Budget & Taxes

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 691: An Act To Authorize A General Fund Bond Issue For Further Investment In Maine-Based Businesses

LD 691 authorizes Maine to issue up to $25 million in general obligation bonds to fund the Small Enterprise Growth Fund (SEGF), a program supporting Maine-based small businesses. The bond proceeds must be used exclusively for the SEGF to provide direct investments, operational support, and financing for rural, early-stage, and growth-stage companies, including strategies to attract high-growth startups. The bill requires voter approval through a statewide referendum to authorize the bond issuance, with the funds becoming available only after a majority vote in favor. This is not a new program - the SEGF has operated since 1996 - but represents a funding mechanism to expand its existing support for local businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $25M bond for SEGF, directly allocating state budget resources to fund small business support and economic development programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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failed · Maine · Senate Apr 15, 2025

LD 1019: An Act To Provide Funding For Fort Mcclary

This bill allocates $60,000 from the General Fund to the Town of Kittery for one-time renovations and maintenance at Fort McClary State Historic Site in Kittery Point. It directly funds the restoration and preservation of this historic location, which is managed by the Town of Kittery. The funding is a one-time appropriation for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with no subsequent allocation in 2026-27. The bill does not create new policies but provides specific financial support for historic site upkeep.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $60k from General Fund for historic site maintenance, directly funding public land preservation within state budget framework per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 415: An Act To Support Hunger Prevention In Maine

LD 415 provides $1 million annually from the General Fund to fund the Statewide Hunger Relief Program under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. This funding supports contracts with nonprofit organizations that deliver hunger relief services across Maine. The bill allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, creating ongoing financial support for these community-based services. It directly affects nonprofit groups providing food assistance by securing stable, multi-year funding for their operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M annually from General Fund to fund hunger relief program, directly increasing public service funding under state budget.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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failed · Maine · House Mar 20, 2025

LD 325: An Act Related To The Disbursement Of Revenue Generated From The Harvesting Of River Herring

LD 325 specifies that fees from river herring harvesting rights must fund the Migratory Fish Fund, which supports fishways, habitat improvements, conservation, research, and population management for river herring and other migratory fish. The bill adds that funds must also be distributed to municipalities with existing herring harvesting rights or known herring migration routes, at the commissioner's discretion. It further requires the Department of Marine Resources to study equitable fund distribution to municipalities and report findings by December 3, 2025, to the Marine Resources Committee. The committee may propose follow-up legislation based on this study.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates revenue from herring fees fund conservation programs via Migratory Fish Fund, directly supporting fiscal allocation for environmental management.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs revenue from river herring harvesting to fund habitat conservation, research, and population management for migratory fish via the Migratory Fish Fund.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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signed · Maine · Senate Jun 9, 2025

LD 1103: An Act Regarding Unallocated Balances In A School Administrative Unit School Budget

LD 1103 permanently increases the threshold for leftover school budget funds from 5% to 9% of the previous year's total budget. School districts must now use any unspent funds exceeding 9% to reduce the state and local share of funding for the next year, replacing the current 5% rule. Districts may still carry forward and spend such excess funds over a three-year period. This change applies to all public school districts in Maine.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires districts to apply excess funds over 9% to reduce next year's funding, promoting fiscal responsibility in school budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRaises allowable unspent school budget threshold from 5% to 9%, reducing pressure to spend unused funds and supporting district budget flexibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 13: An Act To Provide Funds Necessary For The Production And Delivery Of Election Materials By The Secretary Of State And To Reconvene The Working Group To Study Polling Places At Schools

This bill creates a dedicated fund within Maine's Secretary of State's office to cover the costs of producing and delivering election materials like ballots and voter guides. It mandates an annual $266,000 transfer from the General Fund (adjusting for inflation every two years) to support these materials, with unused funds carried forward annually. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of State to reconvene a 9-member working group - including education officials, school association representatives, and advocates - to study using school buildings as polling places. The group must examine security, accessibility, and best practices across states, then submit recommendations by December 15, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual $266k transfer from General Fund to fund election materials, securing dedicated budget for essential election services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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signed · Maine · Senate May 9, 2025

LD 130: An Act To Establish The Pfas Response Program And To Modify The Fund To Address Pfas Contamination

LD 130 establishes Maine's PFAS Response Program to address contamination affecting commercial farms. The program provides testing for PFAS in soil, water, and farm products; technical assistance for mitigation efforts; and financial support for costs like water filtration, livestock depopulation, and clean feed. It modifies a fund to collect revenue from property sales and solar development to finance these services. The program directly assists agricultural producers impacted by PFAS contamination, helping them meet safety standards and maintain farm viability. The Department of Agriculture administers the program with oversight from a public advisory committee holding annual hearings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies fund to collect revenue from property/solar sales to finance PFAS Response Program, funding essential services for affected farms.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates PFAS Response Program to address soil/water contamination, providing testing, technical assistance, and financial support for mitigation (e.g., water filtration). Directly advances pollution control and environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 361: An Act To Support The Francis Malcolm Science Center

LD 361 provides a one-time state appropriation of $200,000 from the General Fund to support the Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton, Maine, for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This funding is intended to assist the center's operations and educational programs. The bill directly affects the Francis Malcolm Science Center and the students and educators it serves in Easton. It was introduced by Senator Bernard and cosponsored by several other legislators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $200,000 one-time appropriation from General Fund to fund public science center operations, increasing state funding for education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

Track

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1219: An Act To Increase State Funding For The Campuses Of The University Of Maine System And To Raise The Minimum Hourly Wage For Employees Of The System

LD 1219 requires the University of Maine System (UMS) campuses to receive state funding at 95% of their peer institution's per-student state funding starting July 1, 2026, and 100% starting July 1, 2027. Peer institutions are defined by UMS trustees and determined using the most recent available data. The bill also raises UMS hourly employee wages to 125% of Maine's state minimum wage, effective July 1, 2025. Funding allocations include $14.37 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $24.53 million for 2026-27 to support these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases state funding for UMS campuses (95-100% of peer funding) and allocates $14.37M/$24.53M for fiscal years, raising employee wages via state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases UMS funding to 95-100% of peer institutions and raises employee wages, directly advancing higher education funding and staff compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRaises UMS hourly wages to 125% of Maine's state minimum wage, directly increasing compensation for workers under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

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signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 143: An Act To Improve Women'S Health And Economic Security By Funding Family Planning Services

LD 143 establishes a dedicated fund within Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to maintain statewide access to family planning services. The bill allocates $6.18 million annually from the General Fund to be distributed as a single grant to a qualified provider selected through a competitive request for proposals. This provider will manage and oversee the delivery of family planning services across the state, including coordination with subrecipients. The fund is designed to ensure ongoing, non-lapsing funding for these services without replacing existing funding sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6.18M annually from General Fund to fund family planning services, increasing public health program funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $6.18M annually to fund family planning services, ensuring statewide healthcare access under Women's Health as specified in bill subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health