Rep. Jennifer Poirier

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new apprentice insurance producer license in Maine, creating a structured pathway for individuals to begin working in the insurance industry without taking a licensing exam. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, be employed by a licensed insurance producer who will supervise them, and pay a $100 issuance fee plus a $100 biennial fee. The license allows up to 10,000 hours of supervised work under a licensed producer, after which apprentices must obtain a full insurance producer license to continue. The superintendent of insurance may limit apprentices to two per licensed producer and set additional safeguards to protect the public.

Maddy summaryLD 1974, "An Act To Affirm Parental Rights," amends Maine law to state that parents are joint natural guardians of their minor children, meaning both parents share equal rights regarding their children's care, custody, control, and services. It also establishes that a parent's right to direct their child's upbringing, education, and care is a fundamental right. The bill clarifies these provisions do not affect court decisions about parental rights or the termination of parental rights. This law directly affects parents of minor children in Maine by codifying these principles in statute.

Maddy summaryLD 1593 requires state agencies, local governments, and educational institutions in Maine to publicly define the term "equity" whenever they claim to make decisions "to advance equity" (such as in policies, contracts, or hiring). The bill mandates that these entities post both their specific definition of "equity" and the measurable metrics used to assess it on their publicly accessible websites. This applies directly to any decision-making process referencing "equity," ensuring transparency about how the term is interpreted and measured. The law does not define "equity" itself but requires public entities to clarify their own usage. This is a transparency measure focused on concrete disclosure, not policy content.

Maddy summaryLD 332 establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for specific crimes involving children under 12. It requires courts to impose at least 25 years for gross sexual assault against children under 12 (with no suspended time), life imprisonment for repeat offenders convicted of similar crimes against children under 12, and a minimum 25-year sentence for aggravated sex trafficking involving children under 12. The bill directly affects defendants convicted of these offenses by removing judicial discretion for the minimum sentence length. These provisions apply to cases where the state proves the crime involved a child under 12, as specified in Maine’s criminal code.

Maddy summaryLD 1333 updates Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program to clarify eligibility and administration. It requires employees to have worked for an employer for at least 120 days to qualify, shortens the deadline for filing leave applications from 90 to 30 days after leave begins, and adjusts employer contribution rules: companies with 15+ workers can deduct 50% of premiums from employee wages and send 100% to the fund, while smaller employers send 50%. The bill also specifies that leave under this program runs concurrently with federal FMLA, and defines "self-employed" to include small business owners with fewer than 15 employees. These changes directly affect Maine workers seeking leave and their employers managing contributions.

Maddy summaryLD 267 requires Maine courts to schedule pretrial criminal hearings in a way that allows attorneys to participate remotely whenever possible, unless the court determines in-person attendance is necessary for justice. This applies specifically to pretrial matters that do not involve testimony, such as hearings about bail or procedural motions. The law directs courts to prioritize remote appearances for defense counsel to improve access to legal representation, particularly in rural areas. It does not change the legal requirements for cases but modifies how courts organize proceedings. The bill affects criminal defendants, their attorneys, and Maine courts handling pretrial matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires superintendents from both the sending and receiving school districts to approve student transfers between school administrative units. Transfers must be approved if the parent consents and the receiving district has adequate physical space without needing new staff. The bill also prohibits charging tuition for approved transfers, protects special education funding levels, and ensures transferred students are treated as residents of the receiving district for state funding purposes. Parents can appeal denials through the commissioner and state board of education.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new certification paths for industrial arts teachers in Maine who have significant hands-on industry experience but lack traditional teaching credentials. It allows teachers to earn a conditional certificate or a separate endorsement for specific industrial arts areas (like automotive repair, welding, electrical work, carpentry, or CAD) by meeting three key requirements: completing a registered apprenticeship, earning a 2-year technical degree, or having 36 months of paid work experience (including 12 months at a supervisory level in the past 5 years). The State Board of Education must adopt rules to implement these pathways, directly affecting current and prospective industrial arts teachers seeking to qualify through practical experience rather than standard teaching programs.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Maine's Office of Community Affairs to create a pilot project updating flood maps in the Sandy River watershed to meet federal FEMA standards. It requires coordination with state agencies (like Environmental Protection and Emergency Management) and federal partners (FEMA, USGS) to develop new flood modeling. The project must seek federal or nonstate funding to cover costs, and the office will provide technical support to affected communities, riverfront landowners, and local organizations. The primary impact is on communities within the Sandy River watershed, which will receive updated flood risk information.