Rep. Steven Foster

Maddy summaryLD 871 prohibits the State of Maine from requiring any person, including health care and emergency services personnel, to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The bill amends state law to eliminate mandates by state agencies, health care facilities, and other state-regulated entities for the vaccine. This applies broadly to all residents and workers in Maine who might have faced state-imposed requirements. The bill does not affect private sector policies or federal vaccine mandates.

Maddy summaryLD 927 requires all public schools in Maine to employ or accept as a volunteer at least one chaplain to provide support services for students, staff, and parents. Chaplains must be certified by a faith group recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense, pass a criminal background check, and not be listed on a sex offender registry. The bill also grants chaplains legal immunity from civil lawsuits for their actions while providing services, except for malicious or intentionally harmful acts. This applies directly to every school administrative unit in Maine, including public school districts and charter schools.

Maddy summaryLD 469 requires that at least 50% of electricity delivered through high-impact transmission lines carrying Canadian-generated power must be consumed within Maine. This rule applies to new transmission lines approved after December 31, 2026, for projects delivering electricity through Maine to other states via the New England grid. The Public Utilities Commission must deny approval for lines failing this standard unless grid reliability or regional energy agreements are at risk (a temporary exception set to end in 2031). Companies operating such lines must report quarterly on electricity distribution and face penalties, including fines up to $575,000 or 5% of revenue from out-of-state sales for violations.

Maddy summaryLD 313 requires all paper ballots used in Maine state elections (excluding sample ballots) to include a unique identifier. Voting devices must record this identifier alongside each vote cast, while preventing any connection between the identifier and the voter's identity. Municipal clerks must then publicly post a list of votes organized by unique identifier on their website after each election. This applies only to electronically counted ballots and does not affect paper ballots processed through other methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200,000 to the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program that partners with a community organization to help adults recently released from state prisons. The program will provide temporary housing and a master leasing service to assist participants with rent support, life skills coaching, and other transitional services. This one-time funding is intended to test the effectiveness of this approach before considering broader implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Governor's Energy Office to conduct an emergency study on the future of electric transmission infrastructure in Maine. The study must examine current permitting processes, best practices from other states, future energy needs, available land rights, and various transmission technologies including underground lines. To gather input, the office is required to coordinate with multiple state agencies and hold a meeting with a diverse stakeholder group representing utilities, environmental departments, private landowners, and engineers. The legislation is designated as an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately rather than waiting the standard 90-day period after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Maine's Public Utilities Commission to gather information about small modular nuclear reactors by issuing informational bids by October 1, 2024. These bids will ask companies to provide details on construction costs, potential locations, timelines, and annual operating expenses for reactors with a capacity of 350 megawatts or less. The information collected is not binding but will help the state evaluate the feasibility of future projects. By January 15, 2025, the commission must submit a report to the legislature summarizing the responses received.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $1,000,000 in state funding to the Maine Maritime Academy starting in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The money comes from the General Fund and is designated for the academy's ongoing operations. This legislative change directly affects the academy by allocating specific resources to support its activities.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution designates June 28, 2024, as Maine Acadian Day to honor the history and cultural contributions of Acadians and Franco-Americans in the state. The measure acknowledges the legacy of French settlers who established the first European community in Maine and endured the forced deportation of the Acadian people in the 18th century. By officially recognizing this date, the legislature aims to celebrate the significant role these communities play in Maine's heritage, particularly in the Saint John Valley region.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution expresses the Maine legislature's support for strengthening ties between Maine and Taiwan, highlighting their existing trade relationship and shared democratic values. The bill encourages the signing of specific agreements, such as a bilateral trade deal, an income tax agreement, and a driver's license reciprocity pact, while also promoting educational exchanges between the two regions. Additionally, it formally supports Taiwan's participation in international organizations and calls for increased people-to-people interactions. The resolution is intended to be sent to the President, state officials, and Taiwanese leaders to reaffirm the state's commitment to this partnership.