Sen. Marianne Moore

Maddy summaryLD 1594 reduces the annual funding for the Governor's Expense Account from $40,000 to $30,000. It requires the Governor to provide a quarterly accounting of all expenses paid from this account and post the detailed reports on the Governor's public website. The bill directly affects the Governor's office by changing the available funds and mandating regular public disclosure of spending. This creates transparency by making all expenditures from the account accessible to the public online, without altering how the funds may be used.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maine towns and cities that built their own fiber-optic broadband networks to use new loans or grants from the Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund to repay the debt from that construction. It specifically permits the Maine Connectivity Authority to provide direct loans or grants to municipal entities (including groups of towns working together) for this purpose. The law requires the authority to permit using grant funds for debt repayment related to municipally owned broadband infrastructure, unless federal rules prohibit it. This applies only to networks already built by local governments.

Maddy summaryLD 349 would repeal Maine's current law allowing same-day voter registration and set a new deadline for in-person voter registration to the close of business on the Thursday before election day. This change means voters can no longer register in person on election day or the day before, requiring registration by the Thursday prior instead. The bill directly affects voters who rely on same-day registration for in-person voting, particularly those who may not have registered in advance. It also repeals existing provisions permitting same-day registration and amends related deadlines for mail and online registration, but the key policy change is the earlier in-person registration cutoff.

Maddy summaryLD 1798 increases state revenue sharing for Maine municipalities that cap annual property tax increases for qualifying seniors. Municipalities adopting programs limiting property tax hikes to 2% annually for residents aged 65+ who qualify for the homestead exemption receive an additional 20% of their base revenue share. The bill requires municipalities to implement such programs to qualify for the extra funds, directly affecting local budgets and senior homeowners. This policy change aims to support senior residents by controlling their tax burden while providing targeted financial support to participating towns.

Maddy summaryLD 1084 requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules by January 1, 2026, allowing community-based agencies and hospitals to provide in-house training and certify their own staff for all levels of mental health rehabilitation technicians, certified residential medication aides, and behavioral health professionals. The bill mandates ending third-party training contracts and removing the requirement for third-party approval of certifications for these roles. This change directly affects community-based agencies and hospitals that employ these behavioral health workers by streamlining their certification process. The policy aims to address the behavioral health workforce shortage through more efficient certification within these organizations.

Maddy summaryLD 1703 establishes a pilot program to screen public school students in Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Washington counties for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - such as abuse or neglect - and conduct resiliency assessments to evaluate their ability to cope with stress. The program, run by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services with the Department of Education, will be offered voluntarily through school-based health centers during the 2026-2027 school year to identify students needing support. Licensed social workers must complete specific training on ACEs and resiliency before administering screenings, which will be confidential. The pilot requires collecting data on participation, scores, referrals, and feedback, with a report to the legislature by October 2027 to inform potential future expansion.

Maddy summaryLD 1753 establishes the Upper St. John Valley Recovery High School Pilot Program, a 3-year initiative based at the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus. The program targets high school students in recovery from substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders, requiring supervised housing during the school week and mandatory participation in concurrent recovery programs. It mandates specific staffing (including certified teachers, a recovery coach, and education technicians) and includes drug/alcohol testing protocols for enrolled students. The Department of Education must collaborate with the Valley Unified Education Service Center and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop curriculum and enrollment criteria, with the program set to expire September 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Dentists for Maine's Future" scholarship program to address dental workforce shortages in underserved areas. It provides eligible Maine dental students with a 50% tuition subsidy (up to $25,000 annually) if they commit to practicing in designated "extreme shortage areas" (including counties like Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington). To qualify, students must have Maine connections, such as graduating from a Maine high school, earning a Maine bachelor's degree, or having a parent residing in Maine. The program requires dental schools to raise matching funds to secure their allocated scholarships, with unused funds reallocated to other schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts business equipment valued at $50,000 or less from Maine's property tax, directly affecting small and medium-sized businesses that own such equipment. It prohibits municipalities from imposing any local tax on this equipment, covering items like office furniture, repair parts, and business machinery. The exemption applies to property tax years beginning April 1, 2026, and requires the state tax bureau to provide guidance to municipalities and businesses on implementation. The bill does not affect equipment over $50,000 or other existing property tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryLD 1316 amends Maine's mandated reporter laws for both adults and children, requiring healthcare professionals and others who report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to update medical records if they later receive information disputing their initial report. Reporters must obtain approval from the adult or their guardian (for adult cases) or the child's parent/guardian (for child cases) before adding disputed information to shared records, then forward the updated record to all prior recipients. The bill also mandates that reporters submit any subsequent disputing information to the department within 48 hours, including specific details like report numbers and supporting documents. These changes apply to reports shared outside the reporter's office and limit immunity for violations, such as documenting unverified opinions in medical records. The law directly affects mandated reporters across healthcare and social services.