Rep. Josh Morris

Maddy summaryLD 1498 limits how Maine municipalities can charge impact fees for housing development projects. The bill requires towns to create a public policy document explaining how they determine when infrastructure improvements are needed and how developers' fees are calculated. It restricts fees to infrastructure directly adjacent to the development and mandates that fees be proportionate to the project's use of that infrastructure. Additionally, municipalities must spend collected fees within 180 days of receipt.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance administrators and pharmacy benefits managers to give plan sponsors (like employers or unions that manage health coverage) full ownership of claims data from their contracts. It mandates that administrators provide specific data - including itemized bills, medical records for high-cost claims over $50,000, and payment details - within 20 business days of a request. Plan sponsors gain the right to conduct annual post-payment audits of claims without facing excessive fees or restrictions on audit scope, timing, or auditor choice. The law applies to all new or renewed contracts after January 1, 2026, ensuring transparency in how insurers process and pay claims.

Maddy summaryMaine's LD 1018, the "Protect Health Care for Rural and Underserved Communities Act," prohibits discrimination against clinics and hospitals participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It specifically bans drug manufacturers from interfering with the acquisition or delivery of 340B drugs and bars health insurers or pharmacy managers from paying 340B providers lower rates or imposing extra fees, restrictions, or data requirements compared to non-340B providers. The law ensures these rural and underserved healthcare facilities receive fair reimbursement and access to discounted medications under the federal 340B program. It directly affects 340B entities (like community health centers) and their pharmacy partners in Maine.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine municipal fire departments with certified personnel to conduct sprinkler system plan reviews. It requires fire department employees to be certified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and mandates that departments establish a review process ensuring thorough evaluation against all applicable codes. Municipalities that approve compliant plans may then issue permits to sprinkler system contractors. The bill directly affects local fire departments, contractors, and building projects requiring sprinkler systems, streamlining the review process while maintaining safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine law to expand access to direct primary care by removing the requirement that a provider must be specifically authorized to offer primary care services. It allows any licensed physician or advanced health care practitioner to enter into direct primary care agreements with patients, where patients pay a fixed fee directly for services like routine checkups and chronic condition management - without the provider billing insurance for those services. The bill also clarifies that direct care arrangements are not insurance, do not satisfy federal health coverage requirements, and removes barriers preventing providers from simultaneously offering direct care and other services (such as working with insurers or participating in state pilot programs). This change directly affects patients seeking affordable primary care options and providers choosing to operate outside traditional insurance models.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal treasurers to remove a previous property owner's name from a tax lien if that owner paid their prorated share of taxes after selling the property. It directly affects sellers who have transferred ownership but remain listed on the lien due to unpaid taxes. The key mechanism mandates that treasurers must discharge the lien against the seller upon receiving proof of payment for their portion, using the same process as for standard mortgage discharges. The lien remains on the property for the new owner, but the previous owner's liability is cleared. This change ensures sellers aren't unfairly burdened by liens after fulfilling their tax obligations.

Maddy summaryLD 1298 establishes an alternative pathway for social work licensure in Maine, allowing applicants to qualify without meeting all traditional education and experience requirements. The bill amends licensing statutes to permit applicants to demonstrate competence through this new pathway instead of solely relying on a master's degree in social work plus specified clinical experience. It modifies existing rules for licensed clinical social workers by creating flexibility to waive up to one year of post-degree clinical experience for those with equivalent prior experience. The Maine Board of Social Work will define the specific requirements for this alternative pathway through future rulemaking. This change directly affects individuals seeking social work licensure who may not have formal graduate degrees but possess relevant experience.

Maddy summaryLD 953 amends Maine's criminal code to clarify the legal definition of "machine gun." The bill defines a machine gun as any weapon capable of firing multiple rounds automatically with a single trigger pull without manual reloading, and explicitly includes the weapon's frame/receiver, parts designed to convert a weapon into a machine gun, and parts that can be assembled into one. This change directly affects gun owners, dealers, and law enforcement by providing a clearer standard for what constitutes a machine gun under Maine law. The amendment updates the definition without altering existing prohibitions on machine guns.

Maddy summaryLD 291 eliminates the 9% lodging tax on campground rentals (for tourist and trailer camps) and instead applies Maine's standard 5.5% general sales tax to these stays. This change directly affects campground operators and guests staying in these facilities, reducing their tax burden starting January 1, 2026. The bill modifies Maine Revised Statutes §1811 to remove campground living quarters from the higher tax rate category. It does not alter the tax treatment of hotels or rooming houses, which remain subject to the 9% rate. The policy change simplifies tax application for campground rentals without creating new exemptions.

Maddy summaryLD 525 would amend Maine law to remove the existing 500-foot buffer zone prohibition on discharging firearms near schools for individuals acting under Maine's defense-of-premises laws (Title 17-A, section 104, subsection 3). This specifically affects property owners or occupants on private land within 500 feet of school property who are using firearms to defend their property. The bill changes the current rule by exempting such defensive discharges from the general prohibition, allowing firearm use in these specific self-defense scenarios.