Sen. Jill Duson

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 802 directs Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to contract with an independent provider to design a mentoring program specifically for youth who have or have had extended care and support agreements (Maine's term for foster care services for youth aged 18-21). The program must include evidence-based mentoring models, mandatory training for mentors/staff/youth, data collection, and direct input from youth with lived experience, including compensation for their participation. The Department must submit a final report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2, 2027, detailing the provider's findings and youth input. This bill does not create new law but mandates a study and program design to support youth transitioning out of foster care.

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 summaryThis bill allocates $350,000 annually from the General Fund to Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation to align state funding with existing legal requirements for statewide emergency broadcast messaging. It directly supports the public safety infrastructure that delivers emergency alerts to residents during crises. The key mechanism is a dedicated, ongoing funding stream to ensure consistent coverage for emergency communications. This policy change updates financial support to match statutory obligations without altering broadcast procedures or public safety protocols.

Maddy summaryLD 1023 reestablishes Maine's Blue Economy Task Force to advance the state's ocean-based economic sectors, which include sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine technology, and coastal development. The task force, requiring at least 13 members representing businesses, research institutions, and waterfront stakeholders, must consult with state agencies, universities, tribes, and industry groups to develop a report by February 2026. The report will identify growth opportunities for blue economy businesses, assess existing economic strategies, recommend workforce training programs, and propose a design for a new Center for a Blue Economy. This initiative directly affects Maine's ocean-related industries, researchers, and state agencies working on coastal economic development.

Maddy summaryLD 1041 requires owners of low-income rental housing (with five or more units subject to rent or income restrictions) to notify tenants, tenant organizations, the Maine State Housing Authority, and local housing authorities before selling, transferring, or taking actions that would end those restrictions. The notice must include the property address and is designed to provide advance warning to affected parties. The bill defines "financial assistance" as government funding tied to making housing affordable and applies to properties receiving federal, state, or local aid requiring affordable rents or income-based eligibility. This law aims to maintain long-term affordability in publicly assisted housing developments by ensuring transparency during ownership changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's Competitive Skills Scholarship Program and establishes the Community Workforce Connections Program. It updates eligibility rules to require applicants to have a "marketable postsecondary degree" (defined as industry-recognized credentials or degrees that enable employment in qualifying labor markets) and to meet income thresholds (under 275% of the federal poverty level or receiving specific state assistance programs). The bill also creates new definitions for "cohort" (group training programs) and clarifies that degrees must not be excluded due to health limitations or lack of licensure recognition. These changes directly affect low-income Mainers seeking workforce training and education credentials. The program will operate under new rules for cohort-based training approved by the commissioner.

Maddy summaryLD 1554 requires all restaurant employees in Maine to complete state-approved sexual harassment prevention training. Restaurants must also document compliance through a required checklist. If a restaurant isn't compliant when its license expires, it gets 45 days to fix the issue. Failure to comply after this period means the state must deny the restaurant's license renewal. This law directly affects restaurants operating under Maine's licensing system and their staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 24-month pilot program to provide free early cancer screenings for Maine firefighters. It requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to offer active and retired municipal and volunteer firefighters (as defined in Maine law) a comprehensive screening package including a multi-cancer blood test, organ ultrasounds, and lung CT scans. Firefighters may opt out of screenings, and those who pay for any part of the screenings after January 1, 2025, can seek reimbursement up to $1,300. A committee will develop the program's implementation plan and report on participation, results, and costs after 12 and 24 months.