Rep. Jim Thorne

Maddy summaryLD 1372 establishes a Special Committee on Regulatory Review to examine routine technical rules created by state agencies. The committee, composed of 6 evenly split Senate and House members from each major party, will assess rules for necessity, efficiency, and public benefit, and decide whether to approve them with changes, approve them as-is, or reject them. The committee must develop a formal review process by February 1, 2026, and propose legislation to update the rules for adopting such technical rules. Starting in 2028, the committee will annually report to the Legislature on reviewed rules and recommend improvements to the regulatory process. This bill directly affects state agencies that issue routine technical rules and the Legislature through its new oversight committee.

Maddy summaryLD 660 requires Maine public school administrative units to post detailed curriculum and student data online for public access. It mandates schools to display 3 years of enrollment, subject offerings, and state assessment proficiency data on their websites, while prohibiting curriculum decisions based on student characteristics like race, gender, or disability. The bill also requires full transparency for state-funded professional development, including public posting of materials, schedules, attendance records, and costs for third-party contractors. This directly affects all Maine public schools, their administrative units, and the state education department, which must maintain centralized online portals for all curriculum materials and related expenses.

Maddy summaryHP 1329 is a joint resolution expressing the Maine Legislature's opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard's plan to remove navigational buoys along Maine's coast. It directly affects Maine's commercial fishing communities and recreational boaters (like kayakers and anglers), who rely on physical buoys for safe navigation in rocky, fog-prone waters where electronic systems may fail or be inaccessible. The resolution cites the Coast Guard's modernization plan but emphasizes that removing buoys would create safety hazards, especially for those without reliable electronic alternatives. It formally states the legislature's position against the proposed removal during the 132nd Legislature's first special session.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new $50 "green crab only" wholesale dealer license for businesses that exclusively handle green crabs (Carcinus maenas). It allows license holders to buy, sell, process, ship, or transport green crabs directly from licensed harvesters in Maine, offering a lower-cost alternative to the existing $192.75 wholesale seafood license. The license requires dealers to verify harvesters have valid green crab harvesting permits and subjects violators to penalties or license suspension. The law includes a sunset provision, repealing the license on January 1, 2031, and mandates a department review and report to the 2030 Legislature on its effectiveness and potential changes.

Maddy summaryLD 1839 establishes a new Fundraising and Advisory Commission to support Maine's Hire-a-Vet program, directly affecting veterans, their families, and employers across the state. The commission, composed of representatives from state agencies, veterans' services, private industry, and public members, will raise funds and market the program through a dedicated website featuring career fairs and veteran services. It creates a separate, nonlapsing "Fund to Support the Hiring of Veterans" to be administered by the commission, funded by private/public contributions and fundraising efforts. The fund will directly support job placement services, employer outreach, and information dissemination about available veteran resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine political parties to choose their own method for selecting nominees in primary elections, instead of being required to use ranked-choice voting. Parties can decide at their state convention (held between March 1 and August 1 during general election years) whether to use ranked-choice voting or an alternate method, and must include this choice in their party rules. If a party selects an alternate method, it must notify the Secretary of State by October 1st of the year before the primary election. The bill applies to all parties holding primary elections for the general election, changing the default process without mandating a specific voting system.

Maddy summaryMaine's 132nd Legislature passed HP 1327, a joint resolution formally recognizing Memorial Day. The resolution honors U.S. military service members who died in service and encourages all Maine citizens to observe Memorial Day with remembrance ceremonies. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but instead expresses the state's gratitude for fallen service members and their families through ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summaryLD 1438 is a procedural resolution directing Maine's Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to adopt rules allowing deer hunting on Mount Desert Island, as required by existing state law (Title 12, section 11402, subsection 4). It does not create new hunting rules but mandates the agency to formalize the existing legal framework for hunting on the island. This affects the wildlife agency (which must implement the rules) and hunters who may hunt there once the rules are adopted. The resolution focuses solely on the rulemaking process, not on changing hunting seasons, areas, or regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 341 amends Maine law to increase the minimum weight requirement for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to be classified as "oversized" from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. This change affects how ATVs are registered: vehicles weighing 3,500 pounds or more now require "oversized" registration, while lighter ATVs do not. The amendment applies to registrations for the 2025 ATV season, with a grandfather clause allowing continued registration of ATVs registered before January 1, 2022. The law updates the definition to better align with current vehicle specifications and registration standards.

Maddy summaryLD 777 standardizes the muzzle-loading deer hunting season across all of Maine by requiring a single statewide season length, replacing the current system that allowed regional variations. The bill amends state law to mandate that the commissioner establish one uniform season length for the entire state through rulemaking, rather than permitting different lengths in different areas. This directly affects deer hunters using muzzle-loading firearms statewide and limits the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's authority to adjust season lengths regionally. The bill does not change the existing maximum season length of 12 days.