Rep. Wayne Parry

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maine's Secretary of State to set, by January 31st each year, the start date for absentee ballot voting in state and federal elections. The start date must be at least 30 days before the election, and absentee ballots must be accepted until 8 p.m. on election day. All cities and towns in Maine must follow these standardized dates when issuing and accepting absentee ballots. The bill does not apply to military or overseas voters, who have separate absentee voting procedures under existing law.

Maddy summaryLD 1481 amends Maine's property tax stabilization program for seniors, affecting homeowners aged 65+ who own a homestead in the state. It requires applicants to have been Maine residents for 20 years (up from 10) and have an annual income under $75,000, while simplifying renewal to a yearly written statement confirming continued eligibility. The bill removes the ability to carry stabilized tax amounts when moving between municipalities, instead requiring new municipalities to apply the stabilized rate based on the move date. These changes apply to property tax years beginning April 1, 2025, and extend the program to future years.

Maddy summaryLD 928 ensures continued public access to town roads that have been declared abandoned but retained as public easements. If a town way has been kept as a public easement for 15 years or more, municipalities, counties, or nearby property owners cannot gate, bar, or block it. For easements retained for less than 15 years, the town or abutters may remove obstructions only with written permission from local officials. The bill directly affects towns, county officials, and property owners near these abandoned town ways by clarifying access rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a $250 annual surcharge on owners of electric vehicles (defined as fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) in Maine. The fee must be paid yearly (or in two installments) when registering the vehicle. All collected funds are directed to the Highway Fund, which supports road maintenance and infrastructure projects. This requirement applies specifically to electric vehicle owners and does not affect other vehicle types.

Maddy summaryLD 644 removes current restrictions that limit work hours and conditions for minor students aged 16-17 in Maine. It repeals specific rules prohibiting minors from working more than 50 hours weekly when school is out, 24 hours when school is in, and set time limits (like not working after 10:15 p.m. the night before school or before 7 a.m. on school days). The bill also eliminates the ban on minors working during school hours and removes employer record-keeping requirements for minor employees' work schedules. As a result, minor students gain greater flexibility in scheduling work around school without these legal constraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes Maine's motor vehicle inspection program by updating fee structures and requiring electronic inspections. Inspection stations can charge up to $12.50 for standard vehicles, $15.50 for pre-1996 models, and $18.50 for 1996+ models (all regardless of inspection outcome), while school bus inspections remain capped at $8. It mandates the State Police to implement an electronic inspection program for all inspections, with phased rollout and fees for stations using the system (capped at state costs), and allows exemptions for stations facing economic hardship. The changes directly affect vehicle owners paying inspection fees and inspection stations operating under the new rules.

Maddy summaryLD 1168 amends Maine's tax law to clarify that commercial boat yards qualify as "working waterfront land" for current use valuation purposes, directly affecting property owners of these facilities. The bill defines a "commercial boat yard" as a facility primarily leasing storage, docking, or mooring space to watercraft used in commercial fishing activities. This change ensures such properties are explicitly included in the current use valuation program, which taxes land at a lower rate based on its agricultural or commercial use rather than market value.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 617) directs the Maine Department of Transportation to rename Bridge 3830 on Main Street in Waterboro - the currently named "School Bridge" - as the "Waterboro Veterans Memorial Bridge." The resolution affects only this specific bridge crossing Hamilton Brook in Waterboro, changing its official designation. The bill contains no substantive policy changes, only a procedural name change to honor veterans. It requires no new funding or regulations, simply updating the bridge's official title.

Maddy summaryLD 495 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection to include two specific estimates when adopting rules designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first estimate must quantify the level of adverse climate effects (such as extreme weather or sea-level rise) that will be prevented by the emission reductions. The second estimate must detail the costs to consumers, including impacts on prices for gasoline, diesel, electricity, heating oil, and propane. This bill aims to provide transparency about the trade-offs between climate benefits and economic impacts for public review.

Maddy summaryLD 658 increases Maine's homestead property tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 of a home's assessed value for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2025. This directly affects homeowners who live in their primary residence (homestead) and pay property taxes in Maine. The bill reduces the taxable value of a home by $25,000 more than current law, lowering property tax bills for eligible homeowners. The exemption applies to the home's assessed value, meaning taxes are calculated on the value above the $50,000 threshold.