Sen. Anne Carney

Maddy summaryLD 1821 requires licensed firearm dealers in Maine to implement specific security measures by July 1, 2026, including certified alarm systems, reinforced doors/windows, and 2-year video recording of all sales areas. It mandates background checks for all employees handling firearms and requires dealers to provide annual training developed by the Department of Public Safety on recognizing straw purchases, illegal activity, theft prevention, and gun safety education. The training must cover federal/state firearm laws, identifying suspicious transactions, and safe storage practices. This bill directly affects all licensed firearm dealers operating in Maine, aiming to reduce illegal sales and theft through standardized security and employee protocols.

Maddy summaryLD 1507 requires owners and operators of oil terminal facilities in Maine to create and implement community notification plans. These plans must allow the public to sign up for electronic text message alerts (via SMS or similar technology) about oil transfers occurring at or near their facility. The alerts must include details like the transfer time, oil type, vessel name, and potential hazards, and must be sent once daily for upcoming transfers. Existing terminals must submit their plans for review by the Department of Environmental Protection and their local municipality by January 1, 2026, and implement them by July 1, 2026, with annual updates required thereafter.

Maddy summaryThis Maine bill reinstates a recently expired law that requires the state's public defense commission to pay private attorneys appointed by courts to represent people who cannot afford legal representation. The measure directly affects indigent defendants and civil parties in District, Superior, and Supreme Judicial Court cases where no standard public defender or contract counsel is available. Under the new provisions, a court may appoint a qualified private attorney with at least three years of relevant experience, provided the attorney agrees to take the case and meets specific eligibility criteria. The commission must compensate these appointed attorneys at rates equivalent to those paid to assigned counsel, while its supervisory role is limited to handling complaints from the clients they represent. This requirement is set to expire on February 1, 2028, serving as a two-year extension of the previous mandate.

Maddy summaryMaine LD 2195 would amend state law to prevent courts from appointing a private attorney to represent an indigent defendant unless the attorney first agrees to take the case. The bill requires that any such appointment also be approved by the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, which must determine the attorney is eligible for the assignment. This change directly affects private attorneys who are not public defenders or contract counsel, as well as the courts and the commission involved in managing legal representation for those who cannot afford a lawyer.

Maddy summaryLD 1766 establishes a statewide Probate Court with full-time judges, ending the current system where part-time probate judges may practice law. The bill amends Maine law to incorporate probate courts under the Supreme Judicial Court's oversight and include probate judges in the judicial responsibility committee. It also triggers the repeal of a 1967 constitutional provision requiring a new Probate Court system with full-time judges, which was approved by Maine voters. This structural change aims to eliminate ethical conflicts by making probate judges full-time judicial officers.

Maddy summaryLD 1949, "An Act Regarding Energy Fairness," protects vulnerable Maine residents from utility disconnections by prohibiting disconnections for nonpayment if a customer is elderly, disabled, has a newborn in the household, or is enrolled in or applying for utility assistance programs. It requires utilities to provide clear written notice of unpaid bills, allow customers to set up payment plans, have informal hearings, and appeal disconnection decisions to the commission. The bill also mandates monthly notices for customers with outstanding bills during protected periods, including how to apply for financial assistance, and prevents low-income customers from being charged higher electricity rates without a commission waiver. These changes directly affect residential utility customers in Maine, particularly those facing financial hardship or health challenges.

Maddy summaryLD 1965 creates a task force to develop a court navigation program plan for unrepresented court users in Maine. The task force, including representatives from legal aid, mental health organizations, universities, and state agencies, must design a program providing court process guidance and connecting people to community resources for mental health, housing, jobs, and other needs. The task force must submit its plan - including a recommended model and suggested legislation - to the Judiciary Committee by December 3, 2025. This resolution does not implement the program but establishes a planning process to address barriers faced by people navigating Maine's court system without legal representation.

Maddy summaryThis Maine bill (LD 2142) establishes clear guidelines for courts when awarding spousal support in divorce cases. It defines key terms like "length of marriage" (from wedding to divorce filing) and "spousal support income" (adjusted gross income minus child support amounts), and creates three support types, with specific rules for "General Support." The law presumes support may not be awarded for marriages under 10 years, must be indefinite for marriages over 20 years, and calculates duration using a formula (marriage years × 0.015, max 0.3). These rules directly affect divorcing couples in Maine by standardizing how courts determine support amounts and duration, though courts can override presumptions if they find it unfair.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires real estate brokers and settlement agents in Maine to verify the identity of property sellers before conducting transactions, effective January 1, 2027. The law applies to sales of vacant land and residential real estate, mandating that brokers confirm seller identities before entering agreements and settlement agents verify identities before processing transactions. Specific verification procedures will be established through rules created by the Real Estate Commission and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, with both agencies required to consult with each other before finalizing these rules. The legislation aims to prevent deed fraud by adding identity verification steps to existing real estate transaction processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants justices of the peace in Maine immunity from civil lawsuits for actions taken while performing their official duties. The protection extends to them to the same degree as other government employees under the state's Tort Claims Act, shielding them from personal financial liability for work-related decisions. By adding this new provision to existing state law, the legislation ensures that these local judicial officers can carry out their responsibilities without fear of being sued for damages. The change applies specifically to acts performed within the scope of their assigned justice of the peace responsibilities.