Sen. Mattie Daughtry

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Safe Cosmetics Act to clarify the definition of a "cosmetic product" by explicitly excluding food and drugs regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The change ensures that items already overseen by federal agencies are not subject to the state's cosmetic product regulations. Sponsored by Representative Gramlich, the amendment also corrects a previous version of the bill that had incorrectly included prescription drugs in the exclusion list.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to provide $250,000 in state funding for grants to school districts in Maine. The money is intended to help schools pay for contracted social work and family therapy services for students. These grants will be distributed based on the population size of each school district. The legislation does not change the types of services available but adds financial support to help schools access them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state's Bureau of Human Resources to submit an annual report on executive branch job vacancies, detailing rates and locations to legislative committees. It also establishes a task force composed of union representatives and governor appointees to review how the state authorizes pay adjustments for hiring and retaining employees. By December 2024, this group must complete its work and submit recommendations, while the bureau must also develop and report a plan to improve the overall hiring process by February 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal process called a Crisis Intervention Order to restrict access to dangerous weapons for individuals involved in domestic violence situations. It allows family members, law enforcement agencies, or officers to petition a court for an order that specifically bans the respondent from possessing, controlling, or purchasing firearms and other dangerous weapons. The legislation establishes that violating such an order is a criminal offense and sets specific rules for bail and sentencing related to these violations. Additionally, it formally defines key terms like "dangerous weapon" and "family or household member" to ensure clarity in how these orders are applied.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Maine to issue up to $50,000,000 in bonds to fund the Maine Community College System. The collected funds are designated for general repairs, deferred maintenance, modernization of campus buildings, and updates to educational equipment across all seven college campuses. The legislation requires approval from the state's legal voters through a referendum before the bond issue can proceed. If approved, the state Treasurer will manage the sale of the bonds and ensure the proceeds are used solely for the specified construction and equipment projects. Any unspent funds after ten years must be returned to the state Treasurer to pay off other state debts.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Maine to issue up to $100,000,000 in bonds to fund the construction of new affordable housing and the renovation of existing buildings for low-income households. The funds would be managed by the Maine State Housing Authority and must be repaid through state taxes over a period of no more than 10 years. Before the bill becomes law, it must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum held in November. If voters reject the measure or if the bonds are not issued within five years, the authorization expires unless the legislature extends the deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Maine Employee Ownership Center to help businesses transition to employee-owned or cooperative models, offering technical assistance, educational programs, and access to financing. It also establishes a state tax deduction of up to $750,000 for individuals who sell more than half their ownership in a private business that converts into a housing cooperative. These changes are designed to encourage job retention and the development of affordable housing by supporting worker-owned enterprises. The Office of Business Development is tasked with managing these initiatives and collecting data to measure their economic impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year pilot program for the 2024-2025 school year requiring schools serving students in grades 6 through 12 to provide menstrual products like tampons and pads at no cost. To help cover these expenses, the Department of Education will reimburse school districts for 90% of the costs incurred to purchase the products and will also fund coinless dispensers installed in school bathrooms until the allocated money runs out. The Department of Education is required to submit a report by January 15, 2026, detailing the number of schools that received reimbursement, the total amount spent, and recommendations for making this access permanent. The program is funded through a one-time appropriation of $300,000 from the General Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to eliminate the mandatory waiting period before individuals can receive unemployment insurance benefits in Maine. The primary change removes the requirement for claimants to wait a specific number of days after filing before their benefits begin. While the bill itself is a procedural amendment that adds a fiscal note to the legislation, the underlying policy would directly affect unemployed workers by allowing them to access funds sooner.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide funding for family planning services and comprehensive family life education across Maine. It establishes a dedicated fund that will receive an initial one-time allocation of $3.8 million and future transfers of unused state funds to support these programs. The legislation requires the department to award grants to a single provider responsible for managing and overseeing the delivery of these services, while prohibiting the use of fee-for-service payment models.