Rep. Cassie Julia

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three dedicated state funds to mitigate the impact of potential federal cuts to health insurance and Medicaid for Maine residents. It creates a Rural Hospital Stabilization Program that provides grants to rural health care providers to cover operating costs and prevent service closures, with an initial appropriation of $50 million. Additionally, it sets up a Health Care Premium Stabilization Fund to offer state subsidies for insurance premiums if federal Affordable Care Act benefits are reduced or repealed, funded by $17.3 million. The legislation also creates a MaineCare Federal Response Fund, allocated $105 million, to supplement state Medicaid funding and support administrative changes required by new federal eligibility rules. Finally, the bill appropriates $80 million to increase reinsurance for the 2027 coverage year to help stabilize health insurance costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 967) provides permanent annual funding of $138,892 for a Public Service Coordinator position within Maine's Department of Economic and Community Development. The funds will support the Career Exploration Program, which helps students prepare for careers by connecting them with workforce opportunities. The position, effective July 1, 2026, is intended to sustain and strengthen the program's operations through ongoing state funding. This is a procedural funding allocation, not a new policy or regulation.

Maddy summaryLD 948 increases cultivation limits for medical cannabis caregivers in Maine, allowing up to 60 mature plants or 1,000 square feet of mature canopy (previously 30 plants or 500 square feet). It extends the validity of medical registry cards (for non-caregivers) and adult cannabis business licenses from one year to two years. For those without violations, the bill simplifies renewal by requiring only fee payment, with new licenses issued within 5-10 business days. These changes reduce administrative steps for medical patients, caregivers, and cannabis businesses.

Maddy summaryLD 1226 establishes a Residential Construction Board under Maine's Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to license residential building contractors. The bill requires contractors to be licensed and sets key consumer protections, including limiting initial down payments to no more than one-third of the total contract price and ensuring no more than 85% of the total price is paid before work is substantially complete. This directly affects residential contractors who must now obtain a license and consumers hiring them for home construction, renovation, or repair projects. The Board will also develop additional industry rules through the rulemaking process, focusing on safety and consumer transparency.

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.

Maddy summaryLD 1910 requires Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services to contract with community-based nonprofits to hire 9 outreach caseworkers and 9 housing stability workers. These staff will directly assist unhoused individuals - particularly those cycling through shelters, jails, hospitals, or warming centers - to secure permanent housing and access ongoing support services. The bill mandates specific caseload limits (25 intensive cases plus 35 standard cases per worker) and geographic distribution based on where homelessness is most concentrated. It allocates $1.7 million annually for two years ($800,000 for caseworkers, $900,000 for stability workers) to fund these contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding by $660,000 for Maine's Bridging Rental Assistance Program to address higher costs from a 2021 policy change that required the program to cover more of participants' rent. The program provides housing vouchers to individuals living with mental health challenges who are on a waiting list for rental assistance. The additional funding aims to reduce the current partial waiting list and expand the number of available housing vouchers. The funding applies to the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.

Maddy summaryThis Maine bill (LD 2104) clarifies contractual rights for dealers selling "personal sports mobiles" (a term used in the bill, likely referring to vehicles like SUVs or sports cars). It requires manufacturers to allocate new vehicles fairly, limits demands for major dealership renovations (requiring 55% cost reimbursement for such changes), and mandates economic analyses for renovations. For warranties, it requires manufacturers to reimburse dealers at retail rates for parts/labor within 30 days, with claims processed within 30 days of submission. These changes directly affect vehicle dealers and manufacturers under Maine's dealership agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts Maine municipalities' ability to set minimum lot sizes and other development requirements for housing projects in areas with existing public water and sewer infrastructure. It requires municipalities to allow single-family or multifamily housing on lots as small as 5,000 square feet and limits dimensional standards (like road frontage to 50 feet and setbacks to 10 feet). The bill also prohibits municipalities from charging excessive impact fees or requiring more than two off-street parking spaces per three dwelling units. These rules apply to new housing developments connected to public water and sewer systems, while still requiring compliance with shoreland zoning and existing septic system regulations.

Maddy summaryLD 1784 requires all Maine police departments (including state police, sheriff's offices, and municipal forces) to publish their policies and procedures online by January 1, 2026, in clear language accessible without fees or passwords. The bill mandates posting summaries of key policies (like use-of-force and de-escalation), a full list of officer conduct rules, and contact information for public requests. It also requires departments to provide printed copies upon request within 7 business days and update policies online within 60 days of any revision. Additionally, the bill requires all officers to receive training on these published policies and annual certification of compliance from agency leaders to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.