Rep. Reagan Paul

Maddy summaryLD 917 repeals a law that prohibited healthcare providers from charging uninsured patients for administering a COVID-19 vaccine. This change allows providers to bill uninsured patients for vaccine administration services, meaning these patients may now face costs for getting vaccinated. The bill directly affects uninsured patients (who may now be charged) and healthcare providers (who can now collect fees for administration). The repeal specifically targets the administration fee, not the vaccine itself, and removes a prior restriction on such charges.

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 summaryLD 1110 requires money transmission services (like remittance providers) to collect a $5 fee for each transfer up to $500, plus 3% for amounts over $500, from the sender. Providers must remit these fees quarterly to the state administrator, who then deposits them into the General Fund. Senders can claim a state income tax credit equal to the fee amount when filing their state tax return, provided they include a valid Social Security or Tax ID number. This directly affects individuals sending money through licensed providers, making the fee effectively refundable via tax credit. The bill also includes enforcement provisions allowing license suspension for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryLD 735 protects Sears Island's coastal sand dunes by requiring state agencies to obtain certification from an indigenous lands protection committee before authorizing any development on the island. This committee, composed of representatives from five Maine tribes and a gubernatorial appointee, must confirm proposed development areas do not contain sacred indigenous sites. The bill repeals prior laws permitting a wind terminal project and a conservation plan for a specific 10-acre parcel, and establishes a two-thirds vote requirement for any land development legislation conflicting with EPA regulations, with sponsorship limited to legislators from the affected district.

Maddy summaryLD 495 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection to include two specific estimates when adopting rules designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first estimate must quantify the level of adverse climate effects (such as extreme weather or sea-level rise) that will be prevented by the emission reductions. The second estimate must detail the costs to consumers, including impacts on prices for gasoline, diesel, electricity, heating oil, and propane. This bill aims to provide transparency about the trade-offs between climate benefits and economic impacts for public review.

Maddy summaryLD 601 removes Maine's requirement for voter approval via referendum before certain nuclear power projects can proceed. Specifically, it eliminates the need for public votes to approve: (1) building nuclear power plants, (2) constructing or operating low-level radioactive waste disposal or storage facilities, and (3) entering into waste disposal agreements with other states or the federal government. The bill repeals related sections of Maine law (35-A MRSA §43, 38 MRSA §§1474, 1479, and 1482) that previously mandated this voter approval process. This change directly affects developers and operators of nuclear facilities by streamlining project approvals without requiring additional public referendums.

Maddy summaryLD 226 extends conservation easement protections to all lands on Sears Island in Searsport currently not under permanent conservation status, specifically targeting the "Transportation Parcel" reserved for port development. It requires the Department of Transportation to collaborate with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust to manage these lands under the same restrictions as adjacent protected areas, with DOT approval of management plans required without unnecessary delay. The bill directly affects Sears Island's cultural and historical resources, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Department of Transportation's management of port development lands. This policy change ensures consistent conservation management across all island lands, building on the existing 2009 buffer conservation easement.

Maddy summaryLD 638 removes the 100-megawatt capacity limit for renewable energy projects in Maine to qualify under the state's renewable energy portfolio requirements. This change directly affects developers of larger clean energy projects (over 100 megawatts) and utilities meeting renewable energy targets, including those using solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, or anaerobic digestion. The bill amends two sections of Maine law (35-A MRSA §3210) by deleting the 100-megawatt restriction from qualifying project descriptions. By eliminating this size cap, the bill enables larger renewable energy facilities to count toward Maine's renewable energy goals.

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 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.