Rep. Jim Thorne

Maddy summaryLD 1194 replaces Maine's current vehicle excise tax with a mileage-based fee starting July 1, 2027. It charges 1 cent per mile for regular vehicles (1.5 cents for heavy trucks) and a flat annual fee for electric/hybrid vehicles, while exempting those aged 65+ or in households earning under $40,000 annually for the first 10,000 miles. Revenue from this fee must fund road maintenance, bridge repairs, and infrastructure projects at levels matching previous excise tax funding. The Department of Transportation must create a digital reporting system for mileage tracking and report annually to the Legislature on implementation and funding impacts.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review its current process for licensing solid waste disposal facilities. The review must examine statutes, rules, and policies governing licensing, including a specific focus on delays and inefficiencies related to Penobscot Energy Recovery Company's waste-to-energy facility in Orrington. The DEP must form a stakeholder group, identify process improvements, and submit a report with recommendations to the Environment Committee by December 3, 2025. This is a procedural review, not a policy change, aimed at streamlining future licensing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's elver fishing regulations to allow a license holder (who has a tag on a net) to permit another person with an elver fishing license to empty that net, provided the second person is under the license holder's direct supervision. It directly affects commercial elver fishers using fyke nets, changing who can handle the nets during the fishing season. The key provision removes a previous restriction that prevented license holders from delegating net-emptying tasks to other licensed individuals. This emergency measure takes immediate effect to ensure the change is in place for the March 2025 elver fishing season.

Maddy summaryLD 969 requires Maine's Emergency Medical Services Board to adopt rules that permit municipalities to conduct or host training for emergency medical services (EMS) licensing and relicensing. This change allows cities and towns to organize or provide venues for required training sessions, rather than relying solely on external providers. The bill does not alter training content or standards but expands where training can occur. As a result, EMS providers across Maine may access training through local municipal programs.

Maddy summaryLD 303 would repeal Maine's law prohibiting unauthorized paramilitary training. This repeal removes the existing legal restriction, meaning conducting such training without authorization would no longer be prohibited under this specific statute. The bill does not alter other laws that may regulate paramilitary activities. As a result, individuals and groups engaging in paramilitary training would no longer be subject to this particular prohibition.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1171) restores complimentary hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses for Maine residents aged 70 and older. It repeals a previous law that prohibited issuing these free licenses to seniors, requiring the state to issue them automatically upon application. The policy change directly affects Maine residents 70+ who previously lost access to these complimentary licenses. The key mechanism is the repeal of the prohibition, reinstating the requirement that licenses must be granted without cost to qualifying seniors. This is a concrete policy change focused on restoring access to recreational activities for elderly residents.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors former Maine State Representative Lois Galgay-Reckitt, who served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives and was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, by recognizing her contributions during the Red Sox's April 4, 2025 home opener at Fenway Park. It is a ceremonial tribute with no legislative effect, commemorating her public service and advocacy for women. The resolution does not create new policies or affect any laws. It specifically references her role as a "self-proclaimed Number One Red Sox fan" and her belief in the team's community impact.

Maddy summaryLD 804 designates the day of Maine's general election (held every two years in November) as a state holiday in even-numbered years. This bill requires all nonessential state offices to close on Election Day, giving state employees a day off to vote. The key mechanism is adding Election Day to Maine's list of state holidays under existing law, aligning with the current election schedule. It directly affects state government operations and aims to increase voter participation by providing a dedicated holiday for voting.

Maddy summaryLD 728 amends Maine's smelt fishing regulations to allow recreational anglers to temporarily exceed the daily bag limit while actively fishing, provided the smelt remain alive in a grader or other live containment device. The bill requires anglers to measure their catch at day's end and immediately release any live smelt exceeding the daily limit at the water's edge. This change clarifies the process for handling excess live fish without altering the established bag limit itself. The bill directly affects recreational smelt fishermen in Maine who use live containment methods during fishing trips. It makes no changes to the actual bag limit or other fishing rules, only streamlining the handling of excess live fish.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 162) is a simple resolution to rename a specific bridge in Carmel, Maine. It directs the Department of Transportation to officially designate Bridge 2976 on Main Road (currently called the Maine Central Railroad Crossing Bridge) as the "Kevin M. Howell Memorial Bridge." The resolution commemorates Kevin M. Howell and has no policy or financial impact beyond the name change. It is purely a ceremonial act with no direct effect on residents, laws, or government operations.