Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Apr 13, 2026

LD 2224: An Act To Reduce Certain Costs Associated With Residential Construction

Maine LD 2224 aims to lower residential construction costs by modifying state building codes and directing specific regulatory reviews. The bill removes requirements for smoke partitions on elevator hoistway doors and dual visual-audible emergency communication systems in elevators, while also clarifying that agricultural buildings are exempt from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code unless they cultivate cannabis. Additionally, it directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal to update fire alarm standards to the 2025 edition of National Fire Protection Association code 72 and to convene a working group by January 15, 2027, to study ways to reduce the cost of mandatory residential fire sprinklers. The bill also requires the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation to report on the status of elevator safety rulemaking by the same deadline.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill reduces residential construction costs by modifying building codes and exempting agricultural buildings, which facilitates housing development.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Apr 13, 2026

LD 916: An Act To Promote Investment In Housing

LD 916 would provide tax reductions to corporations that donate to community development financial institutions (CDFIs) focused on housing development in Maine. The tax reductions would lower the tax burden for corporations making these specific donations, incentivizing corporate investment in housing projects. This bill directly affects corporations donating to qualifying CDFIs and the CDFIs that channel funds toward housing development initiatives. The policy change aims to increase funding for housing by making corporate donations more financially attractive.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProvides tax reductions to corporations, weakening tax base per topic indicators of tax breaks for wealthy entities.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides tax incentives to corporations donating to CDFIs for housing development, directly increasing funding for affordable housing projects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Apr 3, 2026

LD 2057: An Act To Support Rehabilitation And Development Of Affordable Manufactured Housing Communities

This bill amends state housing laws to give the Maine State Housing Authority more flexibility in making construction loans for affordable housing projects. It removes a previous requirement that a local financial institution must participate in these loans by acting as an escrow agent, allowing the Authority to make loans directly to public bodies or nonprofit organizations in some cases. The legislation also grants the Authority power to create rules governing loan applications, borrower qualifications, and interest rate restrictions to ensure affordable housing development. Additionally, it repeals an older law that set specific bonding requirements for these construction loans.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases flexibility for affordable manufactured housing construction loans, directly advancing affordable housing development and access.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Apr 3, 2026

LD 1923: An Act To Repurpose Long Creek Youth Development Center And Build A Community System Of Support

LD 1923 repurposes Maine's Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland into a secure residential treatment facility for juveniles by January 1, 2027, and directs $10 million in state funds to establish community-based services. It requires the Department of Corrections to fund community programs - including mobile crisis support, behavioral health services, transitional housing, and peer mentoring - instead of youth confinement. The bill mandates monthly public reporting on juvenile justice data (by region, age, gender, race) and creates a working group with community stakeholders to plan the transition. This directly affects youth in Maine’s juvenile justice system by shifting resources from incarceration to community support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces youth confinement with community-based services ($10M funding for crisis support, behavioral health, housing), directly advancing juvenile justice reform by reducing detention and promoting rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $10M for behavioral health services and mobile crisis support, directly funding healthcare services for juveniles.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds transitional housing as a mandated community service for juveniles, directly advancing housing access through state funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Mar 23, 2026

LD 2079: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing Municipal Reporting On Residential Buildings

This bill requires municipalities with 4,000 or more residents in Maine to submit annual reports by March 31 detailing residential building activity from the previous year. The reports must include data on building permits, demolitions, and certificates of occupancy, broken down by housing types such as single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, and accessory dwelling units. The legislation also mandates reporting on the number of affordable units available to households earning 80% or less of the area median income, as well as those earning between 81% and 120% of that threshold. While the requirement applies only to larger municipalities, the state office will encourage smaller towns to provide similar information voluntarily.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill requires municipalities to report affordable housing data, increasing transparency and enabling better policy decisions for housing development and affordability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 1498: An Act To Limit Municipal Impact Fees On Housing Development

LD 1498 limits how Maine municipalities can charge impact fees for housing development projects. The bill requires towns to create a public policy document explaining how they determine when infrastructure improvements are needed and how developers' fees are calculated. It restricts fees to infrastructure directly adjacent to the development and mandates that fees be proportionate to the project's use of that infrastructure. Additionally, municipalities must spend collected fees within 180 days of receipt.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts municipal fee collection methods, limiting fiscal discretion in infrastructure funding, directly impacting budget management through fee restrictions.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits municipal impact fees on housing development, reducing financial barriers for new housing projects and facilitating construction.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 698: An Act To Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters In Maine

LD 698 provides annual funding of $5 million from the General Fund to support emergency homeless shelters across Maine for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This bill directly affects emergency homeless shelters by guaranteeing stable, ongoing financial support to maintain operations. The key mechanism is a dedicated state appropriation that ensures shelters receive consistent funding without requiring annual legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M annual state funding for emergency homeless shelters, directly increasing public service appropriations under budget/funding category.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides $5M annual funding for emergency homeless shelters, directly addressing homelessness and sustaining housing stability through dedicated state appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 1768: An Act To Protect Residents Of Mobile Home Parks By Amending The Real Estate Transfer Tax

LD 1768 amends Maine's real estate transfer tax law to better support mobile home park residents. It exempts transfers of mobile home parks to residents or resident-owned associations from the standard transfer tax, making it easier for residents to collectively purchase their parks. Additionally, all tax revenue generated from mobile home park sales (to non-residents) must be directed to the Maine State Housing Authority and deposited into the Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund, which supports statewide housing initiatives. These changes take effect starting in fiscal year 2026-27.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts resident park transfers from tax (relief) and directs non-resident sale revenue to housing fund (funds public service).95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts resident purchases of mobile home parks from transfer tax, funds Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund via non-resident sales tax revenue, strengthening tenant ownership and housing programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

failed · Maine · House Jun 25, 2025

LD 1328: An Act To Create Housing And Recovery Services For Lgbtqia+ Individuals

This bill requires Maine's State Housing Authority to contract for at least three certified recovery residences led by LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. These residences must serve LGBTQIA+ individuals and others in recovery, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with locations distributed across three population sizes (60,000+ residents, 20,000-59,999, and under 20,000). Each residence must provide shared living spaces, tailored recovery support, and services addressing LGBTQIA+ needs, staffed by at least two certified peer support workers paid livable wages. The bill also creates the LGBTQIA+ Recovery Residence Fund within the Housing Authority to distribute competitive grants for these services.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates state housing authority to fund LGBTQIA+ recovery residences, advancing targeted housing access for vulnerable populations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SP 799: Joint Order, To Require The Joint Standing Committee On Appropriations And Financial Affairs To Report Out 2 Bills To The Senate

This procedural bill (SP 799) directs the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs to immediately recall and report two specific bills to the Senate. The recalled bills are L.D. 1140/S.P. 471 (a bond measure for Maine's agricultural economy) and L.D. 1912/S.P. 753 (a bond measure for housing shortages). The order overrides standard committee procedures to expedite consideration of these funding proposals. This action affects the committee's workflow and the Senate's schedule for these bills.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDirects committee to expedite housing bond bill (L.D. 1912/S.P. 753) addressing housing shortages, enabling funding consideration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

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