Maddy summaryLD 1500 establishes the Maine Community Development Financial Institution Fund within the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide grants and loans to certified community development financial institutions (CDFIs). The fund, initially capitalized with $500,000 from the General Fund's unappropriated surplus, will support small businesses, rural economic development, and affordable housing projects in underserved communities as defined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. CDFIs receiving funds must deploy them as loans, grants, or forgivable loans to underserved communities within Maine. The Department of Economic and Community Development will administer the program and provide biannual reports to the Legislature on fund usage.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryMaine's LD 61 requires employers to notify employees before monitoring them using electronic devices (like computers or phones), with specific exceptions for security cameras and vehicle GPS tracking. It prohibits employers from using audiovisual monitoring in employees' homes, personal vehicles, or on their property, and allows workers to refuse installing monitoring apps on their personal devices. Employers must also disclose surveillance practices during job interviews. The law creates a private right for workers to seek legal remedies if violated and directs the Department of Labor to create implementing rules.
Maddy summaryLD 1265 requires Maine's Bureau of Human Resources to contract with external experts every four years to conduct market pay studies comparing state employee salaries with similar jobs in Maine's private and public sectors (including other New England states). It also mandates a comprehensive review of state job classifications every ten years, using contracted experts to make necessary updates. This bill directly affects all state employees by changing how their pay and job roles are evaluated. The key mechanism shifts responsibility from internal state studies to independent contractor reviews, with reports due to legislative committees and employee unions by specific deadlines.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes federally recognized Wabanaki tribes in Maine to operate regulated internet gaming (like online poker or blackjack) through a new licensing framework. It creates Chapter 39 of Maine law, establishing specific licenses for tribal operators and exempting tribal employees from certain license fees. The law allows tribes to conduct internet gaming via digital platforms, subject to oversight by the Gambling Control Unit, while clarifying that this activity differs from existing casino games or sports wagering. It directly affects Wabanaki Nations as the primary entities permitted to operate such gaming services within Maine.
Maddy summaryLD 1615 creates a new "adjunct dentist license" in Maine to expand access to oral health care. This license allows dental school graduates who are not fully licensed in Maine to practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist in board-approved settings. Key provisions require applicants to hold a dental degree, pass board exams, have a written practice agreement with a supervising dentist, and work within defined protocols and limitations. The bill directly affects dental school graduates seeking to provide care in underserved areas while ensuring oversight through supervising dentists and detailed practice agreements.
Maddy summaryLD 802 directs Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to contract with an independent provider to design a mentoring program specifically for youth who have or have had extended care and support agreements (Maine's term for foster care services for youth aged 18-21). The program must include evidence-based mentoring models, mandatory training for mentors/staff/youth, data collection, and direct input from youth with lived experience, including compensation for their participation. The Department must submit a final report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2, 2027, detailing the provider's findings and youth input. This bill does not create new law but mandates a study and program design to support youth transitioning out of foster care.
Maddy summaryThis resolve authorizes the Maine Legislature to approve Chapter 201, a rule governing how state employers report and pay into the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). It directly affects state employers required to submit retirement payments and the PERS system itself. The bill does not change the rule's content but formally allows its final adoption after legislative review, as required by Maine law. This procedural step enables the rule to take effect without delaying retirement system operations.
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 summaryLD 396 requires all Maine public high schools to start the school day no earlier than 8:30 a.m. beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. This applies to every school administrative unit in the state, meaning all public high schools must adjust their schedules to meet this standard. The key provision sets a mandatory minimum start time, prohibiting secondary schools from beginning classes before 8:30 a.m. The requirement takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, giving districts time to implement the change.
Maddy summaryLD 588, "An Act To Enact The Agricultural Employees Concerted Activity Protection Act," protects Maine agricultural workers' right to discuss workplace issues with coworkers or employers. It directly affects agricultural employees (including those in farming, processing, and distribution of food products) and their employers in Maine. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who engage in "concerted activity," such as discussing wages, safety, or working conditions with coworkers or filing complaints about violations. It also explicitly states that employees cannot be forced to participate in such discussions.