Rep. Amy Roeder

Maddy summaryLD 1178 prevents Maine municipalities from illegally moving people between towns to avoid paying for general assistance support. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make a decision on residency disputes within 15 working days (down from 30), and mandates that the municipality causing the dispute reimburse the assisting town within 10 days, plus 6% annual interest if late. Repeat violations within 12 months trigger a $10,000 penalty and a required compliance audit. The bill also creates a rebuttable presumption that moving a person implies an attempt to avoid responsibility, and requires an annual public report listing violations and enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's child protection laws to exclude poverty as a factor when determining child abuse or neglect. It revises definitions in the Child and Family Services Act to clarify that "willful neglect" or "abuse" does not include circumstances caused solely by poverty, such as lack of food, shelter, or healthcare due to financial hardship. The bill also requires child protection agencies to detail specific efforts made, their duration, and outcomes when seeking to prevent a child's removal from home. These changes apply to all child welfare cases handled under Maine law, affecting how officials assess neglect and make decisions about child safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits pet-related fees for renters in Maine. Landlords may only charge a refundable security deposit of up to $300 for pets or a monthly pet rent fee not exceeding 1% of the total rent, but cannot charge non-refundable fees. It prohibits all other pet-related charges, including non-refundable deposits or fees for service or assistance animals. The law directly affects tenants with pets and landlords in rental housing across Maine. Service and assistance animals remain exempt from all pet fees under the bill.

Maddy summaryMaine's LD 1235 requires towns and counties that receive opioid settlement funds (as plaintiff subdivisions under the 2022 and 2023 Memoranda of Understanding) to report annually to the Attorney General. These reports must detail the total funds received and spent in the prior year, including specific descriptions of each expenditure. The first report is due by January 15, 2026, with annual submissions thereafter. The bill aims to increase transparency in how local governments use these settlement funds. It applies only to municipalities and counties identified in the settlement agreements' Exhibit 3.

Maddy summaryLD 1380 establishes a 14-member study group to address Maine's behavioral health workforce shortage. The group includes legislators, behavioral health providers, consumer advocates, and state agency representatives. It must review current workforce challenges and assess specific solutions like Washington state's community teaching agency pilot, enhanced loan repayment programs, and student stipends. The study group is required to submit findings and recommended legislation to the Health and Human Services committee by December 3, 2025. This bill does not fund or enact changes but directs a review to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryLD 431 requires Maine's Office of Child and Family Services to cover driver's license fees, insurance costs, and related expenses for youth in foster care or transition programs (under 27 who were placed in DHHS care). It mandates the department to provide driver education, including license assistance, safe driving training, supervised practice hours, and insurance information for foster youth aged 15+. The bill also waives all license fees for eligible foster youth and creates new documentation options (like agency statements or court orders) to prove eligibility. This directly affects youth aging out of foster care by removing financial barriers to obtaining a driver's license.

Maddy summaryLD 1350 prohibits business entities - including corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits - from making direct contributions to political candidates. It also limits contributions to political action committees (PACs) making independent expenditures to $5,000 annually, with automatic adjustments every two years based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill defines "business entity" broadly to cover all for-profit and nonprofit organizations. This amendment to Maine's campaign finance law directly affects businesses seeking to support candidates financially, altering how they can participate in elections.

Maddy summaryLD 1300 requires Maine's Attorney General to notify online sellers remitting $10,000+ in state sales tax about existing implied warranty laws (covering product quality and fitness for purpose). It also mandates creating an online complaint form for Maine buyers to report sellers violating these warranty rules. The bill directly affects online retailers meeting the sales tax threshold and Maine consumers purchasing goods online. Key mechanisms are mandatory seller notifications and a standardized digital complaint system, aiming to improve enforcement of current warranty protections without changing the warranty standards themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine municipalities with downtown tax increment financing districts to use a portion of their tax increment funds to help qualifying businesses and developments cover flood insurance premiums. It specifically targets downtown businesses located in FEMA-designated floodplains that demonstrate financial need. The program is limited to using no more than 25% of a district's annual tax increment funds, and eligibility criteria are set by each municipality. The bill amends existing law to add this flood insurance assistance as a permitted use of tax increment funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine employers with 10 or more employees to include a good-faith estimated pay range in all public or online job postings for positions based in the state. Employers must state the range they reasonably expect to pay, but this is advisory - employers may pay outside the range based on factors like experience, education, or market conditions. The Maine Department of Labor enforces the rule, with violations carrying a maximum $500 penalty per offense. The law directly affects job seekers and employers in Maine’s workforce by increasing transparency in salary information before applications are submitted.