Maddy summaryLD 1881 ensures parents of minor children in Maine schools have specific rights regarding their child's education and well-being. It requires schools to provide parents access to all school activity information, health records, instructional materials (including virtual learning content), and health screening forms before they are given to students. Parents may also refuse their child’s participation in non-educational activities or request alternatives, while schools cannot adopt policies that block parental notification about a student’s health or discourage parental involvement in critical decisions. The bill includes an exception allowing schools to withhold information if disclosure would risk child abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryMaine's LD 919 requires public schools, public charter schools, and approved private schools to obtain written parental permission before administering any survey or questionnaire that asks for or identifies a minor student's full name. The bill directly affects schools by restricting how they collect student data and parents by requiring their explicit consent for these specific surveys. Key provisions mandate that schools cannot use such surveys without prior written permission from a parent, covering all student surveys that request full names. This policy change focuses on protecting student privacy for a specific type of data collection in educational settings.
Maddy summaryLD 142 prohibits Maine financial institutions and credit unions from charging more than one insufficient funds fee for a single withdrawal transaction, even if multiple withdrawal attempts occur. This directly affects customers who make transactions using accounts with insufficient funds. The bill requires institutions to limit fees to one per transaction, preventing repeated charges for the same failed withdrawal attempt.
Maddy summaryLD 482 requires Maine public schools to allow students enrolled in state-recognized "equivalent instruction programs" (like homeschooling alternatives) to participate in regular classes, receive academic credit, access special education services, and join extracurricular activities under clear, non-discriminatory rules. Students must apply in writing for approval, meet academic and behavioral standards like all students, and provide their own transportation for class participation. Schools cannot unreasonably deny these opportunities, and credit must be awarded for meeting standard course requirements. This bill directly affects homeschooling families and public school districts across Maine by standardizing access to school resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 907) removes restrictions that previously limited the type of noncommercial vehicle a person with a permanent disability could own to qualify for a zoning variance. It allows such individuals to obtain a variance for a parking/storage structure for any noncommercial vehicle (under 6,000 pounds with a disability plate), regardless of vehicle type. The bill also eliminates prior size limitations, permitting structures up to twice the vehicle's width and length. This change directly affects Maine residents with permanent disabilities who need accessible parking solutions for their personal vehicles.
Maddy summaryLD 206 eliminates the automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Maine's minimum hourly wage, fixing it at $14.65 per hour as of January 1, 2025. This change removes the requirement for the wage to increase each January 1st based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region. The bill directly affects all workers covered by Maine's minimum wage law, including most hourly employees in businesses across the state. It prevents future automatic raises tied to inflation, though the current $14.65 rate remains in effect until further legislative action.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires new public elementary schools built after October 1, 2025, to include dedicated space for preschool instruction or child care. It directs the Department of Education to revise school funding formulas to better support full-day preschool programs, similar to how kindergarten is funded. The bill also mandates two studies: one by the Department of Education on educator credentialing barriers, and another by the Department of Health and Human Services to align early childhood education standards. These studies must be completed by December 2025, with findings potentially leading to future legislation. The bill allocates $2025-2026 funds to create four regional coordinator positions to assist schools expanding preschool access.
Maddy summaryLD 1417 strengthens Maine local officials' authority to address dangerous and nuisance properties threatening public health and safety. It clarifies that properties deemed dangerous include those with structural hazards, fire risks, unsanitary conditions, or abandonment, and specifies that health officers, code enforcement, and building officials can issue repair notices or order removal. Property owners who fail to comply face fines of up to $50 per day for residential properties (under §461) or $300 for private nuisances (under §1561). Municipalities gain clearer legal pathways to file complaints and seek removal of dangerous buildings while recovering costs from owners.
Maddy summaryLD 349 would repeal Maine's current law allowing same-day voter registration and set a new deadline for in-person voter registration to the close of business on the Thursday before election day. This change means voters can no longer register in person on election day or the day before, requiring registration by the Thursday prior instead. The bill directly affects voters who rely on same-day registration for in-person voting, particularly those who may not have registered in advance. It also repeals existing provisions permitting same-day registration and amends related deadlines for mail and online registration, but the key policy change is the earlier in-person registration cutoff.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Maine's Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships for students attending approved private schools or receiving home instruction under state education law. It creates "hope accounts" managed by a state board to cover qualifying education expenses (like tuition or materials) for eligible students who are Maine residents under 21 and not primarily enrolled in public schools. The program requires parents to apply for accounts, with funds renewed annually if students meet residency, age, and educational enrollment criteria. The Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Board, composed of state officials and community members, administers the program per the bill's provisions.