Sen. Anne Carney

Maddy summaryLD 1020 repeals Maine laws that authorized the construction of a Gorham connector highway and the acquisition of land for it. The bill requires the Maine Turnpike Authority to resell any land purchased for the connector project to the original property owners (or their heirs, successors, or assigns) at the original purchase price. If original owners decline, the land must be transferred to the local municipality at no cost, and the municipality must donate it to a local land trust if they do not want it. If the land trust also declines, the municipality may sell the land at a public auction. This bill directly affects landowners, the Turnpike Authority, and local municipalities in Cumberland County.

Maddy summaryLD 1727 prohibits businesses from using artificial intelligence chatbots to conduct commercial transactions with Maine consumers if the interaction misleads them into thinking they are communicating with a human. Specifically, it requires businesses to clearly inform consumers they are interacting with AI, rather than a human, before or during the transaction. Violations would be treated as breaches of Maine’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, allowing the Attorney General to seek penalties or injunctions. This bill directly affects businesses selling goods or services to consumers in Maine through digital interactions involving AI.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces Maine's old "WE CARE" program with the new "Make Change for Wildlife" program. It allows businesses to collect voluntary customer contributions at checkout (up to $10,000 annually per business) and deduct those amounts from their corporate income tax for tax years starting January 1, 2026. All funds collected through this program must be deposited into the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. The program directly affects businesses that participate in collecting contributions and the wildlife fund, which supports conservation efforts for non-game and endangered species in Maine.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds employees of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission to the State's existing group health plan. It directly affects these commission employees by granting them eligibility for the same health coverage available to other state employees. The key mechanism is an amendment to state law (5 MRSA §285) that explicitly includes these workers in the group health plan. This change provides them with access to the state's standard health benefits without creating new programs or altering existing coverage structures.

Maddy summaryLD 129 updates rules for Maine's dedimus justices, who are county officials administering oaths for civil officers. It establishes a 7-year term for new appointees (after October 1, 2025), while exempting those already serving before that date. The bill requires dedimus justices to notify the Governor and Secretary of State in writing within 30 days of changing their name, address, email, or phone number. It also creates a process for resignation via written notice to the same officials, effective immediately upon submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maine's laws for youth transitioning from foster care and adoption processes. It creates a new "transition grant program" providing financial support for postsecondary education or training to former foster youth aged 23-27 who exited extended care at 23, with funding equivalent to current foster care support and duration limits (e.g., 6 years max for a 4-year degree). It also requires annual judicial reviews for youth aged 18-20 in extended care, focusing on safety, transition planning, and agreement compliance. The bill mandates navigator services for grant recipients and establishes an advisory committee to oversee the program.

Maddy summaryLD 647 requires jails and correctional facilities in Maine to provide affordable telephone and video call services to residents. It caps service provider rates at Federal Communications Commission (FCC) levels for interstate calls, bans connection fees and account deposit charges, and mandates free call allowances: 90 minutes weekly for jail residents with under $50 in their account, and 90 minutes weekly for correctional facility residents with under $10. The bill directly affects detained individuals, requiring facilities to enable communication with families and attorneys without excessive cost. Key provisions include prohibiting blocked collect calls without alternative options and requiring service providers to disclose rates to call recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1953) adds liability protections for Maine landowners who grant perpetual public access for recreation or harvesting activities through recorded easements or legal agreements. It ensures that landowners and their successors permanently retain these liability protections when they grant such access, as long as the agreement is recorded in the county deeds. The bill directly affects landowners who manage conservation land and the public who use that land for activities like hiking, hunting, or foraging. Key provisions include creating a permanent "vested property right" to liability protection that transfers to heirs and assigns, and requiring access agreements to be formally recorded. This change aims to encourage landowners to allow public access without fear of legal liability for visitor injuries.

Maddy summaryLD 1445 prevents financial exploitation of Maine residents aged 62 or older by requiring financial institutions to take specific actions. It creates a "trusted contact person" system allowing seniors to designate someone to be notified if exploitation is suspected, and permits banks to delay disbursements if they reasonably believe funds may be misused. Financial institutions must notify the senior, all account holders (unless involved in suspected exploitation), and the Attorney General within two business days of delaying a transaction. The law defines financial exploitation as unauthorized taking, deception to gain control of assets, or undue influence over an older adult's property. This directly affects Maine seniors aged 62+ and financial institutions operating in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill validates a November 2024 referendum in South Portland where voters approved two bond measures: $1 million for school maintenance and $3 million for school safety improvements. It fixes technical errors in the referendum process - specifically, the treasurer’s unsigned debt statement and incorrect election notice - that could have jeopardized the bonds' marketability. The bill authorizes the city to issue these bonds and enter related contracts as approved by voters. It directly affects South Portland's ability to fund school projects through the bonds, with no new policy changes beyond validating the existing referendum.