Rep. David Boyer

Maddy summaryLD 1669 establishes the Cannabis Advisory Council in Maine to advise on medical and adult-use cannabis industry operations. The 10-member council includes medical cannabis patients/caregivers (3), industry licensees (3), public members (2), a municipal official (1), and a cannabis science expert (1), appointed per specific guidelines in Sections 14-15. The council's role is to make recommendations to the director and legislature regarding industry improvements, tracking systems, public health, and federal legalization matters, as outlined in Section 2. Funding for council expenses comes from existing state funds for adult use and medical cannabis programs, as specified in Sections 36-37.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation to have their criminal history records sealed. It requires business screening services (like background check companies) to delete any sealed records from their databases and stop sharing inaccurate or sealed information. Specifically, if a victim's record is sealed through legal process, the screening service must remove it and notify the individual within 30 days. The law ensures these services update records within 30 days and verify accuracy every 90 days. It applies directly to trafficking victims seeking to limit how their sealed records are used by private background check providers.

Maddy summaryLD 1498 limits how Maine municipalities can charge impact fees for housing development projects. The bill requires towns to create a public policy document explaining how they determine when infrastructure improvements are needed and how developers' fees are calculated. It restricts fees to infrastructure directly adjacent to the development and mandates that fees be proportionate to the project's use of that infrastructure. Additionally, municipalities must spend collected fees within 180 days of receipt.

Maddy summaryLD 1121 requires all new state-owned public buildings and renovated public restrooms in state buildings (after the bill's effective date) to include diaper changing stations that are safe, sanitary, and accessible to people with disabilities. By July 1, 2027, if a state building has only gender-restricted diaper stations, it must add a gender-neutral or family restroom with a station. Exceptions apply for cost-prohibitive renovations, historic preservation rules, or building code conflicts. This bill directly affects caregivers of children under 4 who use Maine state buildings open to the public, ensuring equitable access to essential facilities.

Maddy summaryLD 1229 (An Act to Create Equity in Maine's Campaign Finance Laws Between Enrolled and Unenrolled Candidates) changes Maine's campaign finance rules to ensure equal contribution limits for gubernatorial and legislative candidates. It requires that candidates not appearing on a primary ballot (unenrolled) face the same contribution limits per election cycle as candidates who appear on a primary ballot (enrolled). This applies to all gubernatorial and legislative races, removing a previous distinction that allowed unenrolled candidates to have higher limits. The bill directly affects candidates running for governor or state legislature who choose not to compete in primary elections. It creates a more uniform system without altering the actual dollar limits.

Maddy summaryLD 1068 changes how Maine's State Auditor is selected. Currently, the Legislature elects the State Auditor until 2028; this bill shifts the process to direct popular election starting in 2028, with the State Auditor serving a 4-year term like the Governor. The bill does not alter the existing qualification requirements (e.g., CPA certification or auditing experience) or vacancy procedures. Maine voters will directly choose the State Auditor beginning with the 2028 election cycle.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's governor to appoint a U.S. Senator interim fill to match the political party affiliation of the outgoing senator at the time of their last election. If the previous senator was affiliated with a party at their last election, the appointee must also be that party member at the time of appointment. It also mandates that if the outgoing senator was unaffiliated, the interim appointee must remain unaffiliated. The bill directly affects the governor's authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies and ensures interim appointments align with the voter preference reflected in the previous election.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Attorney General to create and maintain a publicly available model residential lease on the state website by December 1, 2025, updating it biennially (every two years) on odd-numbered years. The model must comply with current law, include required disclosures, and be developed with input from both tenant and landlord advocacy groups. It mandates neutrality (not favoring either side) and requires a 30-day public comment period on draft versions before final posting. The model lease directly assists landlords and tenants by providing a reference tool for standardizing agreements, though it does not replace existing legal requirements for leases.

Maddy summaryLD 1091 requires that at Maine town meetings, a person recognized by the moderator to speak must be allowed at least two minutes to speak. Non-voters must still obtain approval from two-thirds of the voters present to speak, as specified in the amended statute. The bill adds this minimum speaking time requirement to existing law, ensuring speakers cannot be cut off prematurely. This change applies to all recognized speakers at town meetings across Maine, reinforcing consistent speaking opportunities.

Maddy summaryLD 857 requires Maine's Bureau of General Services to publicly post all procurement documents online, including competitive bidding records, waiver notices, and supporting materials. It mandates that these records cannot be deleted or destroyed except as legally required. The bill also directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to recover and publish past waiver notices and related documents that were previously unavailable. This applies directly to state agencies managing procurement and makes government purchasing processes more accessible to the public.