Rep. Laurel Libby

Maddy summaryLD 1563 requires all legislation introduced to the Maine Legislature to be fully drafted in a way that it could become law without amendments. It prohibits bills from being submitted as abstract concepts or mere outlines of intent. If legislation doesn’t meet this standard, it cannot be referred to a committee for a hearing. This bill directly affects legislators and staff drafting bills by mandating complete, actionable language before committee consideration. It is a procedural rule focused on improving legislative clarity and efficiency.

Maddy summaryLD 147 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Maine's Secretary of State is selected. Currently appointed by the Legislature, the Secretary of State would instead be elected directly by voters every two years, starting in 2026, using the same voting process as for state Senators and Representatives. The amendment requires voter approval in a statewide referendum held during the November 2025 election, asking "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that the Secretary of State be elected by the people biennially?" If approved, the change would take effect upon the Governor's proclamation. This directly affects Maine voters and the office of Secretary of State, shifting selection from legislative appointment to popular election.

Maddy summaryLD 723 requires the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to develop a nonresidential basic law enforcement training program starting July 1, 2027. This program will allow trainees to complete foundational law enforcement training without living at the academy, balancing professional policing skills with public service focus. The bill amends existing law (25 MRSA §2804-C) to add this nonresidential option alongside the current residential program. It directly affects new law enforcement officers in Maine who may choose this alternative training format.

Maddy summaryLD 406 repeals Maine's paid family and medical leave program and requires the state to refund all contributions collected from employers and employees since January 1, 2025. The bill stops future contributions and mandates immediate refunds to taxpayers to address economic harm to businesses and workers. As an emergency measure, it bypasses Maine's standard 90-day legislative waiting period for immediate effect. This directly affects Maine employers and employees who had begun paying into the program in 2025.

Maddy summaryLD 277 would repeal Maine's current law prohibiting most businesses from opening on Sundays and certain holidays. This change would allow retail stores, restaurants, and other commercial establishments to operate freely on those days without legal restrictions. The bill directly affects businesses currently barred from Sunday and holiday operations under existing law. It removes the prohibition by repealing two specific sections of Maine law (17 MRSA §3202 and §3204) that enforced the ban.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 594) requires Maine's State Auditor to conduct comprehensive audits of all state agencies and compile a detailed report for each. The report must include current and historical data on employee counts (including new hires over 5-20 years), budget figures (current, projected, and growth), agency roles and responsibilities, project scopes (current, completed, and incomplete over time), and each agency's budget percentage of the total state biennial budget. The State Auditor must submit this report to the Legislature's appropriations committee by November 4, 2026. The bill directly affects all state agencies by mandating transparency in their staffing and financial operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires superintendents from both the sending and receiving school districts to approve student transfers between school administrative units. Transfers must be approved if the parent consents and the receiving district has adequate physical space without needing new staff. The bill also prohibits charging tuition for approved transfers, protects special education funding levels, and ensures transferred students are treated as residents of the receiving district for state funding purposes. Parents can appeal denials through the commissioner and state board of education.

Maddy summaryLD 965 requires most Maine state agency rules to automatically expire 5 years after adoption, unless renewed by the legislature. Rules adopted after January 1, 2026, automatically repeal 5 years later, while rules adopted by January 1, 2026, repeal on January 1, 2030. Agencies must request renewal with a cost-benefit analysis 1-2 years before expiration and identify two specific rules they will not seek to renew. This applies to all agency rules, with major substantive rules requiring additional legislative review criteria. The bill directly affects state agencies by creating a mandatory sunset mechanism for regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 671 would eliminate Maine's state income tax for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, removing this tax from residents and businesses. It requires the state to review and update laws referencing income tax and establish a new budgeting system for state agencies. Under this system, agencies must justify their entire budget from scratch every eight years (zero-based budgeting) and during other years, submit proposals for 5% and 10% funding reductions. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services must report on necessary legal changes by the 2026 legislative session to implement these provisions.

Maddy summaryLD 278 eliminates the tobacco products tax on items containing nicotine but not tobacco, such as certain nicotine-only e-liquids or nicotine salts. The bill amends Maine's tax code by revising the definition of "tobacco products" to exclude products that contain nicotine without tobacco, while maintaining taxes on traditional tobacco products and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. This change directly affects manufacturers and retailers selling nicotine products without tobacco, removing their tax obligation under current law. The bill does not alter existing taxes on products like cigars, snus, or e-cigarettes that contain nicotine. (Bill: LD 278, Maine Legislature 2025)