Rep. Kristen Cloutier

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SP 785) designates May 18, 2025, as "Asian American and Pacific Islander Day Against Bullying and Hate" in Maine. It honors Vincent Chin, a victim of a hate crime, and recognizes the rise in bullying and hate crimes against AAPI communities since the pandemic, including data showing 80% of AAPI youth report experiencing bullying. The resolution calls on all Mainers to denounce hate and reaffirm commitment to safety and inclusion for AAPI residents. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws but formally recognizes a day for community reflection and action.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural order (HP 1330), not a substantive bill. It directs the House to recall L.D. 1389 ("An Act to Create the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-school Time Program") from the Governor's desk. The order was sponsored by Representative Cloutier of Lewiston. It does not describe the program's details or policy changes, as that would be in L.D. 1389 itself.

Maddy summaryMaine bill LD 788 requires the Maine Economic Growth Council to track and report on the state's research and development (R&D) spending as a percentage of Maine's economy. The bill mandates annual reports by June and December to legislative committees overseeing economic development and budget matters, detailing progress toward meeting the national average for R&D spending by 2030. The Council must also submit budget recommendations to support this goal, working with the Office of Innovation and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board. This bill directly affects state budget planning and accountability for R&D investment, with no new funding mechanisms created.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Board of Pharmacy to create rules allowing retail pharmacies to operate remote dispensing sites in rural areas where pharmacy access is limited. It mandates that these sites must demonstrate geographic lack of adequate pharmacy services, include specifications for drug handling and remote pharmacist oversight via telehealth, and meet staffing, security, and record-keeping standards. The rules must cover storage, labeling, dispensing, and compliance with federal/state pharmacy laws before any remote site can operate. This directly affects rural communities with pharmacy deserts and retail pharmacies seeking to expand services.

Maddy summaryLD 1842 (Maine Legislative Bill 1842) establishes legal rights for stepparents to seek court-ordered visitation with a child they have cared for. It directly affects stepparents who were married to a child's parent but are not the child's biological or adoptive parent, and who have maintained a "sufficient existing relationship" (like being a primary caregiver for a significant time) before contact was severed. The bill amends Maine law to require courts to first determine if denying visitation would cause substantial harm to the child before granting rights, and mandates mediation efforts before hearings. It adds specific criteria for stepparents to file petitions, including circumstances like a parent's death, divorce, or unreasonable denial of contact causing child harm.

Maddy summaryLD 1690 requires political advertisers in Maine to disclose when campaign materials - like images, audio, or video - have been materially altered using AI or digital tools to create misleading content. It mandates a specific disclosure statement ("THIS COMMUNICATION CONTAINS AUDIO, VIDEO AND/OR IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED OR ALTERED") and exempts bona fide news broadcasts, satire, and materials published by traditional media outlets with clear disclaimers. Violations could trigger civil penalties of up to 500% of the ad's cost, with enforcement handled by Maine's campaign finance commission. The bill specifically targets deceptive synthetic media designed to misrepresent candidates or political parties, not all AI-generated content.

Maddy summaryLD 288 makes technical updates to Maine's property tax laws, primarily affecting municipalities, property taxpayers, and the State Tax Assessor. It clarifies that municipalities may hire part-time, non-certified assessors or contract with firms, while requiring full-time assessors to be certified by the bureau. The bill also updates the definition of "homestead" to include owner-occupied homes and up to 10 acres held in revocable living trusts, and sets April 1 as the deadline for first-time exemption applications. Additionally, it specifies that the State Tax Assessor must send certified mail notices of deferred tax amounts due by April 30 when property no longer qualifies for tax deferral.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million annually from the General Fund to establish and maintain an administrative structure for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education programs within Maine's community colleges. It directly affects the Maine Community College System by requiring them to create a dedicated administrative framework to meet state EMS rules and external accreditation standards. The funding ensures ongoing operational support for EMS education programs, covering costs related to compliance and program management. The bill provides specific annual appropriations for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the funding weight for economically disadvantaged students in Maine's school finance formula from 0.15 to 0.25, effective fiscal year 2026-27. It uses the most recent elementary free or reduced-price meals percentage to calculate the number of disadvantaged students in each school district, applying this metric to both elementary and secondary grades. The change directly affects all Maine school administrative units serving students from low-income households, adjusting their state funding based on this updated calculation. The policy aims to provide more equitable funding by increasing the financial support tied to student need.

Maddy summaryLD 193 amends Maine's school funding formula to provide an additional 0.50 weight per student for each student identified as experiencing homelessness, using the federal definition under the McKinney-Vento Act. School districts will receive extra state funding for every homeless student they serve, as this weight is added to the calculation of their total operating allocation. The change applies to both K-8 and high school funding formulas, increasing resources for schools with higher numbers of homeless students. This directly adjusts how funding is distributed to better support students facing homelessness.