Rep. Ambureen Rana

Maddy summaryThis bill expands retirement benefits under Maine's 1998 Special Plan to include certain community mental health workers employed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, it adds Mental Health Workers I through IV and Community Response Workers who provide crisis services to adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities to the list of eligible employees. To qualify for these benefits, workers must have been employed in these roles after September 30, 2025, and meet either age and service requirements or have completed at least 25 years of creditable service. The changes apply to employees hired on or after October 1, 2025, or those who held the specified job classifications on that date.

Maddy summaryLD 847 prohibits housing discrimination in Maine by banning landlords from refusing to rent or negotiating for rental housing based on a tenant's **source of income**, such as housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security benefits, or rental subsidies. It also prevents landlords from assessing a tenant's full rent amount when part of the rent is subsidized, requiring financial evaluations to apply only to the unsubsidized portion. The law, effective January 1, 2026, applies to most rental properties (excluding landlords with fewer than four units) and allows victims to seek $1,000 penalties or actual damages for violations. This directly affects renters using government assistance and landlords managing rental housing.

Maddy summaryLD 624 establishes a 12-member commission to study creating a legislative internship program. The commission, including legislators, education experts, and student representatives, will develop recommendations for matching Maine college students (or out-of-state students studying in Maine) with legislators to assist with policy work. It must submit a report by February 1, 2026, including a pilot program proposal for the next legislative session, covering application processes, pay, training, and program costs. This bill does not create the internship program itself but sets up the study to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryLD 1522 establishes the Maine Eviction Prevention Program within the Maine State Housing Authority to provide rental assistance to low-income renters. It directly affects individuals earning no more than 60% of the area median income who face eviction threats or pay over 30% of their income in rent. The program covers rental arrears and offers up to 12 months of additional help for those paying excessive rent, prioritizing: (1) those with an eviction summons, (2) those with an eviction notice for nonpayment, and (3) those paying over 30% of income in rent. Participants must pay 30% of their income toward rent and live in housing at or below 125% of HUD’s fair market rent, with landlords prohibited from evicting participants for nonpayment during assistance.

Maddy summaryLD 1943 establishes a commission to study private equity firms' role in Maine's economy, focusing on transparency, investment practices, and impacts on key sectors like health care, housing, energy, and nursing homes. The commission will collect data on private equity's market share and economic effects, consult experts, and issue a report with findings and potential recommendations to the Health Coverage Committee by December 3, 2025. This bill does not enact new laws but creates a study process to inform future policy decisions about private equity's influence on Maine's economy and public welfare.

Maddy summaryLD 1089 would impose a 4% tax on Maine taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 for tax years starting January 1, 2025. This tax applies only to high-income earners (those with Maine taxable income over $1 million) and would generate revenue exclusively for public prekindergarten through grade 12 education. The bill permanently establishes this tax as a dedicated funding source for K-12 education, replacing temporary funding mechanisms. All revenue collected must be used for K-12 education, with no other designated uses specified in the bill text.

Maddy summaryLD 1356 would change Maine's method for allocating presidential electors from a congressional district system (where electoral votes are distributed by district and two are allocated statewide) to a winner-take-all system (where the statewide popular vote winner receives all of Maine's electoral votes). This change would only take effect if Nebraska modifies its electoral vote allocation to award at least three of its five electoral votes on an at-large basis. The bill amends Maine law to require electors to cast ballots for the statewide popular vote winner under this new system. Maine's current district-based allocation method would remain unchanged until Nebraska implements a similar modification to its electoral process.

Maddy summaryLD 260 is a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to Maine's constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for all residents, prohibiting discrimination by the state or local governments based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin. This amendment would directly affect all Maine residents by legally requiring state and local entities to provide equal treatment without regard to these protected characteristics. The resolution requires a statewide referendum in the next November election, where voters would decide whether to adopt the amendment by answering "Yes" or "No" on a ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment would become part of Maine's constitution, giving the Legislature authority to create enforcing laws.

Maddy summaryLD 1022 requires Maine to appropriate $9.5 million annually starting July 1, 2026, for civil legal aid services targeting low-income residents. It directly affects approximately 356,500 Mainers living below 200% of the federal poverty level who face civil legal issues like eviction, domestic violence, or benefits disputes without representation. Key provisions mandate quarterly fund distribution through the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission, annual reporting on unmet legal needs (including attorney-to-resident ratios), and biennial legislative hearings to assess funding adequacy. The bill aims to sustain and improve access to justice by ensuring consistent, increased funding for legal assistance in civil matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to provide free water testing for arsenic and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) to low-income rural households using private wells. It expands existing testing programs by adding PFAS testing through state-approved labs, funded by the department's dedicated testing account, with no fees charged to eligible residents. The bill also mandates educational outreach to inform low-income well owners about the free testing and eligibility for state grants to install water treatment systems if contaminants exceed state standards. These provisions directly affect rural low-income residents relying on private wells, aiming to improve access to safe drinking water through expanded testing and treatment support.