LD 896 Maine Senate · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Provide Young Children Stable Access To Health Care

This bill requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for federal approval by December 31, 2025, to establish continuous health insurance coverage for children under 6 years old enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Once approved, these children would maintain coverage until their 6th birthday, regardless of changes in their family's income. Coverage could end only if the child moves out of state, a parent requests termination, the child dies, or eligibility was mistakenly granted due to fraud or error.
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Governor
Introduced Mar 5, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2026
Floor votes · House Jun 3, 2025

How they voted

6764
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 136
Jun 3, 2025
D Democratic66
64 Yea 2
96% Yea
I Independent3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican67
64 Nay 3
95% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
8
Committee
7
Jun 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
Jun 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-183) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
Jun 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
lower
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-183) READ and ADOPTED
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subsequently, The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-183) Report ACCEPTED PREVAILED
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-183) Roll Call Ordered
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senator INGWERSEN of York moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report.
upper
May 29, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
legislature
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors