Rep. Cheryl Golek

Maddy summaryLD 1910 requires Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services to contract with community-based nonprofits to hire 9 outreach caseworkers and 9 housing stability workers. These staff will directly assist unhoused individuals - particularly those cycling through shelters, jails, hospitals, or warming centers - to secure permanent housing and access ongoing support services. The bill mandates specific caseload limits (25 intensive cases plus 35 standard cases per worker) and geographic distribution based on where homelessness is most concentrated. It allocates $1.7 million annually for two years ($800,000 for caseworkers, $900,000 for stability workers) to fund these contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding by $660,000 for Maine's Bridging Rental Assistance Program to address higher costs from a 2021 policy change that required the program to cover more of participants' rent. The program provides housing vouchers to individuals living with mental health challenges who are on a waiting list for rental assistance. The additional funding aims to reduce the current partial waiting list and expand the number of available housing vouchers. The funding applies to the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.

Maddy summaryLD 1419 increases the sales tax exemption for new manufactured housing (off-site construction) from 50% to 75% of the sale price, excluding materials. This aligns the tax treatment for off-site manufactured housing with on-site construction, which already received a 75% exemption. The change applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2026, directly reducing sales tax costs for buyers and manufacturers of manufactured housing.

Maddy summaryLD 1353 modifies Maine's rules for issuing commercial menhaden fishing licenses for 2026. It requires applicants to have reported legal landings of at least 20,000 pounds of menhaden in one of the years 2019-2022, and to have held a menhaden fishing license in at least two of those same years. The bill also mandates that applicants submit documentation proving compliance by January 1, 2026. This directly affects commercial fishers seeking to operate in Maine's menhaden fishery in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires buyers of manufactured housing communities to pay a $10,000 fee for each lot in the community when transferring ownership, with exemptions for state housing authorities, municipal housing authorities, cooperatives of home owners, and entities with a net worth under $50 million. The legislation also mandates that applicants for licenses to operate these communities provide specific information about the number of sites and submit proof of their ability to meet minimum standards. Additionally, entities claiming the net worth exemption must submit sworn financial documentation to the Maine State Housing Authority, which will review and determine eligibility within 45 days. The law is designated as an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately rather than waiting the standard 90-day period after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that removes the emergency preamble and emergency clause from a related act concerning storm-damaged commercial fisheries facilities. It does not change the substantive policy of the original legislation, which would have provided funding for rebuilding fishing infrastructure after storms. The amendment ensures the bill follows standard legislative procedures without the expedited timeline associated with emergency measures.

Maddy summaryLD 1806 requires corporations that own or manage residential rental properties in Maine to disclose this activity in their annual reports filed with the Secretary of State. The bill amends existing corporate reporting laws to add a specific question about whether a corporation provides residential rental units, making this information part of the public record. This change applies to all corporations operating as landlords in Maine, including large property management companies. The requirement does not create a new separate database but integrates the disclosure into standard corporate filings.

Maddy summaryLD 1682 (2025) amends Maine's income tax code to create new higher tax brackets and rates for tax years beginning in 2025. It directly affects high-income earners: single filers with income over $300,000, heads of household over $450,000, and married couples filing jointly over $600,000. The bill increases the top tax rate from 7.15% to 10.15% for these income levels, while raising the income thresholds where higher rates apply compared to current brackets. The changes apply to all three filing statuses (single, head of household, married joint returns) and are effective starting January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 30% income tax credit (capped at $300,000 annually) for small waterfront businesses in Maine that make qualifying disaster mitigation improvements to their property. It directly affects businesses meeting the gross receipts test ($47 million average annual revenue over 3 years) that operate on "working waterfront property" (e.g., commercial fishing, boating, or aquaculture operations with water access). Qualifying projects include structural elevation, stormwater management systems, erosion control, flood-resistant construction, and hazard warning systems designed to meet specific building codes. The credit applies to costs of projects completed after January 1, 2025, and cannot be combined with other similar tax credits. Unused credit amounts may be carried forward for up to 10 years.

Maddy summaryLD 1228 clarifies key terms in Maine's existing automotive right-to-repair laws to ensure clear access to vehicle data. It defines terms like "diagnostic and repair information," "independent repair facility," and "telematics system" to specify what data owners and repair shops can access. The bill requires standardized, manufacturer-unauthorized access to vehicle diagnostic systems for owners and independent repair facilities. This directly affects vehicle owners seeking repairs, independent mechanics, and manufacturers who must provide clear data access without requiring model-specific authorization.