Sen. Jeff Timberlake

Maddy summaryLD 1296 amends Maine law to clarify how watercraft franchisors must reimburse franchisees for warranty repairs. It requires franchisors to pay franchisees the full retail price for parts used in repairs (capped at 100% of the labor cost for that repair) or the difference between the franchisee's cost and retail price if the franchisor provides the part. For labor, franchisors must reimburse franchisees at their standard retail rate for non-warranty work, provided the work is reasonable and documented. This directly affects watercraft dealers (franchisees) and manufacturers (franchisors) by setting clear reimbursement standards for warranty service.

Maddy summaryLD 856 would eliminate Maine's individual and corporate income tax through a phased reduction schedule. Starting in 2026, the tax owed would be reduced by 20% each year (80% in 2026, 60% in 2027, 40% in 2028, 20% in 2029), with no income tax imposed beginning January 1, 2030. This applies to all Maine residents and businesses paying income tax under current law. The bill modifies tax brackets and rates for 2017-2029 before fully eliminating the tax.

Maddy summaryLD 508 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Maine's Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General to be elected directly by voters every two years, beginning in 2026. Currently, these offices are chosen by the Legislature through joint ballot. The amendment specifies they would be elected on the same date and in the same manner as state Senators and Representatives. If vacancies occur, deputies would temporarily serve until the next election, with new elections filling permanent vacancies. This change would shift selection from legislative appointment to direct popular vote for these three constitutional officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Maine voters elect three state officials. Starting in 2032, the Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, and Attorney General would be chosen by statewide popular vote every four years - on the same date and in the same manner as voting for state legislators. Currently, these positions are selected by joint vote of the state legislature. If approved by voters, this change would shift direct election authority from lawmakers to Maine residents for these executive roles.

Maddy summaryLD 371 removes a 100-megawatt capacity limit for hydroelectric generators, allowing larger projects to qualify as renewable energy sources. This directly affects hydroelectric developers seeking to build or expand facilities, as they will no longer face the previous size restriction. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to make approval decisions within 6 months of receiving complete applications and mandates public engagement through at least one community meeting. Additionally, it clarifies that approved projects may operate at full nameplate capacity, subject to existing environmental and fish passage requirements. These changes aim to streamline development while maintaining regulatory safeguards.

Maddy summaryLD 1974, "An Act To Affirm Parental Rights," amends Maine law to state that parents are joint natural guardians of their minor children, meaning both parents share equal rights regarding their children's care, custody, control, and services. It also establishes that a parent's right to direct their child's upbringing, education, and care is a fundamental right. The bill clarifies these provisions do not affect court decisions about parental rights or the termination of parental rights. This law directly affects parents of minor children in Maine by codifying these principles in statute.

Maddy summaryLD 1760 amends Maine law to clarify and expand options for elementary students to attend public schools in different school districts. The bill allows students living in areas without nearby public schools to transfer to adjacent districts in Maine or neighboring states if space is available, with the home district covering tuition and transportation costs. It also specifies that students can transfer to other districts for capacity reasons with the receiving district's consent, and ensures students in districts with school contracts (under Section 2701) can attend those schools with home district payment. The bill requires receiving districts to notify home districts of accepted students, aiming to increase access to public education for families in remote or underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows food vendors with a valid health department license (e.g., from Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services) to operate inside restaurants or bars that hold a liquor license. Vendors can sell food and alcohol, but the alcohol must be supplied exclusively by the host establishment (the restaurant or bar), and all alcohol service must follow state responsible beverage training requirements. The host must keep a written schedule of vendor operations, and vendors must comply with health and safety rules while collecting and paying sales taxes on all sales. This directly affects food vendors seeking to partner with liquor-licensed venues and the venues themselves.

Maddy summaryLD 1535 requires a permit for residential buildings to install or upgrade electrical service to 300 amps or more, calculated by summing all electrical panels in the building. Electric utilities must report specific high-power usage events - such as 300+ amp installations, transformer issues, or power consumption increases over 500% - to local code enforcement authorities, including the property size and known reason for the increase. The bill applies to all residential properties in Maine and is titled to reduce illegal cannabis operations by targeting excessive electricity use, which is commonly associated with unauthorized grow operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters to present a photo ID at polling places in Maine. Acceptable IDs include state driver's licenses, non-driver ID cards, passports, military IDs, or concealed carry permits with photos (but not college IDs). Voters without photo ID can request a free special voter ID card from the Secretary of State. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all in-person voting.