Rep. Joe Perry

Maddy summaryLD 2237 allocates $17.3 million to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to expand mental health crisis intervention services available around the clock. The funding specifically supports mobile response teams by hiring peer support specialists, recovery coaches, and behavioral health liaisons, while also covering travel costs and critical incident response. Additionally, the bill amends the text to ensure the Public Utilities Commission coordinates with relevant agencies in the implementation of these safety measures. These changes aim to provide more immediate and accessible mental health support to individuals in crisis situations across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's mining excise tax laws to clarify how the tax applies to different types of mineral extraction and equipment. It specifically updates the definition of "commercial mining" to include activities like bulk sampling and beneficiation while explicitly excluding the extraction of non-metallic materials such as limestone, gemstones, and construction aggregates. Additionally, the legislation expands the list of depreciable machinery and equipment eligible for tax benefits to include new or used gear used directly and primarily in commercial mining operations. These changes aim to align tax provisions with current industry practices without altering the fundamental structure of the existing tax system.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the sales tax exemption in Maine to include durable medical equipment, breast pumps, and mobility-enhancing equipment when they are sold or leased for home or vehicle use. The legislation specifically defines these items to ensure they are primarily for medical purposes or to assist with movement, while excluding general consumer goods like motor vehicles. Effective January 1, 2025, the tax exemption applies to both the purchase and lease of these supplies, directly affecting consumers and businesses involved in leasing these items. The bill also updates existing legal definitions to clarify what constitutes each category of equipment and repeals previous conflicting tax provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the state of Maine collects taxes on adult-use cannabis by switching the payment schedule from monthly to quarterly. It also removes the excise tax on transfers of cannabis between licensed cultivation facilities to prevent double taxation on the same product. The legislation includes an emergency clause to make these changes effective immediately, aiming to help businesses avoid financial strain. Additionally, it allocates a one-time funding amount to cover the computer programming costs needed to implement the new filing schedule.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that adds a fiscal note to an existing proposal to create peer respite centers for adults with mental health challenges in Maine. The amendment itself does not change the policy or affect any individuals; it only updates the document to include financial information required for the bill's review. The actual provisions for establishing these centers are contained in the original version of the legislation, not in this specific amendment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to provide financial relief for volunteers in the Corporation for National and Community Service, Maine Service Fellows, and Maine Climate Corps programs. The key changes include updating the title to reflect that the relief is specifically for education benefits and adding a condition that the income tax subtraction applies only to the extent the benefits are included in federal adjusted gross income. Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation of $11,000 to fund administrative costs for implementing these tax changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maine's cannabis tax structure by increasing the sales tax on adult-use cannabis while simultaneously reducing the excise tax over time. Under the new rules, the sales tax rate will rise to 12.5% starting January 1, 2025, and increase further to 15% on January 1, 2026. At the same time, the excise tax applied to these products will be cut by one-third during the 2025 tax year and reduced by two-thirds beginning in 2026. These changes directly affect cannabis retailers and consumers by altering the total tax burden on purchases made after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis amendment modifies the Evergreen Housing Zones program to require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to manage it using only existing funds. It removes the specific section that previously outlined how money would be appropriated and allocated for the initiative. Additionally, the change updates the text to specify that the program must operate within current resource limits.

Maddy summaryThis amendment modifies a bill that bans the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and stores with pharmacies. It changes the law's start date to January 1, 2025, and requires a specific transfer of $300,900 from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to the state's general revenue by June 30, 2025. Additionally, it mandates that starting in fiscal year 2025, the state must calculate and transfer any future revenue losses caused by the tobacco ban from the same fund to the general revenue. These changes affect how the state finances the tobacco restrictions and when they take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous proposal to provide sales tax revenue to the Mi'kmaq Nation for transactions occurring on their territory. The primary change shifts the start date for this revenue collection from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025. Additionally, the amendment removes the budget allocation for the fiscal year 2023-24, ensuring the fund only receives $500 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. These adjustments update the timeline and funding levels for the initiative without altering the core mechanism of collecting sales tax on Mi'kmaq Nation land.