Sen. Trey Stewart

Maddy summaryLD 1154 requires healthcare providers to inform women seeking an abortion for a fetus diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly (a condition likely to cause the baby's death within three months after birth) about perinatal hospice services as part of the informed consent process. Providers must discuss these services in person at least 24 hours before the procedure and provide a written list of available perinatal hospice providers, which the state will maintain. If the woman declines hospice services and chooses to proceed with the abortion, she must sign a written certification confirming her decision. This requirement does not apply in cases of medical emergencies or for abortions related to ectopic pregnancy or spontaneous miscarriage.

Maddy summaryLD 1283 modifies Maine's retirement savings program to require employers to automatically enroll eligible employees in a payroll deduction IRA (retirement account), allowing them to opt out at any time. Employees would start contributing 5% of their salary by default but can adjust this rate or withdraw entirely. Employers face annual penalties of up to $100 per unenrolled employee if they fail to enroll workers without reasonable cause, after three reminders. The bill applies to all Maine employers covered under the retirement savings program and mandates annual account updates for participants.

Maddy summaryLD 1823 requires Maine's Attorney General, District Court clerks, Superior Court clerks, and the Unified Criminal Docket clerk to post final decisions from criminal cases on publicly accessible websites within 60 days of a case's resolution. This applies to all criminal cases decided across the state, making court outcomes more readily available to the public. The law mandates that these entities publish the final rulings - such as verdicts, sentences, or dismissals - online without requiring individuals to visit physical court locations. The requirement takes effect on January 1, 2026, aiming to increase public access to criminal justice outcomes.

Maddy summaryMaine's LD 1257 requires food sellers to label any animal-based food product (from aquaculture, livestock, or poultry) that contains genetically engineered ingredients with a clear, visible statement. This directly affects food producers and retailers selling such products within Maine. The law mandates that labels must explicitly state "genetically engineered" and be prominently displayed, with non-compliant products subject to stop orders until properly labeled. Enforcement falls to the Department of Agriculture, which will adopt implementing rules. The bill focuses solely on labeling transparency without altering other food safety or agricultural regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 312 repeals a requirement that school buses travel at 45 miles per hour when transporting students, allowing them to follow posted speed limits on roads where the limit exceeds 45 mph. The bill amends Maine’s vehicle code (29-A MRSA §2074) to remove this specific restriction, meaning school buses will now operate under the same speed limits as other vehicles on public roads. This change affects all school bus drivers and transportation operations across Maine, aligning school bus speeds with general traffic rules rather than a fixed cap. The existing 25 mph limit in business or residential districts remains unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the contingency reserve limit for Maine's consumer-owned electric utilities from 25% to 50% of yearly revenues above operating costs (excluding purchased power costs). It removes the previous exclusion of purchased power supply costs from the calculation, allowing utilities to retain more funds for capital projects like grid upgrades. The change affects all consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities operating in Maine under Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A, Section 3503. Any surplus beyond the 50% limit must offset future rate requirements, and interest earned on the reserve must be reinvested.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 568) limits standard-offer electricity service contracts in Maine to a maximum of six months. It requires the Public Utilities Commission to continue the current contract if no new bids are accepted at expiration, ensuring service stability. Additionally, if the current provider submits a bid for a new contract with a higher electricity rate, they must provide justification for the increase. These changes directly affect electricity service providers and the Public Utilities Commission in managing contract renewals and rate adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's Equal Pay Law to explicitly permit pay differentials based on an employee's work site location (particularly benefiting rural areas) and their experience or credentials. It directly affects Maine employers, allowing them to adjust wages for comparable work without violating equal pay protections when these specific factors apply. The key change adds geographic location and experience/credentials as legitimate reasons for pay differences under the law, while maintaining the core prohibition against sex or race-based discrimination. This adjustment aims to help rural employers compete for workers by acknowledging location-based cost differences and skill variations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maine's licensing and certification rules for athletic trainers. It clarifies definitions for student athletic trainers in accredited programs, increases the allowed time for out-of-state athletic trainers working with visiting teams from 4 to 14 days per event (up to 30 days yearly), and eliminates temporary licensing requirements. These changes directly affect athletic trainers seeking licensure, students in training programs, and out-of-state athletic trainers providing services during competitions. The updates align Maine's laws with current national standards and streamline the certification process.

Maddy summaryLD 1707 requires all individuals to be U.S. citizens to receive most state or local financial assistance in Maine, including municipal aid programs. The bill exempts general purpose school funding distributed under Title 20-A, Chapter 606-B. It also makes municipalities ineligible for state funding (like revenue sharing or general assistance) if they prohibit local officials from sharing immigration status information with federal authorities, aligning with federal immigration law (specifically the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform Act). This policy directly affects non-citizen residents seeking financial aid and requires municipal compliance with federal immigration information-sharing requirements.