2023-24.

Maddy summaryThis legislative measure changes the original bill into a resolution that directs the County Corrections Professional Standards Council to form a stakeholder group. This group will investigate whether county jails need more intensive case managers to help prisoners reintegrate into society and will review how consistently different jails handle policies on funerals, furloughs, visitation, education, and personal accounts. The council must include representatives from the Maine Sheriffs' Association, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other experts in this review. By February 15, 2024, the council is required to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which may then propose further legislation.

Maddy summaryThis legislative amendment modifies an existing bill by removing a specific requirement regarding how leftover school funds are handled. Previously, the law mandated that 60% of unspent general aid from the Department of Education be moved to a renovation fund for the following year. By striking out this section, the amendment allows those unobligated balances to remain in the general purpose aid account instead of being automatically transferred. This change directly affects the state's Department of Education and local school districts by altering the rules for managing their annual financial allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a one-time appropriation of $50,000 from the state's General Fund to the Maine Indian Education School District for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The funds are designated to support the development and implementation of a Wabanaki-centered curriculum specifically for Native American high school students. The money will be used to cover costs related to curriculum creation, staff, transportation, and support services for the pilot program.