Rep. Josh Morris

Maddy summaryLD 867 defines "pre-need funeral insurance" as life insurance assigned to cover a prearranged funeral plan. It requires that only licensed funeral directors may sell such insurance and mandates detailed disclosures to consumers about plan costs, guarantees, relationships between sellers and funeral providers, and sales commissions. The bill also requires that funds paid for prearranged funeral plans be deposited into a separate account within 10 days. These changes aim to increase transparency and protect consumers purchasing pre-need funeral insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the law that created the Maine Retirement Savings Board and related provisions in Maine's statutes. It specifically removes the legal foundation for the board's existence and its authority to administer retirement plans. The repeal affects the board itself and any retirement programs it managed under the repealed law, ending its official role in overseeing these programs. The bill does not create new retirement programs or alter existing retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes legal immunity for school administrative units and school superintendents in Maine for specific actions, including negligence, violations of education laws, failure to ensure student safety (such as physical harm or unreported abuse), and failure to report student abuse or threats. It requires schools to establish mandatory reporting policies for student safety concerns, maintain sufficient liability insurance, and gives plaintiffs 60 days' written notice before filing a lawsuit. School staff acting within their duties remain generally protected, though schools must indemnify them for claims involving gross negligence, willful misconduct, or criminal activity. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and mandates annual reports on its impact starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryLD 149 proposes a constitutional amendment to require Maine voters to directly elect the Attorney General every two years, starting in 2026, instead of the current system where the Governor appoints the position. The amendment specifies that the Attorney General would be elected "in the same manner as provided for the election of Senators and Representatives." If approved by voters, this change would shift selection authority from the Governor to the public, with vacancies during legislative recess still filled by gubernatorial appointment (subject to confirmation). The resolution requires a statewide referendum in November 2026 to ratify the amendment.

Maddy summaryLD 1310 amends Maine law to exempt certain health insurance plans from requiring no cost sharing for the first primary care and behavioral health office visits. Specifically, it removes this requirement for plans that already have no deductible, no coinsurance, and meet federal coverage standards (such as high deductible health plans under federal law). This change affects only a small subset of insurance plans that comply with federal rules, avoiding duplicate state requirements. The bill ensures Maine's regulations align with federal standards for these specific plans.

Maddy summaryLD 1535 requires a permit for residential buildings to install or upgrade electrical service to 300 amps or more, calculated by summing all electrical panels in the building. Electric utilities must report specific high-power usage events - such as 300+ amp installations, transformer issues, or power consumption increases over 500% - to local code enforcement authorities, including the property size and known reason for the increase. The bill applies to all residential properties in Maine and is titled to reduce illegal cannabis operations by targeting excessive electricity use, which is commonly associated with unauthorized grow operations.

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 summaryThis bill exempts Maine public school districts and their employees from the state's paid family and medical leave program if they already provide benefits equivalent to the state program through union contracts or formal agreements. Specifically, districts must have offered substantially equivalent leave benefits (including at least 12 weeks annually for sick/family leave) via collective bargaining as of January 1, 2025, and must continue maintaining these benefits. The bill requires the Department of Labor to refund all past contributions made by qualifying districts, and mandates that districts return any employee deductions made toward these premiums. It applies retroactively to October 25, 2023, covering contributions made before the exemption took effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "senior retiree lobster and crab fishing license" for Maine residents aged 65+ who previously held a commercial license for 3+ consecutive years and lived in Maine for 10+ years. It allows license holders to fish with a maximum of 100 traps between May 1 and December 1 annually, with a $60 annual fee. The license specifically authorizes taking, selling, and transporting lobsters but prohibits removing meat from shells or using traps outside designated zones. It directly affects qualifying retired commercial lobster fishermen by providing a simplified, lower-cost fishing option with seasonal and trap-count restrictions.

Maddy summaryLD 1333 updates Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program to clarify eligibility and administration. It requires employees to have worked for an employer for at least 120 days to qualify, shortens the deadline for filing leave applications from 90 to 30 days after leave begins, and adjusts employer contribution rules: companies with 15+ workers can deduct 50% of premiums from employee wages and send 100% to the fund, while smaller employers send 50%. The bill also specifies that leave under this program runs concurrently with federal FMLA, and defines "self-employed" to include small business owners with fewer than 15 employees. These changes directly affect Maine workers seeking leave and their employers managing contributions.