Rep. Anne Perry

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that adds a fiscal note to a resolution proposing a constitutional change. The resolution itself would establish that all residents of Maine have equal rights under the law. The amendment does not alter the substance of the proposed constitutional language but includes required financial documentation for the legislative process.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Education to distribute $2 million in grants over two years to school districts for implementing innovative learning strategies. The funds aim to help close achievement gaps by prioritizing schools that partner with professional organizations or universities and provide data on improving outcomes for economically disadvantaged students, racial and ethnic minorities, and those impacted by pandemic restrictions. The legislation appropriates $2,000,000 for the 2023-24 fiscal year and another $2,000,000 for 2024-25 to support these educational initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Community School Program in Maine by removing the limit on how many schools the Department of Education can designate. Under the new rules, the department can select up to three schools starting in 2016-2017, five in 2020-2021, ten in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, and any number of additional schools beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. To support this expansion, the state will provide funding to the schools and may hire a coordinator to manage the program. The department must also publish application details and deadlines on its website for interested school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that removes the appropriations and allocations section from the original legislation. As a result, it does not create new policy requirements or directly affect any specific groups of people. The change simply streamlines the text by deleting a portion related to funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to establish security screening procedures at the Burton M. Cross Building that match those currently used in the State House. The measure directly affects the building's security operations by mandating consistent safety protocols across both state facilities. By aligning the screening methods, the legislation aims to standardize security measures for the public and staff entering the Burton M. Cross Building.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $250,000 in state funding for Maine's free health clinics, which serve uninsured and underinsured populations. The money is allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute based on the number of clients each clinic serves. The legislation only applies to the 2024-25 fiscal year, as it removes any funding that was previously planned for 2023-24.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous resolution to remove the emergency language that would have allowed it to take effect immediately. Sponsored by Senator Bailey, the change ensures the legislation follows the standard legislative timeline rather than bypassing the usual waiting period. The amendment also renumbers the text to fix any formatting issues from the original draft. Ultimately, the bill does not create new policies but adjusts the procedural rules for how the existing task force study will be enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a one-time appropriation of $50,000 from the state's General Fund to the Maine Indian Education School District for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The funds are designated to support the development and implementation of a Wabanaki-centered curriculum specifically for Native American high school students. The money will be used to cover costs related to curriculum creation, staff, transportation, and support services for the pilot program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program to help prevent evictions by providing rental assistance to eligible low-income tenants. The program offers up to $300 per month in aid paid directly to landlords for a maximum of 12 months, targeting individuals earning less than 60% of the local median income who are not currently using federal housing vouchers. The Maine State Housing Authority will manage the fund, which is financed by a $15 million appropriation from the state's General Fund for each of the two years, and may delegate administration to community agencies or municipal housing authorities. To ensure accountability, the authority must submit a report to the Legislature by February 2025 detailing how many people received assistance and where the aid was distributed. The legislation includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take effect immediately upon approval due to the urgent nature of the housing crisis.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Maine to issue up to $17,000,000 in bonds to upgrade and replace aging broadcast infrastructure for Maine Public, which is essential for delivering the federal Emergency Alert System to the public. The funds would be distributed over four years to repair towers, transmitters, and microwave links, with the money managed by the State Treasurer and disbursed under the supervision of relevant agencies. Before any money is spent, the bill must be approved by Maine voters in a statewide referendum held the November following its passage. If approved, the bonds will be repaid using state funds over a period of no more than ten years, with any leftover money used to pay off other state debt.