Rep. Artie Mingo

Maddy summaryLD 958 prohibits the use of eminent domain (government seizure of private property) on lands designated as Passamaquoddy Indian territory in Maine. It directly affects the Passamaquoddy Tribe by legally protecting their defined reservation lands and specific parcels of land acquired for their benefit. The bill amends Maine law to explicitly state that these lands cannot be taken through eminent domain, including lands acquired under certain conditions in Calais or other areas. This is a specific legal protection for the Passamaquoddy Tribe's existing territory, not a new land grant.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits annual rent and fee increases in manufactured housing communities to no more than 10% of the base amount over a 4-year period. It directly affects residents who pay lot rent and community owners/operators who set those rates. The key provision (Section 9084-A) prohibits increases exceeding this 10% cap, aiming to preserve affordable housing. The bill also establishes a new Manufactured Housing Board with tenant and resident representation to oversee implementation. These changes apply to all licensed manufactured housing communities in Maine.

Maddy summaryLD 1765 limits rent and fee increases for mobile home park residents in Maine. It prohibits park owners from raising rent or fees more than once yearly and caps increases at either 5% of current rent or the Consumer Price Index plus 1% (whichever is lower), requiring justification for increases as necessary for actual operating costs. The bill mandates written disclosure of all fees before occupancy, 30-day written notice for changes (with certified mail for rent hikes), and annual municipal reporting to verify compliance. It also allows tenants to sue for illegally collected fees and recover attorney's fees if owners violate these rules. The law directly affects mobile home park residents by protecting them from excessive or sudden rent increases.

Maddy summaryLD 1227 repeals a Maine law requiring motor vehicle manufacturers to equip new vehicles with a standardized data access platform. This requirement, enacted in 2023, mandated that manufacturers install a platform to enable secure access to vehicle data for repairs and other purposes. The repeal removes this mandate, meaning manufacturers in Maine are no longer obligated to include such a platform in new vehicles. The bill directly affects car manufacturers selling vehicles in Maine by eliminating this specific regulatory requirement.

Maddy summaryLD 1077 would exempt bottled drinking water from Maine's sales tax by including it in the tax-free "grocery staples" category. Currently, packaged drinking water (including bottled mineral and carbonated water) is excluded from this exemption and subject to sales tax. The bill amends Maine's tax code to explicitly add "drinking water placed in a container or package for human consumption" to the definition of grocery staples. This change would directly affect consumers purchasing bottled water and retailers selling it, eliminating sales tax on these items at checkout.

Maddy summaryLD 1386 provides one-time tax relief for Maine's wild blueberry industry in 2025. It suspends the tax portion normally paid by sellers (growers) of Maine-harvested wild blueberries, meaning growers pay $0 tax on these berries for 2025. Processors and shippers instead pay half the tax (0.75 cents per pound) for Maine-harvested berries, while continuing to pay the full tax (1.5 cents per pound) on out-of-state berries. This shifts the tax burden from growers to processors/shippers for in-state berries, offering immediate financial relief to growers facing declining prices and rising costs.

Maddy summaryLD 372 exempts sales of qualifying gold and silver coins and bullion from Maine's state sales and use tax, effective January 1, 2026. The bill specifically covers coins, bars, or rounds marked by weight, purity, and content (like investment-grade bullion), but excludes fabricated gold or silver used for industrial, professional, or artistic purposes. This policy change directly affects consumers and businesses purchasing these specific precious metal products, reducing their tax burden. The exemption is a straightforward tax policy adjustment with no additional mechanisms or requirements described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the previous restriction that prevented school boards from expelling or suspending students in grade 5 or below. It allows school boards to expel or suspend students of any grade level for specific serious infractions, including violence, possession of firearms or dangerous weapons, or drug trafficking. For students in grade 5 and below, out-of-school suspensions are limited to a maximum of 3 days unless there is imminent danger of serious injury. The bill also repeals prior provisions related to student conduct policies for younger grades.

Maddy summaryLD 1542 amends the membership structure of the Washington County Budget Advisory Committee. It requires Washington County commissioners to appoint a resident of unorganized territory as a voting member for a three-year term. Additionally, it changes the legislative delegation's process: instead of annually selecting a nonvoting member, they must now select one voting member by majority vote every odd-numbered year (starting October 15, 2025) for a two-year term, with replacement rules for vacancies. This bill directly affects Washington County commissioners, the legislative delegation, and residents of unorganized territory.

Maddy summaryLD 970 establishes strict time limits for reviewing and approving permits for affordable housing projects seeking funding from the Maine State Housing Authority. Municipalities must notify applicants within 30 days whether an application is complete, and if they fail to do so, the application is automatically considered complete. Once complete, municipalities must approve or deny the permit within 120 days. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Protection must approve or deny site location permits for these projects within 30 days of receiving the application.