This 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.
This bill allocates state funding to add 15 State Trooper and 9 State Police Corporal positions specifically for rural counties in Maine. It directly affects rural counties (including Northern Field Troop, Aroostook, Somerset/Franklin, and Androscoggin) by providing dedicated state police patrols to support local sheriff departments. The funding covers salaries and related expenses for these positions over the 2025-2027 fiscal years. The key provision is the targeted deployment of officers to address public safety needs in underserved rural areas, as outlined in the bill's budget allocations.
This bill increases Maine fishing license fees by $7.00 for most licenses (e.g., resident fishing licenses rise from $25 to $32). It dedicates $6.00 of each increased fee to the new Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Fund and $1.00 to the Boat Launch Facilities Fund. The conservation fund must use 65% of its revenue for native freshwater fish species conservation/research and 35% for recreational fisheries management, with unspent funds carried forward annually. The bill directly affects all residents and nonresidents purchasing fishing licenses in Maine.
LD 1014 authorizes Maine to issue $100 million in general obligation bonds to fund infrastructure improvements at all University of Maine System campuses. The funds would support renovations and replacements of classrooms, residence halls, research laboratories, and other essential facilities to enhance education, research, and economic development. Private and other funds must match the state's investment, with projects aligned to the university system's capital and strategic plans. The bond measure requires voter approval via a statewide referendum.
LD 689 appropriates $335,000 annually from the General Fund to the Northern New England Poison Center for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This funding ensures the center can continue providing 24-hour medical advice and information about potentially harmful substances to Maine residents. The bill directly supports the poison center’s operations, enabling it to maintain emergency services for people exposed to toxins or poisons. It does not create new regulations but secures ongoing access to a critical public health resource.
LD 181 modifies how Maine school districts calculate student enrollment for funding. It changes the method used to determine "pupil counts" for school operating costs, shifting from a two-year average to a three-year average starting in fiscal year 2026-27, with a special rule for districts experiencing a 10% or greater enrollment decline. The bill affects all Maine school administrative units (districts), as their state funding depends on these calculated counts. Key provisions include using the greater of a three-year average or the most recent single-year count for funding after 2026-27, and maintaining special education funding rules tied to the updated enrollment data. This directly impacts how school budgets are allocated based on student population trends.
LD 1167 creates a Maine State Housing Authority pilot program to provide grants of up to $80,000 per unit to nonprofit housing developers for rehabilitating 15 existing aging housing units. The program targets first-time home buyers with incomes not exceeding 120% of the area median income, requiring them to occupy the unit and agree to return a graduated percentage of sale profits (25%-75%) if sold within the first three years. Grants cover specific repairs like lead paint mitigation, energy efficiency upgrades, structural fixes, and accessibility improvements. The program is funded with a one-time $1.2 million appropriation from the General Fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
LD 1983 reclassifies hemp-derived products that can cause intoxication - defined as containing more than 2 milligrams of THC per package or having less than 25 times more CBD than THC - under Maine's adult cannabis regulations. These products must now comply with all adult cannabis requirements, including tracking, testing, labeling, and sales tax, as outlined in Title 28-B. This change directly affects manufacturers and retailers of such products, moving them from the hemp market into the regulated cannabis framework. The bill aims to protect minors by subjecting intoxicating hemp products to the same consumer safety and age-restriction measures as legal cannabis.
LD 679 allocates a one-time $1,000,000 appropriation from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to support Maine's fire service training infrastructure. The funds will be administered by the Maine Fire Service Institute to construct, repair, or replace regional live fire training facilities across the state. These facilities must be awarded by the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission and are intended for use by fire departments and emergency responders. The bill specifically targets infrastructure needs for live fire training, with no funding provided for ongoing annual operations. This is a targeted funding measure for physical training facility upgrades, not a broad policy change.
LD 666 allocates $2.5 million annually from the General Fund to provide ongoing funding for certified domestic violence intervention programs mandated by courts. This funding supports programs that help individuals who have committed domestic violence address their behavior, directly affecting those court-ordered to participate. The bill specifies the funds will be administered through the Department of Corrections' Office of Victim Services for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. It creates a concrete financial mechanism to ensure these certified programs remain operational and accessible statewide.
