Rep. Amanda Collamore

Maddy summaryLD 1170 transfers responsibility for managing and developing state-owned surplus land from individual state agencies to the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority. It requires state agencies to consult with the Land Bank before selling surplus land and gives the Land Bank the first right to purchase such property. The Land Bank can then develop this land for affordable housing projects targeting low- and moderate-income households, prioritizing offers to local public housing authorities in communities with existing programs. This change aims to streamline the use of surplus state land for housing development rather than general sales.

Maddy summaryLD 970 establishes strict time limits for reviewing and approving permits for affordable housing projects seeking funding from the Maine State Housing Authority. Municipalities must notify applicants within 30 days whether an application is complete, and if they fail to do so, the application is automatically considered complete. Once complete, municipalities must approve or deny the permit within 120 days. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Protection must approve or deny site location permits for these projects within 30 days of receiving the application.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires independent auto repair shops (not affiliated with car manufacturers) to cover costs if they perform an improper repair on a vehicle still under the manufacturer's warranty, causing further damage or requiring correction. The shop must reimburse both the car owner for additional repair expenses and the dealership or manufacturer for their costs to fix the problem. Before any warranty-related repair, the shop must provide written notice to the owner explaining they are not connected to the manufacturer and that improper repairs could lead to extra costs or warranty conflicts. Failure to reimburse constitutes an unfair trade practice under Maine law.

Maddy summaryLD 526 shortens the time for challenging a property tax lien on commercial real estate to two years after the redemption period ends. It applies to commercial properties including apartment buildings with five or more units, office buildings, mobile home parks, and recreational facilities. Property owners must file a challenge within this two-year window; after it expires, the lien cannot be contested. The change takes effect for tax liens recorded after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies Maine's child care quality rating system by specifying that accredited providers must receive the highest rating. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to automatically assign the top rating to child care centers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the National Association for Family Child Care, the Council on Accreditation, or Head Start programs meeting national standards. This directly affects accredited child care providers by guaranteeing them the highest quality differential payment rate from state funds. The change ensures these providers receive maximum funding for meeting nationally recognized quality standards, without altering existing rules for other programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1466) allows Maine public schools in areas declared under a state of emergency by the Governor to skip making up missed instructional days if the school couldn’t operate due to the emergency. It directly affects schools in emergency zones that were physically closed because of conditions like natural disasters or public health crises. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to automatically exempt these schools from making up days without needing a separate waiver application, and directs the Department of Education to update its rules to create a faster process for this exemption. The policy change streamlines relief for schools during emergencies, focusing on operational inability rather than requiring additional paperwork.

Maddy summaryLD 1712 amends Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program to adjust requirements for employees and employers. It requires employees to give reasonable notice before taking leave and allows employers to deny leave based on specific, defined hardships (such as having fewer than 15 employees, a summer labor shortage, or more than 25% of staff already on leave), without review of such decisions. The bill also revises benefit calculations to replace 65% of average weekly wage (with 90% replacement for wages up to 50% of the state average and 66% for higher wages), shortens application deadlines for benefits (with waivers for good cause), and modifies premium payments so employers deduct 50% of the cost from employee wages while covering the remaining 50%.

Maddy summaryThis Maine legislative resolve establishes a 2-year pilot program to increase youth hunting participation, directly affecting young hunters in Maine. It requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create expanded youth hunting seasons (including spring turkey, bear, and dog hunting days) and implement outreach through social media campaigns, school partnerships, and community events. The program mandates annual reporting to the legislature on participation data, stakeholder feedback, and conservation impact, with potential for future legislation based on findings.

Maddy summaryLD 1391 updates Maine's Self-service Storage Act to modernize procedures for self-storage facilities and their customers. The bill clarifies that a storage unit is considered abandoned if personal property remains more than 15 days after a written notice of termination or nonrenewal, allows electronic delivery of rental agreements and notices, and deems agreements accepted if customers pay rent without signing. It also permits online sales of stored items and requires notices to be sent to addresses specified in rental agreements. These changes directly affect self-storage operators and their customers by standardizing abandonment rules, digital processes, and sale methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine homeowners to keep chickens on private residential property by prohibiting counties or municipalities from banning chicken-keeping entirely. It sets a maximum of 36 chickens (or a higher limit set by local regulations), requires coops to be predator-proof, located at least 15 feet from property lines, and provide 4 square feet of indoor space per chicken. Owners must also provide 10 square feet of secure outdoor space per chicken and take steps to prevent noise, odor, trespassing, or attracting predators. These rules ensure chicken-keeping is permitted while addressing neighbor concerns about nuisance or safety.