Rep. Kristen Cloutier

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to create educational materials about perimenopause and menopause. It directs the department to partner with healthcare providers (like OB/GYNs) and community health programs to develop both digital and physical resources. The materials will explain symptoms, treatments, when to seek care, the biological process, and how to discuss these changes with others. These resources will specifically target people who menstruate and are experiencing perimenopause or menopause.

Maddy summaryThis bill, LD 815, provides $2.25 million annually from the General Fund to fund respite care and supplemental services for family caregivers and older relative caregivers through Maine's Office of Aging and Disability Services. It directly supports unpaid caregivers - such as adult children caring for aging parents - by offering temporary relief (respite care) and additional support services. The funding is allocated as ongoing, recurring appropriations for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. The bill does not change eligibility rules but ensures continued financial support for existing services within the Family Caregiver Support Program.

Maddy summaryLD 747 establishes a Maine State Housing Authority program providing direct rental subsidies to homeless students in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill allocates $2 million annually from the General Fund to fund this program, which will provide housing assistance directly to homeless students or their guardians. It removes a previous requirement to specifically address minors without adult guardians, while directing the Housing Authority to coordinate with the Department of Education and Health and Human Services. The program aims to reduce homelessness among school-aged children by connecting them with stable housing through direct financial support.

Maddy summaryLD 620 allocates $200,000 annually from the General Fund to support organizations providing outreach and services to active-duty military members and their families transitioning to civilian life in Maine. The bill directly affects service members and their families relocating to Maine by funding practical assistance like job training, housing help, and counseling. Key provisions include ongoing annual funding for these support services, ensuring consistent access to resources during the transition period. The legislation focuses on concrete financial support for existing service providers, not new programs or policy changes.

Maddy summaryLD 1332 establishes the Community Schools Success Fund, a permanent fund within Maine's Department of Education. The fund provides grants to community schools, local education providers (like school districts and charter schools), and supporting nonprofit organizations. These grants support specific program needs including community needs assessments, readiness planning, sustainability efforts, professional development, and peer mentoring. The bill requires grant applicants to submit utilization plans detailing how funds will support community school programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Maine's State Tax Assessor to sell specific parcels of real estate in Aroostook County's Unorganized Territory where property taxes remain unpaid. It directs the sale of two parcels (one owned by Charles Durost and another by Jay McLaughlin) to recover $958.65 and $1,586.26 in accumulated taxes, interest, and costs. The process requires 90 days' notice to former owners, listing with a licensed broker, and selling to the highest bidder if no owner buys back within 90 days. If the minimum sale price isn't met, the property may be sold for that amount by August 1, 2026, with strict rules prohibiting state employees and their family members from purchasing. The sale aims to recover unpaid taxes while following Maine's statutory procedures for tax lien properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "coercive control" to Maine's legal definition of domestic abuse, making it a specific form of abuse under protection from abuse laws. It defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate or exploit a dating partner or family/household member, including limiting financial access, monitoring movements, isolating from support systems, using intimidation, or exploiting vulnerabilities like disabilities or immigration status. The law directly affects victims of domestic abuse who experience these tactics and provides courts and law enforcement with a clear standard to address such cases. This change updates existing statutes without altering penalties for other abuse types, focusing on expanding legal recognition of controlling behaviors.

Maddy summaryLD 1554 requires all restaurant employees in Maine to complete state-approved sexual harassment prevention training. Restaurants must also document compliance through a required checklist. If a restaurant isn't compliant when its license expires, it gets 45 days to fix the issue. Failure to comply after this period means the state must deny the restaurant's license renewal. This law directly affects restaurants operating under Maine's licensing system and their staff.

Maddy summaryLD 532 expands Maine's assault law to specifically protect all health care workers in hospital emergency rooms. The bill defines assault on these workers as a Class C crime, covering anyone employed or contracted by a state-licensed health care entity (including hospitals and clinics) while performing their job in the emergency room. This change directly affects health care workers in Maine's emergency departments by strengthening legal consequences for assaults against them. The key provision amends existing statute §752-F to broaden the definition beyond previous limitations, ensuring all licensed health care workers in emergency settings receive the same legal protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary process for Maine to adjust state income tax filing requirements when federal tax law changes occur before Maine can update its own laws. If the Commissioner determines federal changes affect Maine's tax system, they must report to the Governor, who can then direct temporary adjustments to ease taxpayer compliance. Taxpayers filing under this temporary measure will receive clear notices explaining the adjustment is contingent on future state legislation and that they won't face penalties for underpayment or incorrect refunds during this period. The bill directly affects Maine taxpayers and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services during the interim between federal changes and permanent state law updates.