Rep. Mike Soboleski

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine school administrative units to annually report detailed data on student transfer requests to the Commissioner of Education by July 1st. The reports must include the total number of requests (to transfer to or from the unit), accepted and denied transfers, written reasons for denials, and whether the request was to send or receive a student. The Commissioner must then publish a de-identified version of this data on the Department of Education's public website, removing any personal student information. This applies directly to all school districts and affects families navigating student transfers by increasing transparency in decision-making.

Maddy summaryLD 1230 proposes to repeal Maine's 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, which currently requires sellers to delay firearm delivery to buyers for three days. If enacted, this bill would directly affect gun sellers and buyers in Maine by allowing immediate firearm possession after a purchase. The legislation specifically targets the statutory requirement in Maine law (25 MRSA §2016) that created this waiting period, without altering other gun sale procedures like background checks. This change would remove the existing three-day delay without introducing new restrictions or requirements.

Maddy summaryLD 1609 prevents individuals or businesses linked to federally recognized criminal organizations from participating in Maine's medical and adult-use cannabis programs. The bill requires the state department to verify that applicants and their facilities have not been identified by law enforcement as associated with organized crime within the past five years. If such links are found, the department must deny registration, revoke existing licenses, and prohibit reapplication for five years. This applies to manufacturers, dispensaries, caregivers, and long-term care facilities operating under Maine's cannabis regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Maine joint resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who founded Turning Point USA, following his reported assassination in September 2025. The bill directs the state legislature to condemn political violence and extend condolences to Kirk's family while recognizing his contributions to civic engagement and Christian advocacy. It also issues a broad call for Americans to reject extremism and recommit to respectful debate and shared national values.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Public Utilities Commission to annually request informational bids for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) by October 1st each year. SMRs are defined as reactors under 350 megawatts, NRC-licensed, and capable of on-site construction or transport. The bids must include costs, location, timeline, and operational details - though they are non-binding and used only to inform potential future contracts. The Commission must submit annual reports to the Legislature's energy committee starting in 2026, and the bill terminates once the state accepts a bid for reactor establishment.

Maddy summaryLD 382 would create a system where fees for commercial, industrial, and recreational use of Maine's coastal resources (like fishing, tourism, and port activities) are collected. Revenue from these fees would be split: a portion retained by the state for oversight and enforcement, and the remainder distributed to coastal communities most impacted by resource use. A new revenue sharing board - comprising state agencies, local governments, and stakeholders - would administer the program and manage fee collection and distribution. This directly affects coastal businesses, residents, and municipalities along Maine's shoreline.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, to create a voluntary take-back and disposal program for firefighting and fire-suppressing foam containing PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The program must collect such foam from Maine residents or businesses that request it and ensure its safe disposal by July 1, 2027. It allows the department to hire outside contractors and create necessary rules for implementation. The bill directly affects anyone in Maine possessing PFAS-containing foam used for firefighting or fire suppression.

Maddy summaryLD 296 allocates $2 million in one-time funding from the General Fund to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for the Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund. The bill provides resources for specific projects that improve or maintain lake water quality across the state, with funding designated for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This funding directly supports the DEP’s efforts to address lake water quality issues but does not specify particular lakes or project details. The measure is a straightforward budget appropriation focused on environmental protection.

Maddy summaryLD 400 requires the Maine State Fire Marshal to compile a statewide inventory of aqueous film-forming foam concentrate (AFFF), a firefighting foam, held by public and private entities possessing 5 gallons or more. Starting July 1, 2026, public entities (like state and local governments) must report their holdings within one year, while private entities must report over a two-year period. The completed inventory, made public as a record, must be submitted to the Maine Legislature by July 1, 2028, for review by environmental and public safety committees. This measure gathers data on AFFF distribution without changing its use or regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's waste disposal law to allow solid waste processing facilities to count up to 25,000 tons of excess residue from processing "oversized bulky waste" (like appliances, furniture, and construction debris) as state-generated waste when disposed in state-owned landfills. It extends the effective period for this rule from July 2025 to July 2028 and makes the changes retroactive to June 2023. The key change clarifies that residue used as landfill cover from this waste type counts as state-generated, while other excess residue does not. This directly affects waste processing facilities handling construction/debris waste and the state-owned landfill.