Rep. Artie Mingo

Maddy summaryLD 1841 modifies Maine's process for selling properties seized by municipalities due to unpaid property taxes. It requires municipalities to send written notices to former owners 30 days before foreclosure (detailing tax relief programs and a deed-in-lieu option), 30 days after foreclosure (about redemption costs), and 90 days before listing for sale (explaining the sale process). The bill mandates that if selling to a new buyer, municipalities must use a sealed bid process or hire a licensed real estate broker (not affiliated with the municipality) to sell at the highest reasonable price. This aims to increase transparency for former owners while standardizing the sale process for municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Maine municipalities calculate service charges for tax-exempt organizations (like non-profits, religious groups, or hospitals) that own property. It replaces a previous limit of 2% of an organization’s gross revenue with a new limit of 20% of the property’s assessed value (the tax-based value of the land/building). The charge must reflect the actual cost of municipal services provided to the property (such as trash collection or road maintenance), and revenue must fund those services. Municipalities must apply the charge equally to all similar organizations and require an audit of the organization’s prior year revenues to qualify for the new limit. The changes take effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryLD 1385 requires the Maine Department of Transportation to consider a municipality's past actions and future plans toward meeting regional housing production goals when awarding discretionary transportation grants. This policy change directly affects all Maine municipalities applying for these transportation grants by adding housing progress as a new factor in funding decisions. The bill does not establish new housing goals but integrates existing regional housing objectives - defined under Title 5, section 13056, subsection 9 - into the grant evaluation process. It aims to align transportation investments with housing development efforts without altering current housing targets.

Maddy summaryLD 1204 removes the disqualification for a conviction of "aggravated cultivating of marijuana" (under Maine law, Title 17-A, section 1105-D) from the list of criminal offenses that bar employment as a direct access worker. Direct access workers provide in-home personal care services, such as assistance with daily living activities, through personal care agencies. This amendment specifically allows individuals with this specific marijuana-related conviction to seek employment in the personal care sector without automatic disqualification.

Maddy summaryLD 151 allows Maine businesses to charge an extra fee (surcharge) when customers pay with credit or debit cards, which was previously prohibited. Businesses must clearly disclose this fee before payment and ensure it does not exceed the actual cost of processing card payments. The bill specifically exempts government entities (like municipalities, schools, and courts) from this change, as they have always been permitted to charge surcharges for fees such as taxes or permits. It also repeals a separate law that previously barred travel service providers from adding card surcharges. This change directly affects businesses and their customers, not government fees.

Maddy summaryLD 1845 establishes the Working Waterfront Advisory Council to address challenges facing Maine's working waterfronts, which include ports, harbors, and coastal areas used for fishing, shipping, and maritime industries. The council, appointed by the Maine Office of Community Affairs with up to 15 members representing tribes, municipalities, industries, and other stakeholders, must meet at least four times yearly and submit annual reports by February 1 to legislative committees on issues like access, climate resilience, workforce housing, and economic development. The bill also requires the Maine Office of Community Affairs to submit similar annual reports on working waterfront initiatives to the same committees, focusing on progress and recommendations from coalitions and tribal partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine towns and cities that built their own fiber-optic broadband networks to use new loans or grants from the Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund to repay the debt from that construction. It specifically permits the Maine Connectivity Authority to provide direct loans or grants to municipal entities (including groups of towns working together) for this purpose. The law requires the authority to permit using grant funds for debt repayment related to municipally owned broadband infrastructure, unless federal rules prohibit it. This applies only to networks already built by local governments.

Maddy summaryLD 635 is a resolution directing Maine's Attorney General to dismiss the state's lawsuit against major oil companies (State of Maine v. BP, PLC et al, Case No. 2:2025cv00001-NT) currently pending in federal court. This would end the state's legal action regarding climate change-related claims against oil companies. The bill specifically requires withdrawal from this existing case and does not create new environmental policies or regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 878 establishes an independent commission to study the effects of 5G and other non-ionizing radio frequency radiation-emitting technologies on wildlife (including birds, bees, and insects) and on children's health from long-term exposure. The commission, composed of 11 members appointed by legislative leaders and academic experts, will investigate these impacts without making policy changes. It requires members to certify no financial ties to wireless industry interests. This resolution is purely for research and does not impose new regulations or affect any specific groups directly.

Maddy summaryLD 486 removes the requirement in Maine law that a person using self-defense must retreat or comply with a demand to stop an action if they can do so safely. This change allows individuals to stand their ground without having to step away or cease their actions when facing an immediate threat. The bill does not alter the existing exception for people defending themselves in their homes if they were not the initial aggressor. It directly affects anyone acting in self-defense by eliminating one condition they previously had to meet before using force.