Sen. Jeff Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a dedicated fund to support the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory. It directs the State Liquor and Lottery Commission to create a $4 instant lottery game, with 50% of its net proceeds going to the fund starting by January 2026. The fund must be used exclusively for the lab's operations - including supplies, equipment, salaries, and educational materials - and cannot be diverted to other purposes. The Commission must report to the legislature by December 2028 on the lottery's revenue distribution to the fund and the General Fund. The bill directly affects the Tick Laboratory's funding stability and operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Maine state institutions (like schools, hospitals, prisons, and universities) to increase purchases of Maine-grown food and food products. It sets a specific goal: by 2030, at least 30% of all food procured by these institutions must be from Maine sources. To achieve this, the bill creates a state-wide "Maine Foods Procurement Program" with a dedicated coordinator to manage contracts, coordinate dietary needs, and allow institutions to buy off-contract if it saves 20% or more. The law also mandates annual meetings and an advisory committee to track progress toward the 30% target.

Maddy summaryLD 366 amends Maine's tax code to explicitly include retirement benefits from the Space Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Public Health Service under the definition of "military retirement plan." This change ensures that retired members of these uniformed services can claim the same income tax deduction for their pension benefits as those from traditional military branches like the Army or Navy. The bill affects Maine residents who are retired members of these services and receive qualifying retirement benefits reported as pension income for federal tax purposes. It does not alter the deduction amount but makes the eligibility consistent across all qualifying retirement plans under Maine's income tax laws.

Maddy summaryLD 1201 exempts certain pesticides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under federal law from Maine's pesticide regulations. It specifically applies to EPA-registered pesticides used for aerial or land application by licensed pesticide applicators in Maine, including agricultural basic, private, or commercial applicators. The bill removes state regulatory requirements for these specific pesticides, aligning Maine's rules with federal approval under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This directly affects Maine farmers and agricultural businesses using these exempt pesticides. The policy change streamlines regulatory compliance for approved agricultural pesticides without altering federal standards.

Maddy summaryLD 857 requires Maine's Bureau of General Services to publicly post all procurement documents online, including competitive bidding records, waiver notices, and supporting materials. It mandates that these records cannot be deleted or destroyed except as legally required. The bill also directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to recover and publish past waiver notices and related documents that were previously unavailable. This applies directly to state agencies managing procurement and makes government purchasing processes more accessible to the public.

Maddy summaryLD 1960 exempts electronic smoking devices and tobacco products containing hemp or cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp from Maine's tobacco tax. This change affects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers of these specific products by removing the tobacco tax that would otherwise apply. The exemption specifically covers hemp-derived CBD products, not cannabis-containing items, which remain subject to separate tax rules. The bill amends Maine's tobacco tax law to clarify this exclusion.

Maddy summaryLD 1135 allows Maine law enforcement to use oral fluid testing, alongside blood, breath, and urine tests, to determine intoxication for drivers, aircraft operators, and hunters. It requires that personnel administering oral fluid tests be certified by the Department of Health and Human Services and that approved equipment is used. Test results from oral fluid testing are admissible in court as evidence, with defendants able to challenge the test's validity by providing written notice within 10 days. This bill updates existing chemical testing procedures without changing the core requirements for intoxication determination.

Maddy summaryLD 1702 amends Maine election law to restrict candidate activities near polling places on election day. It prohibits candidates and one representative per candidate from asking voters to sign campaign petitions or request campaign donations within 250 feet of a polling place entrance or inside the polling location. The bill also clarifies that existing rules preventing voter influence apply to all candidates on the ballot - including write-in candidates - regardless of whether their name appears on the ballot. These changes directly affect candidates and their representatives by limiting campaign solicitation in close proximity to voting sites.

Maddy summaryLD 138 exempts airports from specific Maine state protections for endangered and threatened species habitats. The bill removes requirements for the state commissioner to identify special management needs or develop protection guidelines for habitats on airport property, and it excludes airport projects from restrictions on habitat alteration or violation of protection guidelines. This directly affects airports (defined as facilities under Title 6, section 101) by allowing them to develop or manage their land without these species habitat considerations. The policy change modifies three existing laws to explicitly exclude airport properties from the application of these habitat protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine public schools to use the name and gender listed on a student's birth certificate for identification purposes at enrollment. It directly affects minor students and their families, mandating that school staff refer to students using this birth certificate information unless parents provide written permission for changes or submit legal documentation of a name or gender change. The policy applies to all public and charter schools, with exceptions only for documented legal changes or explicit parental consent. Schools must follow this rule unless parents specifically request otherwise in writing. The law aims to standardize student identification using official birth records.