Rep. Drew Gattine

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two pilot programs to expand child assertive community treatment (ACT) teams in Lewiston and Bangor, Maine. By December 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services must issue competitive requests for proposals requiring grantees to use workforce incentives for hiring and retaining staff. It allocates $320,000 total ($160,000 per pilot) for these programs, which aim to address shortages in community-based behavioral health services for children. Within 90 days after the pilots conclude, the department must report outcomes and recommendations to the legislature.

Maddy summaryLD 1287 establishes Maine's Housing Stability Fund and Housing Stability Support Program to prevent evictions for low-income renters. The program provides up to $3,000 per household ($300 monthly max) in direct rental assistance to tenants earning under 30% of the area median income (per HUD standards), excluding those using federal housing vouchers. Administered by qualified entities like community action agencies, it requires landlords to be paid directly and limits administrative costs to 10% of funds. The bill appropriates $1.9 million annually from the General Fund to sustain the program, targeting renters facing housing instability.

Maddy summaryLD 1876 establishes a 17-member Working Group to study how to increase use of four specific Maine state tax credits: the earned income credit, property tax fairness credit, dependent exemption credit, and sales tax fairness credit. The group includes balanced representation from both legislative parties, tax experts, low-income community members (with direct experience claiming these credits), advocates, and municipal representatives. The Working Group must complete its study and submit a report to the next legislative session before the 90-day emergency period expires. This bill does not change the tax credits themselves but creates a process to identify barriers to their use and recommend strategies for greater utilization.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts salaries for executive branch employees represented by specific unions - including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Maine State Troopers Association, and Maine Service Employees Association - for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. It requires the state to fund salary increases based on collective bargaining agreements ratified by October 31, 2023, or negotiated between May 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. The bill also allocates $9,132,794 from the General Fund to cover a $2,000 lump-sum payment made to these employees in October 2024. It directly affects state employees in the listed bargaining units by ensuring funding for their negotiated compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1988) provides emergency funding to cover costs for Maine state employees who may face layoffs due to unexpected federal funding cuts. It authorizes the State Controller to transfer up to $2.5 million from the General Fund Reserve to cover required 10-day layoff notices and shortfalls in unemployment benefits for affected employees. The bill also allows transferring Personal Services funds from federal accounts to the General Fund to address these costs. Unspent funds must be returned to the General Fund Reserve by June 30, 2026. It directly affects state agencies and employees whose jobs rely on federal funding.

Maddy summaryLD 117 provides $1.23 million in state funding for sexual assault services during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, increasing to $1.83 million for 2026-2027. The funds are allocated through the Department of Health and Human Services' Purchased Social Services program to directly support local sexual assault service providers. This funding covers essential services like crisis counseling, medical advocacy, and legal support for survivors. The bill does not create new programs but ensures sustained financial support for existing services across Maine.

Maddy summaryLD 172 requires the Maine State Police to create and maintain a publicly accessible website listing all open missing person cases in Maine. For each case, the website must include a summary of details, a photograph of the missing person, and contact information for the investigating agency. This bill directly affects the Maine State Police, mandating they establish and manage this centralized resource, and benefits the public by providing a single, transparent source for missing persons information. The law aims to improve access to case details for families, law enforcement, and the public without changing existing procedures for handling missing persons reports.

Maddy summaryLD 698 provides annual funding of $5 million from the General Fund to support emergency homeless shelters across Maine for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This bill directly affects emergency homeless shelters by guaranteeing stable, ongoing financial support to maintain operations. The key mechanism is a dedicated state appropriation that ensures shelters receive consistent funding without requiring annual legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to create educational materials about perimenopause and menopause. It directs the department to partner with healthcare providers (like OB/GYNs) and community health programs to develop both digital and physical resources. The materials will explain symptoms, treatments, when to seek care, the biological process, and how to discuss these changes with others. These resources will specifically target people who menstruate and are experiencing perimenopause or menopause.

Maddy summaryLD 800 allocates $50,000 annually from the General Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to fund advocacy services for individuals with intellectual disabilities through Disability Rights Maine. The bill ensures continued financial support for existing advocacy services that help people with intellectual disabilities navigate healthcare, education, and community systems. It directly affects residents of Maine with intellectual disabilities by maintaining access to these support services without changing eligibility or program scope. The funding mechanism is a straightforward budget allocation, not a new policy.