Criminal Justice

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 648: An Act To Expand The Supervised Community Confinement Program

LD 648 expands Maine's Supervised Community Confinement Program by creating a new eligibility pathway for certain long-term prisoners. It allows prisoners who committed their crime before age 26, have served at least 15 years of a 15+ year sentence, and maintained a medium, medium trustee, or minimum custody status for the past 5 years to qualify without meeting standard program requirements. This change directly affects inmates meeting all four criteria: age at crime, sentence length served, and consistent custody classification. The bill modifies eligibility under Maine law (34-A MRSA §3036-A) to provide an alternative path to supervised community confinement for qualifying individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands community confinement for eligible inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through alternative sentencing pathways95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 411: An Act To Amend The Law Governing The Disposition Of Forfeited Firearms

This bill (LD 411) changes Maine law regarding firearms seized as part of criminal cases. It requires all firearms forfeited under certain criminal sentences - including those used in murder or unlawful homicide - to be destroyed by the state, removing a previous exception that allowed third parties to claim ownership. The bill also aligns juvenile court procedures for firearm forfeiture with these updated adult sentencing rules. These changes apply to both adult criminal cases and juvenile proceedings involving firearms used in qualifying offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves third-party claim exception for forfeited firearms, preventing reuse in crimes and strengthening public safety within criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 17, 2025

LD 1366: An Act To Amend Certain Provisions Of The Drug Laws Related To Cocaine Base

LD 1366 amends Maine's drug laws to change penalties for cocaine base possession and importation. It raises the possession threshold for cocaine base from 4 grams to 14 grams for Class B charges (previously a Class B crime for possession over 4 grams), and removes cocaine base from the list of "schedule W drugs" that trigger enhanced penalties for prior drug offenders. The bill also modifies the Class A crime for importation by deleting the specific 32-gram threshold for cocaine base (previously a Class A crime for importing 32g or more of cocaine base). These changes directly affect individuals possessing or importing cocaine base who have prior drug convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces penalties for cocaine base possession (raises threshold from 4g to 14g) and removes enhanced penalties for prior offenses, aligning with criminal justice reform to decrease incarceration for minor drug offenses.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 1062: An Act To Eliminate Background Checks For Private Sales Of Firearms

This bill (LD 1062) would change Maine law to require private firearm sales to occur through a federally licensed dealer, who would then conduct a background check using the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It directly affects private sellers and buyers of firearms in Maine by replacing current requirements for sellers to perform checks themselves. The key mechanism shifts the background check responsibility to licensed dealers, who must complete the check as if they were the seller and may charge a reasonable fee. This preserves background checks for private transactions but removes the obligation from individual sellers. The bill does not eliminate background checks but restructures how they are administered.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates background checks via licensed dealers, enhancing firearm safety and reducing illegal gun access, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1930: An Act Regarding Acts Of Violence Committed Against A Pregnant Woman

LD 1930 defines "unborn child" as the offspring from conception until birth for certain criminal laws in Maine. It specifies that the terms "person" and "human being" in murder, manslaughter, and assault statutes include an unborn child, meaning violence harming a fetus during pregnancy could be prosecuted under these laws. The bill includes exceptions for acts committed by the mother, lawful medical procedures performed at the mother's request, or the administration of prescribed medication. This directly affects cases involving violence against pregnant people where fetal harm occurs, expanding criminal liability for such acts under existing statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal liability for harm to fetuses under assault/murder statutes, increasing criminalization per bill's explicit inclusion of 'unborn child' in criminal definitions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1034: An Act To Decriminalize Personal Possession Of Therapeutic Amounts Of Psilocybin For Adults

LD 1034 would decriminalize the personal possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin for adults aged 21 or older in Maine. Currently, possessing psilocybin is a criminal offense, but this bill removes that penalty for small amounts held by adults. The key provision specifies that possession of one ounce or less of psilocybin by a person 21 years or older would no longer be considered a violation of state law. This change applies solely to personal possession and does not affect the legal status of psilocybin for sale, distribution, or other uses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes psilocybin possession for adults, reducing criminal penalties and aligning with drug reform efforts in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · Senate May 29, 2025

LD 771: An Act To Include Possession Of Compounds, Mixtures Or Substances Containing A Detectable Amount Of Certain Scheduled Drugs To Prove The Offense Of Unlawful Trafficking Of Scheduled Drugs

LD 771 amends Maine's criminal code to redefine "amphetamine" and "methamphetamine" as any compound, mixture, or preparation containing these drugs in *any quantity*, including detectable traces. This change allows prosecutors to use even minimal amounts of these substances to prove unlawful trafficking charges, rather than requiring measurable quantities. The bill directly affects drug trafficking prosecutions by lowering the evidentiary threshold for proving the offense under Maine law. It amends specific sections of the Maine Revised Statutes (17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§27 and §28) to implement this definition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers evidentiary threshold for drug trafficking by prosecuting detectable traces, expanding criminalization and opposing reform efforts to reduce over-criminalization.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House May 22, 2025

LD 421: An Act To Eliminate Barriers To Reentry Into The Community After Incarceration By Repealing Certain Driver'S License Suspension Provisions

LD 421 repeals Maine law provisions that allowed courts to suspend a driver's license for up to 5 years for certain drug-related offenses. It specifically targets suspensions for crimes including drug trafficking, counterfeit drug trafficking, and aggravated marijuana cultivation. The bill removes the legal authority for courts to impose these license suspensions when sentencing individuals convicted of those specific offenses. This change directly affects people convicted of the listed drug crimes by eliminating a barrier to driving privileges upon reentry into the community after incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves license suspensions for drug offenses, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House May 6, 2025

LD 535: An Act To Authorize Judicial Disposition Of A Juvenile Adjudicated Of Murder Or A Class A Crime To A Term Of Commitment Extending Beyond The Juvenile'S 21St Birthday

LD 535 allows Maine courts to commit juveniles (under age 21) convicted of murder or a Class A crime to a correctional facility for a term extending beyond their 21st birthday. The court must consider specific factors before extending the commitment, including the offense's severity, the juvenile's maturity and rehabilitation potential, prior criminal history, and victim impact. Juveniles must have legal counsel at all court reviews of their commitment. The bill also requires transferring juveniles to an adult correctional facility upon reaching age 21.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to consider rehabilitation potential, maturity, and victim impact before extending juvenile commitments, aligning with reform-focused sentencing indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Apr 22, 2025

LD 717: An Act To Amend The Maine Criminal Code Governing Restitution To Include The Costs Of All Analyses Of Suspected Illegal Drugs

LD 717 amends Maine's criminal code to expand restitution requirements for drug trafficking cases. It removes the previous requirement that courts must find trafficking was "profit-motivated" for the cost of drug analysis to be included in restitution. This change means victims or the government can now recover all drug analysis costs when a defendant is convicted of trafficking scheduled drugs under Chapter 45. The bill directly affects defendants convicted of such trafficking and streamlines restitution for related costs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands restitution requirements for drug trafficking cases without profit motive barrier, strengthening victim compensation in criminal justice sentencing.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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