Rep. David Boyer

Maddy summaryLD 405 defines "solitary confinement" in Maine law as the isolation of a person in a cell or similar space for 22 or more hours within a 24-hour period, directly affecting jails and correctional facilities. The bill establishes this specific time threshold as the standard for determining when confinement qualifies as solitary under state laws. It does not change existing restrictions or requirements for using solitary confinement, only clarifies the definition for administrative and legal purposes. This definition will guide how facilities, staff, and oversight bodies interpret and apply rules related to solitary confinement. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on defining the term rather than creating new policies.

Maddy summaryLD 647 requires jails and correctional facilities in Maine to provide affordable telephone and video call services to residents. It caps service provider rates at Federal Communications Commission (FCC) levels for interstate calls, bans connection fees and account deposit charges, and mandates free call allowances: 90 minutes weekly for jail residents with under $50 in their account, and 90 minutes weekly for correctional facility residents with under $10. The bill directly affects detained individuals, requiring facilities to enable communication with families and attorneys without excessive cost. Key provisions include prohibiting blocked collect calls without alternative options and requiring service providers to disclose rates to call recipients.

Maddy summaryLD 1620 modifies Maine's cannabis testing rules for adult-use products. It sets a specific limit of 100,000 colony-forming units per gram for yeast and mold contamination in cannabis products, requiring testing for harmful microbes like E. coli and salmonella. The bill also creates "audit testing," allowing licensed businesses that pass 10 consecutive mandatory tests without contamination to skip future pre-sale testing - after verifying results with the office. This directly affects cannabis businesses selling adult-use products in Maine.

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 1034 would decriminalize the personal possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin for adults aged 21 or older in Maine. Currently, possessing psilocybin is a criminal offense, but this bill removes that penalty for small amounts held by adults. The key provision specifies that possession of one ounce or less of psilocybin by a person 21 years or older would no longer be considered a violation of state law. This change applies solely to personal possession and does not affect the legal status of psilocybin for sale, distribution, or other uses.

Maddy summaryLD 1612 requires Maine's Department of Transportation to issue requests for proposals within 180 days for unused state-owned railroad lines (infrastructure not currently used for freight or passenger rail). The department must evaluate proposals based on economic benefits, environmental compatibility, and proposer qualifications, allowing uses like railbike tours or commercial activities while preserving rights-of-way for future rail service. Proposals must comply with environmental and safety rules, and the department must report results to the Legislature within 90 days. This process directly affects the DOT and potential developers seeking to repurpose underutilized rail corridors.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concept draft (LD 530) proposing occupational licensing reform in Maine, but the provided text lacks specific details about the reforms, affected professions, or implementation mechanisms. The bill's summary only states it "proposes to enact measures to reform occupational licensing" without outlining concrete changes. As a concept draft under Joint Rule 208, it serves as an initial framework rather than a detailed legislative proposal. Without additional bill text or specific provisions, a substantive summary of policy changes cannot be provided.

Maddy summaryLD 1576 extends Maine's existing one-year prohibition on compensated lobbying for former state employees to include staff who worked in the legislature. Specifically, it applies to former partisan and nonpartisan legislative employees, committee clerks, and staff of the Senate Secretary or House Clerk. The law, effective January 1, 2026, requires these individuals to wait one year after leaving their legislative positions before engaging in lobbying. This change aligns legislative staff with the current rule already covering former executive branch employees.

Maddy summaryLD 1349 requires Maine's Legislature to approve any contract or contract renewal for operating the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town. This directly affects the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (which manages the landfill) and the Legislature (which must vote on such contracts). The bill amends state law to add that legislative approval is mandatory before the department can enter or renew the landfill operation contract. It does not change existing licensing requirements but adds a new step for contract approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member commission to study Maine's Constitution and recommend potential amendments. The commission includes members appointed by legislative leaders, a constitutional law expert, a tribal representative, a civil liberties advocate, and the Secretary of State, with a nonvoting judicial advisor. It will examine specific areas like strengthening rights protections, removing unnecessary procedural details from the Constitution, and considering structural changes such as 4-year legislative terms. The commission must submit its findings and recommendations to the Judiciary Committee by November 4, 2026, for potential consideration in the next legislative session.