Rep. Jim Dill

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a resolution to establish a working group that will study how to manage boat moorings on Maine's inland waters. The key change adds two new members to the group: one representative from a town that already has mooring rules and one from a town without such rules. These representatives would voice the perspectives of local municipalities with different experiences in managing waterfront access. The bill focuses on improving the composition of the study group rather than creating new mooring regulations itself.

Maddy summaryLD 1054 allows members of the Penobscot Nation who are Maine residents and have legally harvested deer, bear, moose, turkey, or wild birds on Penobscot Indian Territory to sell or use that game at specific food venues within the territory. These venues include eating establishments, lodging places, mobile food carts, and recreational camps located on tribal land. The bill creates an exception to state laws prohibiting the sale of wild game, requiring participants to follow all state and federal food safety regulations. It directly affects Penobscot Nation members and tribal food businesses operating within the Penobscot Indian Territory.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of September 20 to September 26, 2026, as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week in Maine. The resolution aims to increase public awareness of this neurodegenerative disease, which primarily affects people between 45 and 64 years old and impacts speech, behavior, and motor skills. By formally recognizing this specific time period, the legislature intends to encourage local, state, and national efforts to educate the public about the condition and its challenges. The measure does not allocate funding or change laws but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the need for greater understanding of the disease.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Maine's Food System Protection Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. It provides zero-interest loans and resources to Maine farmers and food banks that lost federal funding due to contract changes or program shifts. Eligible entities must be based in Maine and focused on reducing hunger or increasing food security. The program includes application processes and eligibility criteria set by the department.

Maddy summaryLD 1699 creates a refundable tax credit allowing investors to receive 40% of their cash investment in eligible Maine agricultural enterprises as a tax credit, effective April 1, 2025. It directly affects investors who fund Maine farms or agricultural businesses that certify the investment is necessary for expansion. The credit is limited to $3.5 million per agricultural enterprise over the credit's lifetime and $2 million per calendar year. To qualify, the agricultural enterprise must sell products primarily outside Maine (though sales inside are permitted) and meet specific expansion criteria. This replaces previous rates for agricultural investments and modifies existing tax credit rules under Maine law.

Maddy summaryLD 1784 requires all Maine police departments (including state police, sheriff's offices, and municipal forces) to publish their policies and procedures online by January 1, 2026, in clear language accessible without fees or passwords. The bill mandates posting summaries of key policies (like use-of-force and de-escalation), a full list of officer conduct rules, and contact information for public requests. It also requires departments to provide printed copies upon request within 7 business days and update policies online within 60 days of any revision. Additionally, the bill requires all officers to receive training on these published policies and annual certification of compliance from agency leaders to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "sun-grown cultivator" as a caregiver who grows cannabis without artificial light. It establishes higher annual cultivation limits for sun-grown caregivers in Maine's medical cannabis program: up to 150 mature plants or 2,500 square feet of mature canopy per year, compared to lower limits for other cultivation methods. The bill also requires separate cultivation areas for mature plants, immature plants, and seedlings, with a maximum of two cultivation sites total. These changes apply specifically to medical caregivers registered for sun-grown cultivation, aiming to support outdoor growing practices.

Maddy summaryLD 870 increases the Maine Land Use Planning Commission's membership from 9 to 13 members. It requires the Governor to appoint 5 members meeting specific criteria (including residency, work, or expertise in the commission's jurisdiction), and mandates that each of the 8 counties with the most unorganized land appoint one commissioner through their county board of commissioners. All appointments must be confirmed by the Senate. The bill directly affects how the commission is staffed, impacting county governments, the Governor, and potential appointees with land use expertise.

Maddy summaryLD 1529 defines "late-successional forest" and "old-growth forest" in Maine law and requires state agencies to prioritize funding for projects protecting these forests, including 100-foot buffers and permanent logging prohibitions on at least 5 acres. It mandates a statewide report on forest conservation status and a comprehensive strategy by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to expand protections, including exploring carbon market incentives and zoning changes. The bill also reclassifies undeveloped lakes with high natural value into stricter protection categories (Management Class 1 or 6) to limit development. These provisions directly affect landowners, forest managers, state agencies, and conservation efforts across public and private lands statewide, with the strategy report due by November 4, 2026.

Maddy summaryLD 1121 requires all new state-owned public buildings and renovated public restrooms in state buildings (after the bill's effective date) to include diaper changing stations that are safe, sanitary, and accessible to people with disabilities. By July 1, 2027, if a state building has only gender-restricted diaper stations, it must add a gender-neutral or family restroom with a station. Exceptions apply for cost-prohibitive renovations, historic preservation rules, or building code conflicts. This bill directly affects caregivers of children under 4 who use Maine state buildings open to the public, ensuring equitable access to essential facilities.