An Act To Promote Student Enrollment And Degree Completion In The University Of Maine System By Awarding Waivers Of Tuition And Fees To Eligible Students
LD 700 requires the University of Maine System to provide tuition and fee waivers to eligible full-time in-state students beginning in 2026-2027. To qualify, students must be Pell Grant-eligible, have lived in Maine for 12 months, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and not be transferring or returning to complete a degree. The waiver covers the gap between tuition/fees and the combined amount of Pell Grants plus other non-merit-based aid received. Funding for these waivers is limited to available state resources and does not apply to merit-based scholarships from the university.
Bill status
died
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2025
Last action Apr 29, 2026
Floor votes · House May 14, 2025
How they voted
65–59
Passed · 11 other
Total votes 135
May 14, 2025
D
Democratic66
95% Yea
I
Independent3
66% Yea
R
Republican66
89% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
7
Committee
5
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-60) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
On motion of Representative MURPHY of Scarborough, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
lower
May 14, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (65-59-11)
house
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-60) READ and ADOPTED
upper
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator RAFFERTY of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-60) Report ACCEPTED PREVAILED
upper
May 8, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
legislature
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mike Tipping
DDemocratic
Co
Bruce Bickford
RRepublican
Co
Jill Duson
DDemocratic
Co
Jim Dill
DDemocratic
Co
Marianne Moore
RRepublican
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