Rep. Chad Perkins

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maine's existing landowner liability protections to specifically include sport shooting ranges. It amends state law to define "sport shooting" as activities like archery, skeet/trap shooting, and rifle/shotgun use, and states that landowners who permit these activities on their property cannot be held liable for participant injuries. The law directly affects landowners who operate or allow access to shooting ranges, as well as participants using those facilities. This change clarifies that current liability protections for recreational activities now explicitly cover sport shooting, reducing legal risks for landowners who host such ranges.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 180-day Maine residency requirement for individuals applying for municipal general assistance, directly affecting low-income residents seeking state aid. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of physical presence in Maine for at least 180 days prior to application, using documents like tax returns, utility bills, or government-issued IDs - post office boxes are not accepted. The law repeals the current residency provision and replaces it with these specific requirements. It applies to all applicants for municipal general assistance programs across Maine’s towns and cities. The change aims to clarify eligibility based on physical presence rather than other residency indicators.

Maddy summaryLD 1373 repeals Maine's participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would have awarded the state's presidential electors to the candidate winning the national popular vote. This bill removes the legal provision requiring Maine to follow the compact, reverting to Maine's standard system where electors are awarded based on the statewide popular vote (or by congressional district for two electors). Key changes include repealing specific sections of election law that implemented the compact and updating the Governor's duty to certify electors based on ranked-choice tabulation results. The bill directly affects how Maine's 4 presidential electors are selected in future elections.

Maddy summaryLD 1685 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change Maine's direct initiative process. It requires initiative petitions to collect signatures equal to 10% of the vote for Governor in the last gubernatorial election, with all signatures dated within one year of filing. The amendment also specifies that if the Legislature fails to pass an initiative or passes it with less than a two-thirds vote, the measure must be submitted to voters. It further establishes rules for when competing legislative alternatives must be presented to voters and how to handle votes when multiple options are on the ballot. This proposal, if approved by the Legislature and voters, would directly affect citizens seeking to propose laws through initiative and the Legislature's role in handling such proposals.

Maddy summaryLD 1218 allows county commissioners in Maine who previously served in the Legislature and are currently members of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MPERS) to switch to the Legislative Retirement Program. Eligible commissioners must submit a written election to MPERS within 90 days of the bill’s effective date or when assuming office. Upon election, their past MPERS contributions transfer to the Legislative Retirement Program, future contributions shift to this program, and their county commissioner service counts toward creditable service. This change applies only to commissioners who were previously legislators and contribute to MPERS’ defined benefit plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's regulations for outdoor wood and pellet boilers. It allows boilers meeting a new particulate matter emission standard (0.32 pounds per million BTUs) to avoid property setback requirements, as long as they meet stack height rules set by the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill also prohibits the department from creating rules that ban smoke plumes from these boilers, regardless of whether smoke crosses property lines. This directly affects Maine homeowners and businesses using outdoor wood or pellet boilers for heating. The changes aim to make cleaner-burning bioenergy systems more accessible while maintaining specific emission and operational standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program allowing Maine municipal police departments and county sheriff's offices to hire school security officers on a per diem basis for public schools. These officers must be certified law enforcement personnel who complete specific training through the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, including both general law enforcement and school-specific security protocols. The law requires all school security officers to finish this training within their first year of employment and maintain certification through ongoing recertification. The policy directly affects Maine public schools, local law enforcement agencies, and school security personnel by establishing standardized hiring and training requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1295) requires Maine to automatically waive the state's basic law enforcement training requirement for full-time officers who have completed equivalent training in another jurisdiction. It directly affects officers employed by Maine municipalities, counties, or state agencies who previously held equivalent certifications elsewhere. The bill changes current law from allowing (but not requiring) waivers to mandating them when equivalent training is verified. Additionally, it directs the Maine Criminal Justice Academy board to study and report by December 2025 on reducing unnecessary barriers to these waivers, with potential legislative changes to follow.

Maddy summaryLD 717 amends Maine's criminal code to expand restitution requirements for drug trafficking cases. It removes the previous requirement that courts must find trafficking was "profit-motivated" for the cost of drug analysis to be included in restitution. This change means victims or the government can now recover all drug analysis costs when a defendant is convicted of trafficking scheduled drugs under Chapter 45. The bill directly affects defendants convicted of such trafficking and streamlines restitution for related costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a symbolic resolution recognizing Christian Holy Week in Maine. It formally acknowledges the religious observances leading up to Easter (including Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday) without creating any new laws or affecting people's rights. The resolution extends greetings to Maine's Christian community for their Holy Week and Easter observances. As a non-binding ceremonial measure, it has no legal or policy impact on residents or state operations.