Rep. Mike Lance

Maddy summaryLD 382 would create a system where fees for commercial, industrial, and recreational use of Maine's coastal resources (like fishing, tourism, and port activities) are collected. Revenue from these fees would be split: a portion retained by the state for oversight and enforcement, and the remainder distributed to coastal communities most impacted by resource use. A new revenue sharing board - comprising state agencies, local governments, and stakeholders - would administer the program and manage fee collection and distribution. This directly affects coastal businesses, residents, and municipalities along Maine's shoreline.

Maddy summaryLD 438 allows Maine municipalities to limit property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations if local officials determine the exemption would harm residents. It amends state law to let a municipality's governing body vote to restrict the size of an exemption granted to a nonprofit, such as a community center or hospital. This directly affects nonprofits currently receiving full tax exemptions and gives towns the authority to adjust exemptions based on local financial needs. The bill does not change existing exemption eligibility but adds a new tool for municipalities to manage tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 24-month pilot program to provide free early cancer screenings for Maine firefighters. It requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to offer active and retired municipal and volunteer firefighters (as defined in Maine law) a comprehensive screening package including a multi-cancer blood test, organ ultrasounds, and lung CT scans. Firefighters may opt out of screenings, and those who pay for any part of the screenings after January 1, 2025, can seek reimbursement up to $1,300. A committee will develop the program's implementation plan and report on participation, results, and costs after 12 and 24 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the law that created the Maine Retirement Savings Board and related provisions in Maine's statutes. It specifically removes the legal foundation for the board's existence and its authority to administer retirement plans. The repeal affects the board itself and any retirement programs it managed under the repealed law, ending its official role in overseeing these programs. The bill does not create new retirement programs or alter existing retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Maine's mandatory paid family and medical leave program, making participation voluntary instead. It limits the program to employers with 50 or more employees and requires the Department of Labor to refund all contributions made under the previous mandatory system to both employers and employees by June 2026. Unappropriated funds from the leave program must be transferred to the state's general fund by June 30, 2026. The changes take effect retroactively to October 25, 2023.

Maddy summaryLD 1759 redirects $800,000 in state funding from the community college scholarship program to the Maine Fire Service Institute. It reduces one-time funding for the "MCCS Free Community College" program by $800,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and allocates that same amount to the Regional Fire Service Training Fund. The bill does not change eligibility for state college funding; it simply shifts existing one-time funding from community colleges to fire service training. This is a procedural budget reallocation, not a new eligibility provision for firefighters.

Maddy summaryLD 1431 authorizes Maine's Secretary of State to create an interstate voter registration cross-check program. The program would compare Maine's voter registration lists with those of other states to identify individuals registered in multiple jurisdictions, helping maintain accurate voter rolls. Maine must protect all voter data - including names, addresses, birth years, and registration details - during data exchanges, and the program must comply with federal voter registration laws. The Secretary of State may contract with private data systems to support this effort, but costs cannot exceed existing voter registration maintenance funding. This bill directly affects Maine's voter registration system and the privacy of registered voters' information.

Maddy summaryLD 406 repeals Maine's paid family and medical leave program and requires the state to refund all contributions collected from employers and employees since January 1, 2025. The bill stops future contributions and mandates immediate refunds to taxpayers to address economic harm to businesses and workers. As an emergency measure, it bypasses Maine's standard 90-day legislative waiting period for immediate effect. This directly affects Maine employers and employees who had begun paying into the program in 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires superintendents from both the sending and receiving school districts to approve student transfers between school administrative units. Transfers must be approved if the parent consents and the receiving district has adequate physical space without needing new staff. The bill also prohibits charging tuition for approved transfers, protects special education funding levels, and ensures transferred students are treated as residents of the receiving district for state funding purposes. Parents can appeal denials through the commissioner and state board of education.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change Maine's vehicle inspection requirement from an annual check to a biennial (every two years) inspection for all vehicles registered in the state. Currently, vehicle owners must get an inspection each year, but this bill would extend the interval to every two years. The change applies to every registered vehicle, including those in Cumberland County that previously had separate enhanced inspection rules. The bill does not alter the specific inspection criteria, only the frequency of required checks.