Maddy summaryLD 1748 requires businesses planning to develop energy projects in Maine to complete a mandatory training program on state labor standards. The training, developed by the Department of Labor with energy offices, covers wage laws, safety compliance, contractor responsibilities, and enforcement procedures, and must be offered at least twice yearly both in-person and online. Developers must obtain a certificate of completion (valid for two years, costing $250-$500) that must be displayed at job sites, with failure to hold a valid certificate incurring a $1,000 minimum fine per project. Additional penalties of $2,000 per affected worker apply for labor violations without the certificate, though a reduced $500 fine may apply if the certificate is held.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHP 1338 is a joint resolution recognizing June 2025 as Pride Month in Maine. It is a symbolic gesture by the legislature to honor the history of the LGBTQ rights movement, including Maine's advancements in equality (such as anti-discrimination protections and marriage rights), without creating new legal requirements or policy changes. The resolution affirms the state's commitment to LGBTQ equality through acknowledgment rather than legislative action. It directly affects no specific individuals or groups through policy implementation but serves as a formal statement of support.
Maddy summaryLD 1407 directs Maine's Board of Occupational Safety and Health to develop indoor air quality standards for buildings where public sector workers (such as teachers, government employees, and healthcare staff in public facilities) work. The bill requires the board to establish standards covering specific pollutants including carbon monoxide, mold, volatile organic compounds, and aerosols, with aerosol rules meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 241 (2023). The board must publish proposed rules by February 15, 2026, under routine technical rule procedures. These standards will apply exclusively to public-sector workplaces, not private buildings.
Maddy summaryLD 66 amends Maine's Wage Assurance Fund law to increase the maximum payment period for unpaid wages from 2 to 4 weeks and adds liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages. This directly affects workers who lost wages when their employer closed or filed for bankruptcy, with no assets available to pay them. The fund, capped at $200,000, will now cover more weeks of earned wages plus additional damages. Employers must reimburse the fund when wages are recovered, and unused funds earn interest for the fund. The change aims to provide greater financial protection for affected workers.
Maddy summaryLD 741 requires Maine's Technical Building Codes and Standards Board to update the state's building code to include solar energy standards from Appendix CB of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code for all new commercial buildings. This affects developers and builders constructing new commercial properties after the effective date. The bill exempts buildings that already secured all permits before July 1, 2026, and any projects receiving funding from the Maine State Housing Authority. The key change ensures new commercial construction incorporates solar-ready infrastructure from the start, without mandating solar panel installation.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maine's sales tax to include new "luxury services" like limousine rentals, private aircraft charters, and watercraft rentals over 25 feet. It also increases the sales tax rate on short-term automobile rentals (less than one year) from 10% to 15%, effective January 1, 2026, and removes the previous exemption for dealership loaner vehicles. The changes directly affect businesses providing these services and consumers purchasing them, with tax rates now applying to all short-term car rentals except those under specific dealer warranty programs. The bill does not alter existing tax rates for hotels, prepared food, or cannabis sales.
Maddy summaryLD 1475 establishes a 10-member Commission on Taxation of Digital Assets to study how Maine might tax digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs (nonfungible tokens). The commission, appointed by Senate and House leadership with input from tax experts, business representatives, and nonprofit groups, will review other states' tax policies and recommend approaches by December 3, 2025. Its report to the Taxation Committee will inform potential future legislation but does not create new taxes. This resolution is procedural, setting up a study process rather than implementing policy.
Maddy summaryLD 655 establishes a state minimum hourly wage of $14.65 for agricultural workers in Maine, effective January 1, 2026, with annual increases tied to the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region or matching federal minimum wage hikes. Employers must maintain detailed wage and hour records for three years and provide itemized pay statements showing hours worked, earnings, and deductions. Workers who are not paid the required wage can recover unpaid amounts plus an additional equal amount, while employers face fines of $50-$200 for violations or retaliation against employees who report issues. This bill directly affects agricultural workers and their employers, setting concrete wage standards and enforcement mechanisms.
Maddy summaryLD 1808, the Maine Climate Superfund Act, requires entities that extracted or refined fossil fuels (like coal, oil, or natural gas) during 2000-2024 to pay for climate adaptation projects through a new cost recovery program. It targets corporations and other organizations (defined as "entities") that owned fossil fuel businesses during that period, including those in a "controlled group" treated as a single entity. Funds collected will be used for specific climate adaptation projects, such as flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, health programs for climate-related illnesses, and nature-based solutions like restoring natural landscapes. The program establishes a "Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program" to collect payments based on covered greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use during the specified period.
Maddy summaryLD 189 removes the requirement for health care facilities to obtain state approval (a "certificate of need") before offering mental health services or substance use disorder treatment in Maine. This change directly affects facilities providing these services, allowing them to expand or start new programs without waiting for state review. By eliminating this regulatory barrier, the bill aims to increase the availability and affordability of mental health and substance use disorder care for residents. The legislation amends Maine law to specifically exclude these services from the certificate of need process.