Maddy summaryLD 359 prohibits certain customers from participating in net energy billing (a system where solar/wind energy credits offset electricity bills) unless they have a direct financial stake in the renewable energy system. It requires customers to own, lease, or have a power purchase agreement for the system, effectively ending shared solar programs where multiple customers pool resources without direct ownership. The bill limits shared arrangements to 10 meters for investor-owned utilities and sets size limits (under 5 MW for most systems). It directly affects residential and commercial customers in "shared solar" programs who previously could join without owning the equipment. Existing projects approved before June 2021 are exempt from these new requirements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 28) is a simple naming resolution that directs the Town of Fairfield to rename its firefighter training facility. Currently called the Twin Rivers Fire Academy, the facility will be renamed the Duane Bickford Fire Academy. The resolution does not change any operations or funding but formally honors Duane Bickford, likely a local firefighter or community figure. The change applies only to the facility's official name within the Town of Fairfield.
Maddy summaryLD 644 removes current restrictions that limit work hours and conditions for minor students aged 16-17 in Maine. It repeals specific rules prohibiting minors from working more than 50 hours weekly when school is out, 24 hours when school is in, and set time limits (like not working after 10:15 p.m. the night before school or before 7 a.m. on school days). The bill also eliminates the ban on minors working during school hours and removes employer record-keeping requirements for minor employees' work schedules. As a result, minor students gain greater flexibility in scheduling work around school without these legal constraints.
Maddy summaryLD 833 amends Maine's earned paid leave law to create a new exemption for employers who provide 80 or more hours of paid leave annually. This change directly affects employers in Maine who already offer substantial paid leave, exempting them from the state's earned paid leave requirements. The key mechanism adds a specific exception to the law, removing the obligation for these employers to comply with earned paid leave rules. The bill does not alter employee benefits but adjusts employer obligations under current paid leave regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maine's existing landowner liability protections to specifically include sport shooting ranges. It amends state law to define "sport shooting" as activities like archery, skeet/trap shooting, and rifle/shotgun use, and states that landowners who permit these activities on their property cannot be held liable for participant injuries. The law directly affects landowners who operate or allow access to shooting ranges, as well as participants using those facilities. This change clarifies that current liability protections for recreational activities now explicitly cover sport shooting, reducing legal risks for landowners who host such ranges.
Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 712) requires Maine's Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Advisory Council to develop recommendations by January 1, 2026, about whether hospitals should defer to palliative care physicians and patients when making treatment decisions for patients under palliative care. It directs the council to include these recommendations in its annual report to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee. The bill itself does not change current law but sets a process for future legislative action based on the council's findings. It directly affects hospitals treating patients with palliative care physicians and the advisory council's reporting obligations.
Maddy summaryMaine's LD 1235 requires towns and counties that receive opioid settlement funds (as plaintiff subdivisions under the 2022 and 2023 Memoranda of Understanding) to report annually to the Attorney General. These reports must detail the total funds received and spent in the prior year, including specific descriptions of each expenditure. The first report is due by January 15, 2026, with annual submissions thereafter. The bill aims to increase transparency in how local governments use these settlement funds. It applies only to municipalities and counties identified in the settlement agreements' Exhibit 3.
Maddy summaryLD 603 exempts maple sugarhouses - buildings primarily used to process or store maple sap or syrup - from Maine's Uniform Building and Energy Code requirements. This bill directly affects maple syrup producers and operations across Maine by removing certain building and energy code compliance burdens for these specific facilities. It amends Maine law to add maple sugarhouses explicitly to the list of agricultural buildings already exempt from the code, alongside livestock barns and crop storage. The change clarifies existing exemptions without altering the code's requirements for other buildings.
Maddy summaryLD 1156 allows owners of qualifying military surplus vehicles (at least 25 years old, originally military-made, and sold to civilians) to register them in Maine with special plates. To register, owners must provide proof of government title transfer and confirm the vehicle is garaged in Maine. These vehicles may only be used for parades, exhibitions, educational events, club activities, tours, or transportation to/from these activities - not for general driving. The bill also sets a 10,000-pound weight limit and requires standard inspections, with exemptions possible under specific conditions.
Maddy summaryLD 963 requires the Maine State Housing Authority to create a standard application form for subsidized housing by December 1, 2025. This bill directly affects municipal housing authorities and their contractors who administer subsidized housing programs, mandating they use this uniform form for all applications. The key provision establishes a single, consistent application process statewide, reducing confusion for applicants and streamlining administrative work for housing providers. This change aims to improve efficiency and accessibility in Maine's subsidized housing system without altering eligibility criteria or funding levels.