Rep. Alicia Collins

Maddy summaryLD 482 requires Maine public schools to allow students enrolled in state-recognized "equivalent instruction programs" (like homeschooling alternatives) to participate in regular classes, receive academic credit, access special education services, and join extracurricular activities under clear, non-discriminatory rules. Students must apply in writing for approval, meet academic and behavioral standards like all students, and provide their own transportation for class participation. Schools cannot unreasonably deny these opportunities, and credit must be awarded for meeting standard course requirements. This bill directly affects homeschooling families and public school districts across Maine by standardizing access to school resources.

Maddy summaryLD 637 directs Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate whether the existing database for municipal general assistance programs can be upgraded. The goal is to determine if the system can identify applicants who have been denied assistance in one town but are seeking help in another municipality. If upgrading the current database isn't feasible, the department must research and recommend a replacement system. The department must submit a report with a timeline for implementation by December 3, 2025, to the Health and Human Services Committee. This procedural resolution affects local assistance programs and applicants seeking aid across municipal boundaries.

Maddy summaryLD 282 amends Maine's law governing public charter schools by replacing a fixed cap of 10 with an automatic increase system. When the current limit of 10 schools is reached, the cap automatically rises to 11, allowing the commissioner of education to accept new applications without requiring new legislation. This change directly affects the commissioner's authority and organizations seeking to establish new charter schools. The bill streamlines the process for expanding charter school options by removing the need for annual legislative action to raise the cap.

Maddy summaryLD 266 requires Maine voters to update their registration signatures every five years, beginning January 1, 2026. Municipal registrars must annually review the central voter registration system, notify voters whose signatures expire that year, and provide them with a signature update form. This bill directly affects all registered Maine voters and municipal registrars, mandating a recurring process for signature verification. The law changes current practice by requiring periodic signature updates to maintain accurate voter records, without altering voting procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Maine's Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships for students attending approved private schools or receiving home instruction under state education law. It creates "hope accounts" managed by a state board to cover qualifying education expenses (like tuition or materials) for eligible students who are Maine residents under 21 and not primarily enrolled in public schools. The program requires parents to apply for accounts, with funds renewed annually if students meet residency, age, and educational enrollment criteria. The Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Board, composed of state officials and community members, administers the program per the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Maine's term limits law for certain elected officials. It redefines the starting date for counting partial terms by shifting the reference point from the 3rd Wednesday in June to the 1st Wednesday in December during odd-numbered years. This specifically affects state senators, representatives, and statewide constitutional officers (Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, State Auditor) when calculating term limits. The change means officials who begin serving before December 1st in odd years will not count as starting a new term for term limit purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how utilities compensate property owners when they take land for transmission lines over 5,000 volts using eminent domain. It requires utilities to set aside 1% of revenue from the line's construction, rebuilding, or relocation each year. This amount is paid annually over 20 years to affected property owners, with payments based on the number of acres taken from each owner. The bill directly affects landowners whose property is used for utility infrastructure and replaces previous compensation rules.

Maddy summaryThis Maine legislative joint resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Mayaguez incident (May 12-15, 1975), recognized as the last U.S. combat mission in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It honors the 18 U.S. service members who died and 50 wounded during the rescue operation involving the seized SS Mayaguez cargo ship and Marines on Koh Tang Island. The resolution specifically acknowledges Maine’s connection, noting 48,000 Mainers served in Vietnam, 343 are memorialized at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and 11 remain missing. It expresses gratitude for all Maine veterans’ service and sacrifice during the conflict, with no policy or financial provisions.

Maddy summaryLD 644 removes current restrictions that limit work hours and conditions for minor students aged 16-17 in Maine. It repeals specific rules prohibiting minors from working more than 50 hours weekly when school is out, 24 hours when school is in, and set time limits (like not working after 10:15 p.m. the night before school or before 7 a.m. on school days). The bill also eliminates the ban on minors working during school hours and removes employer record-keeping requirements for minor employees' work schedules. As a result, minor students gain greater flexibility in scheduling work around school without these legal constraints.

Maddy summaryLD 1409 requires Maine's child welfare department to grant foster parents who have cared for a child continuously for one year or more the same legal rights as family relatives in placement decisions. This directly affects non-relative foster parents with long-term placements, ensuring they are treated equally with kinship caregivers under state law. The bill amends existing statutes to establish this one-year threshold as the key mechanism for granting these rights. It does not change overall placement preferences but ensures foster parents meeting the duration requirement have equivalent standing to relatives during placement reviews.