Sen. Jeff Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine political parties to choose their own method for selecting nominees in primary elections, instead of being required to use ranked-choice voting. Parties can decide at their state convention (held between March 1 and August 1 during general election years) whether to use ranked-choice voting or an alternate method, and must include this choice in their party rules. If a party selects an alternate method, it must notify the Secretary of State by October 1st of the year before the primary election. The bill applies to all parties holding primary elections for the general election, changing the default process without mandating a specific voting system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Secretary of State to set, by January 31st each year, the start date for absentee ballot voting in state and federal elections. The start date must be at least 30 days before the election, and absentee ballots must be accepted until 8 p.m. on election day. All cities and towns in Maine must follow these standardized dates when issuing and accepting absentee ballots. The bill does not apply to military or overseas voters, who have separate absentee voting procedures under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits eligibility under Maine's Clean Election Act by restricting candidates to participating only once as a certified candidate for either legislative chamber within a 15-year period. It amends the law to prohibit individuals who have previously participated as a certified candidate from reapplying for Clean Election Act funding within 15 years for the same chamber (House or Senate). The change directly affects state legislative candidates seeking public financing through the Clean Election Act, preventing multiple cycles of participation. The key mechanism is a new requirement in Section 3 of the law that explicitly bars candidates from reapplying if they've participated in the program within the previous 15 years.

Maddy summaryThis resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Maine's Governor to wait 90 days after the Legislature adjourns without setting a return date before convening a special session. Currently, the Constitution allows the Governor to call the Legislature at any time on extraordinary occasions, but this amendment would add a specific 90-day waiting period for adjournments without a specified return date. The amendment must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum held in November of the year following the resolution's passage to take effect. If approved, it would change how the Governor and Legislature interact during special session calls.

Maddy summaryLD 1683 amends Maine's Freedom of Access Act to eliminate fees for public record requests when accompanied by a petition signed by at least 150 registered Maine voters making the same request. This directly affects individuals or groups seeking public records who can gather sufficient voter signatures. The bill requires agencies to provide status updates every 30 working days (instead of relying on a nonbinding agency estimate), and prohibits charging any fees for such requests. These changes aim to reduce barriers to accessing government records by removing cost obstacles for community-driven requests.

Maddy summaryLD 1314 prohibits creditors in Maine from denying, refusing to extend, or canceling credit (including credit cards) solely because a person is an owner, operator, employee of a legal cannabis business, or a registered caregiver under Maine's medical cannabis law. The bill directly affects workers and caregivers in Maine's legal cannabis industry by preventing credit discrimination based on their employment. Key provisions include banning creditors from using cannabis-related employment information in credit decisions without consent and allowing affected individuals to file complaints or sue for violations. This law applies only when federal law doesn't prohibit such credit decisions, as cannabis remains federally illegal.

Maddy summaryLD 1441 establishes a 10-member commission to study recreational access in Maine, focusing on public and private lands in the unorganized territory (areas not part of incorporated towns) and key outdoor recreation destinations. The commission - appointed from landowners, recreation businesses, conservation groups, and state agencies - will gather input from stakeholders to assess current access challenges and explore financial incentives for landowners to allow public access. It must submit a report with recommendations by December 3, 2025, to the Agriculture Committee, which may then propose legislation based on the findings. This resolution does not change existing laws but sets up a study to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryLD 1204 removes the disqualification for a conviction of "aggravated cultivating of marijuana" (under Maine law, Title 17-A, section 1105-D) from the list of criminal offenses that bar employment as a direct access worker. Direct access workers provide in-home personal care services, such as assistance with daily living activities, through personal care agencies. This amendment specifically allows individuals with this specific marijuana-related conviction to seek employment in the personal care sector without automatic disqualification.

Maddy summaryLD 1207 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program monitoring air and water temperatures around commercial solar energy projects. It specifically applies to large-scale solar developments (3+ acres with ground-mounted panels generating electricity for sale or use by others). The DEP must create rules for this monitoring, including sharing data with solar operators, other state agencies, and the public. This program aims to track potential environmental impacts of these solar installations.

Maddy summaryLD 895 establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program, providing immersive outdoor education for grades 4-8 in publicly funded schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The program, administered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, provides grants to outdoor education providers to partner with schools, prioritizing historically underserved communities including rural schools, students of color, English language learners, and those qualifying for free/reduced lunch. It requires curricula focused on Maine's natural resources, science, sustainability, and hands-on learning in outdoor settings, with grants ensuring annual participation for the same grade level. The bill directly affects Maine public school students in grades 4-8 and outdoor education providers partnering with school districts.