Rep. Timmy Guerrette

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 creates the Maine Experiential Education Program within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support hands-on learning opportunities. It establishes a new funding account and allocates money for two specific staff positions: a full-time Public Service Coordinator and a part-time Contract and Grants Manager. The legislation also mandates that the department submit an annual report to the Legislature starting in December 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to form a stakeholder group to review and recommend changes to Maine's subdivision laws. The group must include representatives from various sectors, such as government agencies, local municipalities, landowners, and the real estate industry, to ensure diverse input. By December 6, 2025, the department is required to submit a report with findings and suggested legislation aimed at modernizing the rules to balance development needs with rural protection and affordable housing goals. The bill also allocates $36,000 in state funding to cover costs for facilitation and legal services needed to carry out this review.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that adds a fiscal note to a separate piece of legislation regarding food insecurity funding. It does not create new policies or change existing laws but serves to include financial details required for the legislative process. The bill directly affects the legislative record by ensuring the funding proposal includes an official cost estimate.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a resolution to create a Rural Health Services Task Force by adding an emergency clause so the group can begin work immediately. It modifies the task force's membership to include a representative for rural employers and changes the behavioral health member to come from a statewide organization rather than a specific rural area. The legislation also authorizes a one-time $120,000 appropriation to fund a third-party contractor to assist the task force in studying rural healthcare delivery in Maine.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $6 million from the state's General Fund to support Maine potato farmers through two separate grant programs. Half of the funding, $3 million, is designated for the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund to help farmers develop sustainable irrigation systems that comply with environmental rules regarding water levels. The remaining $3 million goes to a drought relief fund specifically for farmers who are not eligible to receive the irrigation grants. Each individual project under the irrigation program can receive up to $200,000, covering no more than 75% of the total project cost.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a program to cover health care costs for retired working dogs used by the state, including those in law enforcement, corrections, and search and rescue. It allows the Department of Public Safety to reimburse the current owners of these retired animals for medical expenses up to $5,000 per year, provided they submit valid receipts. The law defines eligible dogs as those certified for specific duties and ensures that only handlers who are still responsible for the dog's care can receive the reimbursement.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays the effective date of a sales tax exemption for boats and all-terrain vehicles used in commercial fishing or farming until January 1, 2026. The legislation originally intended to remove state sales tax on these specific purchases, but this amendment postpones when that benefit begins. The change directly affects the timing of the policy rather than altering the core rules for eligible businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Education to submit a report by January 15, 2025, on best practices for school internet and student data collection. The report must evaluate whether schools are using proper filtering software and ensure that student information is not shared with external search engines or tracking applications. To support this effort, the bill allocates $5,000 in state funds for the fiscal year 2024-25 to cover the costs of preparing the report.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to reduce the funding for Maine's agriculture and forest products investment program from $10 million to $269,924. Instead of using general state funds for a large appropriation, the legislation directs a specific transfer of the smaller amount to a special revenue fund dedicated to supporting public-private partnerships in food and manufacturing industries. The amendment also adjusts the budget for a new public service manager position within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to reflect a one-month delay in the role's start date. Ultimately, the bill lowers the financial commitment for the state while maintaining a smaller level of support for strategic investments in local agricultural and forest product sectors.