Rep. Wayne Farrin

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal treasurers to remove a previous property owner's name from a tax lien if that owner paid their prorated share of taxes after selling the property. It directly affects sellers who have transferred ownership but remain listed on the lien due to unpaid taxes. The key mechanism mandates that treasurers must discharge the lien against the seller upon receiving proof of payment for their portion, using the same process as for standard mortgage discharges. The lien remains on the property for the new owner, but the previous owner's liability is cleared. This change ensures sellers aren't unfairly burdened by liens after fulfilling their tax obligations.

Maddy summaryLD 1736 requires Maine's Office of Child and Family Services to directly contract with child care providers to create additional child care slots. It specifically targets children under 3 years old, children with disabilities, and children in underserved geographic areas. The office may also use these contracts for other priority groups, such as homeless children or those needing care outside standard hours, based on regional needs assessments. The bill authorizes using existing public or private funding sources to implement this approach, aiming to increase child care availability and stabilize payments for providers.

Maddy summaryLD 1681 updates Maine's legal definition of "public service infrastructure" to explicitly include municipal shelter facilities and housing projects managed by municipalities or municipal housing authorities. This change ensures these facilities are formally recognized as essential for public health, welfare, and safety under state law. The bill amends Section 5903, subsection 8-A of the Maine Revised Statutes to add these facilities to the existing list, which already covers sewage systems, water treatment, roads, and parks. It directly affects municipalities and housing authorities operating such facilities by clarifying their status under infrastructure regulations. The bill does not create new programs or funding but adjusts legal definitions for consistency.

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 summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for Maine small businesses with annual gross sales under $2.4 million that accept credit or debit cards. The credit offsets fees these businesses pay to card issuers for processing transactions, calculated as the lesser of the actual fees paid or 2.5% of the business's sales tax remitted to the state. Businesses must maintain records of their transaction fees and annual sales to claim the credit. The credit is refundable, meaning businesses can receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds their tax liability.

Maddy summaryLD 388 exempts military child care providers on military installations or certified by the U.S. Department of Defense or Coast Guard from Maine's state licensing requirements for family child care. This directly affects military families in Maine who use these specific child care providers, removing duplicative state licensing barriers. The bill amends Maine law to state that such providers are exempt from Title 22, Chapter 1673 licensing rules, which govern most child care facilities. The change simplifies access to childcare for military personnel without altering federal standards for these facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits eating establishments and grocery stores in Maine from using dynamic pricing, which changes prices based on demand, weather, consumer data, or AI algorithms. It requires fixed prices for at least one business day, visible to customers through menus, price tags, or displays. Excluded from the ban are standard discounts, limited-time specials (like lunch menus), and market-based pricing for traditionally volatile goods such as seafood (set only once daily). Violating this rule is classified as an unfair trade practice under Maine law.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 10% supplemental payment to MaineCare reimbursement rates for adult family care homes and residential care facilities with fewer than 10 beds or located at least 35 miles from the nearest similar facility. It directly affects small, rural, isolated, and island-based care facilities that struggle with financial sustainability. The key mechanism requires the Department of Health and Human Services to amend MaineCare rules by January 1, 2026, to add this 10% payment to eligible facilities' existing rates. The bill also mandates that the department assess how reimbursement and staffing rules impact these vulnerable facilities to protect community access and service quality.

Maddy summaryLD 1352 amends Maine's scallop fishing licensing rules to make the system more predictable for fishermen. It prohibits using lotteries to award apprentice licenses (which cost $250 annually) and requires new fishermen to wait until an existing license expires before applying for a hand-fishing or dragging license. The bill also directs the Department of Marine Resources to end rotational access to fishing areas, requiring all licensed fishermen to have equal access to limited areas simultaneously. These changes, effective October 2026, aim to create a more transparent entry process for the scallop fishery.