Sen. Mattie Daughtry

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural order that requests the Maine Senate to recall a specific legislative document from the Governor's desk. It directly affects the legislative process by allowing the Senate to reconsider a bill titled "An Act to Increase Child Care Affordability and Early Childhood Educator Stability." The mechanism involves formally directing the return of the bill to the Senate for further action rather than allowing it to proceed to the Governor for signature. This action does not change the content of the original bill but instead alters its current status within the legislative workflow.

Maddy summaryLD 1287 establishes Maine's Housing Stability Fund and Housing Stability Support Program to prevent evictions for low-income renters. The program provides up to $3,000 per household ($300 monthly max) in direct rental assistance to tenants earning under 30% of the area median income (per HUD standards), excluding those using federal housing vouchers. Administered by qualified entities like community action agencies, it requires landlords to be paid directly and limits administrative costs to 10% of funds. The bill appropriates $1.9 million annually from the General Fund to sustain the program, targeting renters facing housing instability.

Maddy summaryLD 1770 increases Maine's property tax fairness credit for residents: $2,000 annually for those under 65 and $2,500 for seniors aged 65+ starting in 2025, replacing previous lower limits. This directly affects Maine households paying property taxes, particularly older residents and working families facing rising costs. The bill also establishes a 13-member task force (with specific representation from legislators, tax experts, low-income advocates, and legal specialists) to develop long-term property tax solutions. The task force must create a data-driven plan within 18 months to address systemic issues like assessment accuracy and equitable relief. This combines immediate credit boosts with a structured process for future reforms.

Maddy summaryLD 117 provides $1.23 million in state funding for sexual assault services during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, increasing to $1.83 million for 2026-2027. The funds are allocated through the Department of Health and Human Services' Purchased Social Services program to directly support local sexual assault service providers. This funding covers essential services like crisis counseling, medical advocacy, and legal support for survivors. The bill does not create new programs but ensures sustained financial support for existing services across Maine.

Maddy summaryLD 143 establishes a dedicated fund within Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to maintain statewide access to family planning services. The bill allocates $6.18 million annually from the General Fund to be distributed as a single grant to a qualified provider selected through a competitive request for proposals. This provider will manage and oversee the delivery of family planning services across the state, including coordination with subrecipients. The fund is designed to ensure ongoing, non-lapsing funding for these services without replacing existing funding sources.

Maddy summaryLD 698 provides annual funding of $5 million from the General Fund to support emergency homeless shelters across Maine for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This bill directly affects emergency homeless shelters by guaranteeing stable, ongoing financial support to maintain operations. The key mechanism is a dedicated state appropriation that ensures shelters receive consistent funding without requiring annual legislative approval.

Maddy summaryLD 366 amends Maine's tax code to explicitly include retirement benefits from the Space Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Public Health Service under the definition of "military retirement plan." This change ensures that retired members of these uniformed services can claim the same income tax deduction for their pension benefits as those from traditional military branches like the Army or Navy. The bill affects Maine residents who are retired members of these services and receive qualifying retirement benefits reported as pension income for federal tax purposes. It does not alter the deduction amount but makes the eligibility consistent across all qualifying retirement plans under Maine's income tax laws.

Maddy summaryLD 396 requires all Maine public high schools to start the school day no earlier than 8:30 a.m. beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. This applies to every school administrative unit in the state, meaning all public high schools must adjust their schedules to meet this standard. The key provision sets a mandatory minimum start time, prohibiting secondary schools from beginning classes before 8:30 a.m. The requirement takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, giving districts time to implement the change.

Maddy summaryLD 146 increases Maine's Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit limit for the first two years of claiming the credit (starting in tax years beginning January 1, 2025). Currently, taxpayers could claim up to $5 million per year for certified historic property rehabilitation projects, but this bill changes the limit to a combined $10 million total across the first two years. The credit for the second year is reduced by the amount claimed in the first year, ensuring the total does not exceed $10 million. This change directly affects property owners and developers rehabilitating certified historic properties in Maine, while maintaining a $5 million annual limit for all subsequent years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance administrators and pharmacy benefits managers to give plan sponsors (like employers or unions that manage health coverage) full ownership of claims data from their contracts. It mandates that administrators provide specific data - including itemized bills, medical records for high-cost claims over $50,000, and payment details - within 20 business days of a request. Plan sponsors gain the right to conduct annual post-payment audits of claims without facing excessive fees or restrictions on audit scope, timing, or auditor choice. The law applies to all new or renewed contracts after January 1, 2026, ensuring transparency in how insurers process and pay claims.