Rep. Dick Campbell

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Maine's Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships for students attending approved private schools or receiving home instruction under state education law. It creates "hope accounts" managed by a state board to cover qualifying education expenses (like tuition or materials) for eligible students who are Maine residents under 21 and not primarily enrolled in public schools. The program requires parents to apply for accounts, with funds renewed annually if students meet residency, age, and educational enrollment criteria. The Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Board, composed of state officials and community members, administers the program per the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryLD 148 changes how Maine's State Auditor is selected. Currently, the State Auditor is elected by the Maine Legislature until 2028. Beginning in 2028, the State Auditor will be elected every four years by all Maine voters in a statewide popular election, following the same process as the Governor's election. This shift means the public - not the Legislature - will directly choose the State Auditor starting in 2028.

Maddy summaryLD 236 requires Maine state agencies to initiate rulemaking proceedings within 60 days when receiving petitions signed by 150 or more registered voters seeking to adopt or modify regulations. The bill mandates that such petitions must be verified and certified per specific legal standards before submission. Agencies must then conduct these rulemaking processes as "major substantive rulemaking" under established procedures in Maine law. This directly affects state agencies managing regulations and registered voters seeking to influence rule changes through petition. The bill streamlines the process for voter-initiated rule changes while ensuring procedural compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's beverage container recycling laws to standardize how containers are mixed (commingled) for recycling. It updates the list of materials considered "like materials" (e.g., specific glass colors, plastic types) for commingling, ensuring containers are grouped by material, size, and deposit value. It clarifies that commingling groups cannot refuse containers sorted per approved agreements or processed by reverse vending machines if recycling value isn't reduced, and prohibits deposit initiators from requiring dealers to sort containers beyond current rules. The bill directly affects redemption centers, dealers, commingling groups, and the Department of Environmental Protection, which will set rules for container value and processing standards. It takes effect July 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires towns and counties in Maine that received opioid settlement funds as plaintiffs to report their spending annually to the Attorney General. Specifically, municipalities and counties identified in the 2022 and 2023 Memoranda of Understanding must detail all funds received and spent each year, including descriptions of each expenditure. The first report is due January 15, 2026, with annual reports required thereafter. The bill does not change how funds can be spent, only mandates transparency about their use.

Maddy summaryLD 807 limits eligible disabled veterans to three free vehicle registrations annually, replacing an unlimited exemption. It directly affects veterans who receive 100% service-connected disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill requires municipalities to report lost excise tax revenue to the Secretary of State, mandating the state to fully reimburse them annually based on that report. This changes the prior policy by capping the number of exempt vehicles at three and ensuring municipalities are compensated for tax revenue loss.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires dam owners seeking removal permits for hydropower dams to first determine the value of electricity the dam could generate and prove they attempted to sell the dam to another owner without success. It directly affects dam owners, developers, and entities applying for removal permits through Maine's Department of Environmental Protection or Land Use Planning Commission. The law mandates two key steps before permit approval: a documented valuation of the dam's energy output and evidence of reasonable efforts to sell the dam. This change aims to preserve hydropower capacity by making dam removal more difficult unless alternative ownership is secured.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review its current process for licensing solid waste disposal facilities. The review must examine statutes, rules, and policies governing licensing, including a specific focus on delays and inefficiencies related to Penobscot Energy Recovery Company's waste-to-energy facility in Orrington. The DEP must form a stakeholder group, identify process improvements, and submit a report with recommendations to the Environment Committee by December 3, 2025. This is a procedural review, not a policy change, aimed at streamlining future licensing.

Maddy summaryLD 430 temporarily bans the removal of hydropower dams until January 1, 2027, and restricts water release from nonhydropower dams. It extends the consultation period for dam owners to find new owners from 180 to 210 days and requires detailed reports on consultation efforts and compliance with notice rules. The bill aims to protect renewable energy generation, local tax revenue, and businesses that rely on stable water levels maintained by dams. These changes are intended to prevent disruptions to communities, recreational uses, and property values dependent on consistent river flows.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maine's confidentiality laws to require child welfare agencies to disclose certain confidential records when considering someone for custody of a child. Specifically, it mandates that agencies share past substance use or domestic abuse records of potential foster or adoptive parents that were previously protected by confidentiality. The change applies directly to the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies placing children in custody, ensuring these records are reviewed during placement decisions. The policy focuses on improving child safety by making relevant safety information accessible during custody evaluations.