Sen. Rick Bennett

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the use of "concept drafts" for most legislative proposals in the Maine Legislature. It requires legislators to submit complete bill requests with all necessary details upfront, rather than starting with a basic outline. If information is incomplete, the Revisor of Statutes must notify the legislator, who then has 5 business days to provide the missing details or risk denial. The exception allows concept drafts only for budget bills (per Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, Chapter 149) and proposals for uniform model acts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a procedural rule governing legislative memorials in the Maine Legislature. It requires that memorials submitted after the cloture vote (a procedural step ending debate) must now follow the requirements of Joint Rule 205, rather than being automatically in order under Rule 214. This change directly affects legislators and staff who submit memorial resolutions, as it adds a procedural step for memorials introduced later in the legislative process. The bill does not alter the substance of memorials but changes the timing and approval process for their introduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's joint legislative rules to lower the vote threshold for requesting a U.S. Constitutional Convention under Article V from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority (more than half) of members present in each chamber. It directly affects the Maine Legislature's process for voting on such requests. The change simplifies the procedure, making it easier for lawmakers to approve a call for a constitutional convention without needing supermajority support.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's Joint Rule 308 to allow the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to refer bills to committees at any time, including when the Legislature is not in session. It clarifies the process for resolving disagreements between the Secretary and Clerk - escalating to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and then the Legislative Council if needed. The rule also permits committees to recommend changing a reference before a public hearing if committee chairs and leads disagree on the assignment. This change streamlines the initial committee assignment process, affecting how bills are organized for review by the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Maine to cover biomarker testing, a type of medical test used to identify specific health conditions. The law applies to plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, and includes funding of $170,000 to help cover the costs of this new requirement. It removes certain exceptions for specific diseases and dental procedures while extending coverage rules to nonprofit hospital organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new office called the Office of Tribal-State Affairs to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State. The office would be led by a Deputy Secretary of State appointed after consulting with tribal chiefs and would work neutrally to improve relationships between the state and federally recognized Indian tribes. Its main duties include monitoring laws that affect specific tribes, helping tribes participate in the legislative process, and coordinating with other state agencies and courts to foster better communication. The office would also create training programs for legislators, judges, and state employees to help them understand tribal-state relations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-member advisory council to oversee a technical review and revision of Maine's Criminal Code and other criminal statutes. The council, which includes a prosecuting attorney, a defense attorney, a legal educator, a retired judge, and the Attorney General as chair, will hire an outside consultant to identify obsolete provisions, clarify confusing language, and reorganize the laws. Various state departments can submit recommendations to the council, which must reach a consensus on all decisions before making suggestions to the Legislature. The council is required to submit its final report and any proposed legislation by February 1, 2026, and the bill provides specific funding to cover the council's public member expenses and consulting services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of New Americans within the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to help immigrants integrate into Maine's economy and communities. The office will be led by a director who will hire staff, manage a budget, and report on progress while working with an advisory council of 19 members, including at least 10 immigrants. Key activities include collecting data, coordinating with government agencies, and promoting programs such as English language learning, professional licensure support, and legal services access. The office will also advise state leaders on policies that affect immigrants and provide biennial reports starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Maine Resident Service Coordination Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development to assist new residents with state services. It requires the department to submit a progress report by January 1, 2024, which may lead to further legislation based on its findings. The bill also authorizes funding for two staff positions and related costs to support the program's operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the State Controller to transfer $20 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support the Land for Maine's Future program. The funds will be used to acquire land and interests in land for conservation, water access, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, and working farmland preservation. The legislation mandates that at least 5% of the money supports public water access, 10% protects farmland, and 10% preserves working waterfront properties, while requiring matching funds for most expenditures. Additionally, the bill sets spending limits of $10 million for the first year and $10 million for each of the following three years.