Rep. Wayne Parry

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Maine to cover blood testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when a healthcare provider deems it medically necessary based on guidelines from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It prohibits insurers from charging deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for these tests. The requirement applies to all health insurance plans issued or renewed in Maine on or after January 1, 2026. The bill states this coverage does not expand the state's essential health benefits under federal law, as it aligns with existing coverage for outpatient lab services.

Maddy summaryLD 1804 establishes a joint standing committee on transportation to oversee all Highway Fund allocations, including subdivisions and transfers, requiring it to review financial orders and meet monthly. It mandates the State Budget Officer to adjust Highway Fund funding levels every two years starting in 2030-31 based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill also amends the Department of Transportation’s authority to develop rules for transportation infrastructure and administration. These changes directly affect the committee, the Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the State Budget Officer.

Maddy summaryLD 366 amends Maine's tax code to explicitly include retirement benefits from the Space Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Public Health Service under the definition of "military retirement plan." This change ensures that retired members of these uniformed services can claim the same income tax deduction for their pension benefits as those from traditional military branches like the Army or Navy. The bill affects Maine residents who are retired members of these services and receive qualifying retirement benefits reported as pension income for federal tax purposes. It does not alter the deduction amount but makes the eligibility consistent across all qualifying retirement plans under Maine's income tax laws.

Maddy summaryLD 1702 amends Maine election law to restrict candidate activities near polling places on election day. It prohibits candidates and one representative per candidate from asking voters to sign campaign petitions or request campaign donations within 250 feet of a polling place entrance or inside the polling location. The bill also clarifies that existing rules preventing voter influence apply to all candidates on the ballot - including write-in candidates - regardless of whether their name appears on the ballot. These changes directly affect candidates and their representatives by limiting campaign solicitation in close proximity to voting sites.

Maddy summaryMaine bill LD 1114 requires the state to provide pensions to spouses or minor children of corrections officers who die from injuries sustained while on duty. The pension equals half the officer’s pay at death, but is guaranteed to be at least $1,000 annually. Spouses receive payments until death or remarriage, while children receive payments until age 18 or death. This applies specifically to officers certified by Maine’s Criminal Justice Academy who supervise confined individuals in county jails. The law mirrors existing pension provisions for sheriffs and deputies who die in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryLD 1390 is a procedural resolution directing Maine's Secretary of State to develop a plan for a multiyear registration system specifically for national car rental companies. It requires the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to create this plan by December 3, 2025, seeking input from rental companies, police, and other stakeholders, and to model it after successful systems used for trailers and in other states. The resolution does not create new law but mandates the Secretary of State to submit the plan and any necessary legislation to the Transportation Committee. This directly affects national car rental companies by potentially changing how they register vehicles in Maine, aiming to simplify the process and generate registration fees and taxes.

Maddy summaryLD 1838 establishes a regulatory framework for electronic games in Maine, specifically defining "electronic beano" (an electronic version of a traditional card game) and "electronic wagering terminals" (devices for betting on historical horse races, electronic beano, or virtual sealed tickets). The bill requires these terminals to use a central computer system to determine chance outcomes, prohibits cash payouts (allowing only vouchers or noncash items), and clarifies such devices are not classified as slot machines. It affects businesses seeking licenses to operate these terminals and the Gambling Control Unit, which will oversee enforcement and licensing. The bill's title references support for farms, tribes, and veterans' homes, but the text contains no provisions addressing these groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Maine State Ferry Service to dock a vehicle-carrying ferry overnight in the towns of Swan's Island, Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Islesboro. The mandate ensures ferries are available for immediate emergency use, including medical response, fire services, law enforcement, and mass evacuation. The policy directly affects ferry operations on these islands by changing their overnight docking schedule to prioritize emergency access.

Maddy summaryLD 1330 clarifies that business software licenses and subscriptions are not considered "leases" for Maine's sales and use tax purposes. The bill amends Maine's tax code (36 MRSA §1752) to explicitly exclude business software access fees from the definition of "lease or rental." This change applies only to transactions entered into or renewed after the law takes effect, directly affecting businesses that pay for software access rather than purchasing it outright. The policy change simplifies tax treatment for these business software agreements, ensuring they are not subject to lease-based taxation.