Rep. Mark Blier

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for homeowners who restore noncommercial barns on their residential property. It provides a credit equal to 40% of renovation costs exceeding $25,000, with a maximum annual credit of $400,000 per barn. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to four years, and the total credit for any single barn cannot exceed $1.6 million over time. The credit applies only to barns used for noncommercial purposes (like storage or livestock housing) and requires reporting to the state for tracking.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permit requirement for hunting coyotes over bait in Maine. It applies to hunters with a valid license who wish to hunt coyotes using bait between September 1 and December 15, specifically in wildlife management districts 1-14, 18, 19, 27, and 28. The permit costs $4, and hunters must place bait only in towns with active deer wintering areas. Violating this rule is a Class E crime punishable by a minimum $50 fine plus twice the license fee.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution designating May 18-24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week in Maine. It encourages citizens to observe the week with programs and ceremonies honoring EMS providers, referencing the 51st anniversary theme "We Care. For Everyone." The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the contributions of emergency medical services teams.

Maddy summaryLD 1599 establishes the Maine Emergency Medical Services Commission to monitor and evaluate the state's emergency medical services system. The commission, composed of 26 members including legislative leaders, state agency representatives, EMS providers, community advocates, and public members, will provide recommendations to state agencies and the Legislature. It must meet at least quarterly and may seek outside funding to carry out its duties. This bill creates a new oversight body for EMS system improvements, directly affecting how Maine's emergency medical services are reviewed and managed.

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 413 requires sellers of residential property near shorelands to disclose actual violations of shoreland zoning ordinances to buyers, but removes the requirement to disclose alleged violations. This change directly affects home sellers and buyers in properties governed by shoreland zoning rules. The bill amends Maine law to narrow the disclosure obligation to only confirmed violations, not pending or disputed cases. It does not alter other disclosure requirements or create new regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 1373 repeals Maine's participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would have awarded the state's presidential electors to the candidate winning the national popular vote. This bill removes the legal provision requiring Maine to follow the compact, reverting to Maine's standard system where electors are awarded based on the statewide popular vote (or by congressional district for two electors). Key changes include repealing specific sections of election law that implemented the compact and updating the Governor's duty to certify electors based on ranked-choice tabulation results. The bill directly affects how Maine's 4 presidential electors are selected in future elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's regulations for outdoor wood and pellet boilers. It allows boilers meeting a new particulate matter emission standard (0.32 pounds per million BTUs) to avoid property setback requirements, as long as they meet stack height rules set by the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill also prohibits the department from creating rules that ban smoke plumes from these boilers, regardless of whether smoke crosses property lines. This directly affects Maine homeowners and businesses using outdoor wood or pellet boilers for heating. The changes aim to make cleaner-burning bioenergy systems more accessible while maintaining specific emission and operational standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, LD 80, would designate the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as Maine's official state dog by amending state law to add a new section (§232) naming the breed. The designation is purely ceremonial and does not alter any laws, regulations, or obligations for residents or businesses. It would add the Seppala Siberian Sleddog to Maine's list of official state symbols, joining existing emblems like the state flower and bird. The bill has no financial impact or policy implications beyond this symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that 15% of fines collected for traffic violations must be sent to the municipality where the violation occurred, but only if the summons was issued by a local municipal law enforcement agency. It directly affects towns and cities that issue traffic citations, as they would receive a portion of the fines collected from local violations. The key mechanism is a new allocation rule added to traffic fine statutes, ensuring 15% of qualifying fines flows to the issuing municipality. This applies to standard traffic infractions under relevant sections of motor vehicle law, excluding certain specific violations like those in sections 525, 1767, and 2363. The change modifies how traffic fine revenue is distributed, shifting a portion from the state General Fund to local governments.