Rep. Jim Dill

Maddy summaryLD 1855 imposes a 60-cent-per-gallon excise tax on spirits-based cocktails containing 12% alcohol by volume or less. This tax applies to manufacturers and importing wholesale licensees selling these beverages within Maine. The bill defines "spirits-based cocktail" as an alcoholic drink made with spirits and containing no more than 12% alcohol by volume. The tax is collected monthly and is separate from existing excise taxes on other alcoholic products like beer or wine.

Maddy summaryLD 1043 would require Maine's Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to issue free day use passes for state parks and historic sites to immediate family members - defined as spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children - of veterans and active military personnel who meet eligibility criteria verified by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. The passes allow these family members to access parks and sites without charge and specifically permit them to hold their own passes rather than only accompanying the veteran or service member. This policy change directly affects qualifying family members by providing independent access to state recreational spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Maine's Constitution to establish the State Auditor as a constitutional officer, meaning the position would be defined directly in the state constitution rather than by statute. It would require the State Auditor to be elected every four years by a joint vote of the Senate and House of Representatives, with vacancies during legislative recesses filled by the Senate President. The amendment must then be approved by voters in a statewide referendum, where they would vote "Yes" or "No" on the question: "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to establish the State Auditor as a constitutional officer?" If ratified, the change would take effect after the referendum.

Maddy summaryLD 820 proposes a constitutional amendment to Maine's Constitution protecting the right of all residents to hunt, fish, and harvest game and fish using traditional methods. It states this right "may not be infringed" except by "reasonable laws" from the Legislature or "reasonable rules" from the wildlife agency, designed to promote conservation and manage wildlife. The amendment also specifies that public hunting and fishing are the "preferred means" for wildlife management. If approved by voters in a November 2025 referendum, this change would become part of Maine's Constitution, requiring future laws to align with this protected right while allowing conservation regulations.

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 1252 amends the rules for distributing funds from the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund, which supports infrastructure for local producers. It restricts disbursements to producers who operate or plan to establish a processing or manufacturing facility in Maine, requiring funds to be used for equipment, supply chain improvements, and operations at that Maine facility. Recipients must also source agricultural, food, or forest products from within Maine (or offshore waters collected in Maine) to the extent practicable. Additionally, the bill requires advisory board members to recuse themselves from votes if they or their immediate family have a direct financial interest in an enterprise benefiting from a fund allocation.

Maddy summaryLD 1574 amends Maine's student loan repayment tax credit to clarify eligibility rules and extend the carryover of unused credits. For tax years 2015-2025, the credit applies only to loan payments made while working in Maine during the tax year, with refinanced loans requiring separation from other debt. Starting in 2026, unused credits from prior years can be carried forward annually until fully depleted. This affects Maine residents with qualifying student loans who may have unused credit from previous years, including those with refinanced loans.

Maddy summaryLD 1948 provides a one-time $117,618,761 allocation from the General Fund to MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program) for fiscal year 2024-25. It directly affects MaineCare recipients and healthcare providers who receive payments through the program. The bill's key mechanism is moving this funding from the General Fund for immediate use in the current fiscal year. Part B of the bill cancels a previously allocated amount from Public Law 2025, chapter 2, Part D, with that cancellation effective June 20, 2025. This is a procedural funding adjustment, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryLD 629 restores $500,000 annually in state funding to match private contributions for the Maine Development Foundation. This bill provides ongoing General Fund support to enable the Foundation to leverage private donations for economic, workforce, and community development initiatives statewide. The funding specifically targets distressed communities and industries, allowing the Foundation to expand its support for local projects. The bill does not create new programs but reinstates matching funds previously allocated to the Foundation.

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.