Sen. Rick Bennett

Maddy summaryLD 1160 prohibits entities that have provided material aid or support to a foreign terrorist organization (as designated by the U.S. government under immigration law) from owning 6% or more of, or controlling, a public utility or its parent company in Maine. The Public Utilities Commission must investigate and determine if an entity provided such aid before taking action, and if a violation occurs, must order the utility to divest. This law directly affects public utility companies and their owners by blocking ties to terrorism-linked entities. It applies to all critical utility services relied upon by Maine residents, aiming to prevent security risks in essential infrastructure.

Maddy summaryLD 171 requires Maine's Commissioner of Environmental Protection and Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to jointly review current watercraft inspection protocols and surface use restrictions on inland waters infested with invasive aquatic plants. They must evaluate how these protocols could be strengthened and assess how restrictions are communicated to the public. The review must be completed by January 1, 2026, with a report including recommendations for potential legislative changes. This bill focuses on improving existing processes for preventing invasive plant spread, rather than implementing new restrictions immediately.

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.

Maddy summaryMaine's SP 10 is a joint resolution applying to Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to call two separate conventions. It seeks to establish term limits for U.S. Congress members (House and Senate) and staggered 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices. The resolution does not create new laws but joins other states' applications to reach the required two-thirds of states (34) to compel Congress to convene these specific conventions. It emphasizes that Maine's application is procedural and does not commit the state to supporting any proposed amendments. This is a formal step toward potentially proposing constitutional amendments, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryLD 944 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Maine's House of Representatives to consist of an odd number of members (between 151 and 155). If approved by voters, this change would prevent tie votes in the legislature by ensuring the total number of representatives is always odd. The amendment also includes redistricting rules to create compact, contiguous districts with as equal population as possible, while minimizing splits of municipal boundaries. Voters would decide on this amendment in a statewide referendum during the November 2025 election.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the state's reimbursement rate to municipalities for property tax revenue lost when homeowners qualify for Maine's homestead exemption (which reduces their tax burden). Currently, municipalities receive 76% of lost revenue; the bill raises this rate by 3 percentage points annually starting in 2026. The annual increases continue until reimbursement reaches 100% of lost revenue - projected to take 8 years. This directly affects all Maine municipalities that collect property taxes and provide the homestead exemption to qualifying residents.

Maddy summaryLD 1798 increases state revenue sharing for Maine municipalities that cap annual property tax increases for qualifying seniors. Municipalities adopting programs limiting property tax hikes to 2% annually for residents aged 65+ who qualify for the homestead exemption receive an additional 20% of their base revenue share. The bill requires municipalities to implement such programs to qualify for the extra funds, directly affecting local budgets and senior homeowners. This policy change aims to support senior residents by controlling their tax burden while providing targeted financial support to participating towns.

Maddy summaryLD 1546 requires that recommendations from Maine study commissions (groups established by law to study issues and advise the Legislature) be written as formal bills or resolutions, not just included in reports. These recommendations must then be submitted to the Legislature, referred to a joint standing or select committee, and given a public hearing. The bill directly affects study commissions created by the Legislature or Legislative Council, changing how their proposed solutions are processed. This ensures recommendations follow the same legislative path as other proposed laws, increasing transparency and requiring committee review.

Maddy summaryLD 1317 amends Maine's Commercial and Institutional Net Energy Billing Program by establishing a new rate structure for energy credits starting in 2026. It requires the Public Utilities Commission to set annual tariff rates between 12¢ per kilowatt-hour and the lower of previous years' rates, with the rate fixed at exactly 12¢ per kWh beginning January 1, 2028. This directly affects commercial and institutional customers participating in the net energy billing program, which allows them to receive credits for excess energy sent to the grid. The bill replaces prior rate formulas with this phased approach to stabilize and reduce credit values over time. These changes aim to balance cost-effectiveness for ratepayers while maintaining program participation.

Maddy summaryLD 1732 allows Maine municipalities to waive the annual excise tax on antique automobiles when the registered owner is 65 years of age or older. The bill amends Maine's excise tax law (36 MRSA §1482) to add a provision permitting local governments to exempt qualifying antique vehicles from this tax. It directly affects seniors 65+ who own antique cars registered in their name, as defined under Maine law (Title 29-A, §101, sub-§3). Municipalities may choose to implement this waiver but are not required to do so. The policy change simplifies tax obligations for eligible senior owners of historic vehicles without altering the tax rate for other vehicle types.