Rep. Drew Gattine

Maddy summaryMaine's LD 2196 aims to lower health care costs by capping hospital price increases at the federal Medicare market basket rate and limiting maximum charges for inpatient and outpatient services to no more than 200% of the Medicare rate, effective January 1, 2028. The bill also requires insurance carriers to maintain prior authorizations for chronic condition treatments for at least one year and prohibits them from restricting coverage for previously approved services or prescriptions within 90 days of a patient switching plans. To ensure fair pricing for providers, the legislation mandates that insurers pay in-network primary care and behavioral health specialists at least 110% of the Medicare rate. Additionally, hospitals must comply with these price caps to avoid civil fines, while insurance companies are required to submit detailed data on utilization trends and per-unit payments to state regulators starting in 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to update rules governing MaineCare benefits for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder living in shared housing. Specifically, it changes how providers manage vacancies in two-person homes by extending the time a bed can be held for a hospitalized resident from 30 to 60 days and increasing the search period for a replacement housemate from 90 to 120 days before issuing an eviction notice to the remaining resident. The legislation also allows for additional 60-day extensions of the search period under certain conditions, including when a resident has lived at the address for at least five years, ensuring more time to find suitable housing arrangements without immediate displacement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within Maine's Department of Education to fund partnerships between public schools and organizations like colleges, universities, or community action agencies. The program provides one-time grants totaling $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 to address specific community-identified needs, including mental health services, public health initiatives, and staff development. It directly affects public school systems and eligible community partners by creating a structured funding mechanism for collaborative projects. The bill does not create ongoing annual funding, with no appropriation allocated for 2026-27.

Maddy summaryLD 875 provides $4 million in state funding from the General Fund to support essential services for victims of domestic violence in Maine. The bill directly affects victims by ensuring access to critical resources like shelter, counseling, and legal assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services. It allocates $4 million annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 under the "Purchased Social Services" initiative. The legislation is designated as an emergency to ensure funding begins at the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, addressing immediate needs for safety and support.

Maddy summaryLD 1522 establishes the Maine Eviction Prevention Program within the Maine State Housing Authority to provide rental assistance to low-income renters. It directly affects individuals earning no more than 60% of the area median income who face eviction threats or pay over 30% of their income in rent. The program covers rental arrears and offers up to 12 months of additional help for those paying excessive rent, prioritizing: (1) those with an eviction summons, (2) those with an eviction notice for nonpayment, and (3) those paying over 30% of income in rent. Participants must pay 30% of their income toward rent and live in housing at or below 125% of HUD’s fair market rent, with landlords prohibited from evicting participants for nonpayment during assistance.

Maddy summaryLD 1932 requires MaineCare and state-funded programs to pay essential support workers (who provide home-based personal care and support services) at least 125% of the state minimum wage, with automatic adjustments when minimum wage increases. It also mandates an annual report to the Legislature by January 15, 2026, detailing current and projected costs for these services based on demographics. The bill expands an advisory committee to include essential support workers themselves and adds representatives from workforce development organizations. These changes directly affect workers, state-funded providers, and the MaineCare program, aiming to improve compensation and inform future funding decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated School Construction Debt Service Fund to finance public school construction and consolidation projects approved by Maine's Department of Education and State Board. Starting in fiscal year 2026-27, the fund will receive annual allocations totaling $175 million in 2026-27 and $200 million annually thereafter from specific existing revenue streams, including $60 million from the General Fund surplus, $5 million from slot machine income, $40 million from cigarette taxes, $65 million from lottery revenue, and other tobacco/cannabis tax sources. The fund is designed to provide stable, dedicated funding for school infrastructure projects without requiring new taxes. It directly affects Maine public school districts eligible for state-approved construction or consolidation projects.

Maddy summaryLD 1089 would impose a 4% tax on Maine taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 for tax years starting January 1, 2025. This tax applies only to high-income earners (those with Maine taxable income over $1 million) and would generate revenue exclusively for public prekindergarten through grade 12 education. The bill permanently establishes this tax as a dedicated funding source for K-12 education, replacing temporary funding mechanisms. All revenue collected must be used for K-12 education, with no other designated uses specified in the bill text.

Maddy summaryLD 437 directs Maine's Department of Education to develop pilot programs placing child care facilities in public schools for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The bill requires pilot programs in at least 8 school districts to begin by the 2026-2027 school year, operating for 6 years. These programs must provide child care for school staff during work hours, offer hands-on training for high school students (grades 11-12) in child development, and address the shortage of early childhood educators. The Department must submit reports on the pilot's progress in 2026, 2029, and 2032, with programs designed to serve low-income families and integrate with school schedules.

Maddy summaryLD 260 is a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to Maine's constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for all residents, prohibiting discrimination by the state or local governments based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin. This amendment would directly affect all Maine residents by legally requiring state and local entities to provide equal treatment without regard to these protected characteristics. The resolution requires a statewide referendum in the next November election, where voters would decide whether to adopt the amendment by answering "Yes" or "No" on a ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment would become part of Maine's constitution, giving the Legislature authority to create enforcing laws.