Rep. David Boyer

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new auditor position within the Attorney General's Office to oversee the Maine Information and Analysis Center, aiming to improve transparency and protect civil liberties. The auditor, appointed based on integrity and expertise rather than political affiliation, will conduct ongoing reviews of the center's operations and maintain a public website for reports and anonymous complaints. While the auditor must provide regular reports to the legislature and ensure the center cooperates with data requests, they cannot force corrective actions or reveal the identities of informants. Additionally, the bill clarifies that information shared by the center with private entities is considered a public record unless legally classified.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's adult-use cannabis tracking system to allow for canopy tagging, which enables the identification of individual plants rather than just bulk product batches. It authorizes a one-time appropriation of $7 million to develop a new trace and track system within the Office of Cannabis Policy. Additionally, the legislation allocates over $1.5 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year to hire and support new staff, including auditors and field investigators, to manage these expanded tracking capabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Corrections to evaluate how well its current reentry services meet the employment needs of people leaving prison. To do this, the department must collaborate with community organizations and employers to identify any gaps in support. By January 31, 2025, the department must submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the legislature's criminal justice committee. The committee may then use this information to introduce new legislation in the following year to address the identified issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing Maine laws to regulate how employers monitor their workers, requiring companies that use surveillance to inform job applicants during hiring and provide annual written notices to current employees. It establishes a penalty system where employers face fines between $100 and $500 for each violation, with the Department of Labor responsible for enforcement. The legislation also updates section numbers and removes certain provisions to align with current statutes, focusing on transparency and accountability in workplace monitoring practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maine's cannabis tax structure by increasing the sales tax on adult-use cannabis while simultaneously reducing the excise tax over time. Under the new rules, the sales tax rate will rise to 12.5% starting January 1, 2025, and increase further to 15% on January 1, 2026. At the same time, the excise tax applied to these products will be cut by one-third during the 2025 tax year and reduced by two-thirds beginning in 2026. These changes directly affect cannabis retailers and consumers by altering the total tax burden on purchases made after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to change its focus from immediately restoring firearm rights to first creating a plan for doing so. It directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to form a stakeholder group, including legal and safety experts, to design a petition process for people currently prohibited from owning guns. The group must submit a report by January 30, 2025, outlining the proposed process and any recommended laws needed to implement it. Ultimately, the bill does not restore rights itself but sets up a committee to develop the framework for future legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate amendment to Maine's Right to Repair law that clarifies rules for third-party repair shops and limits what manufacturers must provide. It defines "authorized third-party providers" as independent businesses licensed by manufacturers to use their names and sell parts or tools. The amendment also states that manufacturers are not required to share repair information or parts for equipment they do not currently support or maintain. Additionally, it restricts the requirement to share trade secrets to only those secrets necessary for performing repairs, diagnosis, or maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing outdoor education program to require providers to follow state licensing rules for guides and trip leaders. Specifically, it mandates that anyone leading outdoor school activities in Maine must hold the appropriate licenses for guides, youth camp leaders, or educational trip leaders as defined by state law. The change ensures that all participants in the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program are supervised by qualified, licensed professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing act to transfer $160,575 from the Medical Use of Cannabis Fund to the Department of the Attorney General. The funds will create one part-time, limited-term Assistant Attorney General position dedicated to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Inspection Program. This change is intended to support health inspection efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services from September 2024 through June 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing gambling laws to increase the fee that electronic gambling device operators must pay from 1% to 2% of their gross revenue. The change directly affects businesses licensed to operate electronic lucky seven machines in Maine. By raising this specific revenue collection rate, the legislation aims to generate additional funds for veterans' organizations, other nonprofits, and federally recognized Indian tribes. The update does not alter who can operate the devices or how they are regulated, but rather adjusts the financial contribution required from operators.