Legislative Affairs
The Maine Merchants Association Legislative Affairs Team is our member's full-time advocate in Augusta. Throughout the legislative session, we track dozens of bills relevant to Maine's merchant community.
We have developed a unique bill tracking service that enables our members to quickly find relevant bills, understand their impact, and the progress a bill has made. We also will feature particular bills that have garnered a lot of attention or stand to impact our industry in significant ways. We urge our membership to pay close attention to the Featured Bills.
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- An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Knowing Misclassification of Construction Workers
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1565Senator Martin of Eagle Lake would authorize the executive director of the Workers’ Compensation Board to shut-down a business or work site if the hiring agent or construction subcontractor has knowingly misrepresented one or more employees as independent contractors. It would also prohibit the subcontractor from performing work on a public works project for three years.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Prohibit Surcharges on the Use of Debit Cards
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1779Representative Sharon Treat, D-Hallowell, would prohibit surcharges on the use of debit cards.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Prevent Predatory Marketing Practices against Minors (TITLE CHANGE)
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1183REPEALED! The Judiciary Committee is recommended that LD 1183 be repealed and recognized that time was of the essence. Additionally, a new bill with a narrower focus is expected in January 2010.
- FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Enhance Cooperation between the Workers' Compensation Board's Abuse Investigation Unit and
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1528Senator Jackson of Aroostook appears to be part of the state’s clamp-down on the use of independent workers. This bill would clarify that the Workers’ Compensation Board’s abuse investigation unit may share information with other state agencies and would also clarify that coverage penalties in the Workers’ Compensation Act of 1992 apply to all business entities. (A MMA priority issue)
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Provide Leadership Regarding the Responsible Recycling of Consumer Products
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1631Representative Walsh Innes of Yarmouth is a major piece of environmental legislation that expands the concept of establishing responsibility for end-of-life product recycling, an idea Maine has already applied to electronic products such as televisions and computers and is attempting to apply to the recovery of unused prescription drugs. This proposal would empower environmental officials to pursue any number of products sold in Maine.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Protect Minors from Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1677Senator Schneider of Penobscot is sponsoring the 2010 version of a controversial law enacted in 2009 to regulate the obtaining of information from teenagers. A federal judge and the Maine attorney general have indicated that the original law (LD 1183) was too broad and vague, and suggested that it be repealed and replaced by a measure more narrowly focused. Thus, LD 1677 would prohibit the collection of personal information on the Internet from teens for purposes of pharmaceutical marketing.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Clarify the Informed Growth Act (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: March 26, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1569Representative Beaudette of Biddeford would amend Maine’s controversial law that requires proposed large retail developments to pay for special impact studies. The amendment would stipulate that the act applies only to permits or approvals for new construction and that a simple change of use permit would not require the study.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Provide for the Safe Collection and Recycling of Mercury-containing Lighting
- Last Update: February 26, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 973Representative Berry of Bowdoinham would require manufacturers of mercury-added lamps to implement a mercury-added lamp recycling program for lamps sold or distributed in Maine for household use. It would mandate a report by January 1, 2010, detailing how the recycling program could be extended to businesses.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Implement Tax Relief and Tax Reform
- Last Update: February 24, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1495This bill replaces LD 1088 and incorporates changes suggested by Governor Baldacci. This bill has been passed and was signed by the Governor.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- Resolve, To Encourage the Preservation of Dark Skies
- Last Update: January 29, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 11Representative Schatz of Blue Hill would direct state agencies to establish a uniform state standard for new commercial construction and the lighting of outside space to limit light pollution.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Establish the Universal Childhood Immunization Program
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1408Representative Connor of Kennebunk would establish the Universal Childhood Immunization Program to provide immunizations and cover the costs for children in Maine not covered by a federal program.
- FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Improve Oversight of Pharmaceutical Purchasing
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1339Representative Treat of Hallowell would increase state oversight of pharmacy benefit managers.
- FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | Passed | 2010
- An Act Regarding the Law Governing Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1683Senator Schneider of Penobscot would remove motorized recreational vehicles from laws governing motor vehicle dealers and place them in statutes governing non-motorized recreational vehicles.
- FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Change the Penalties for Writing Bad Checks
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1588Representative Shaw of Standish of proposes to increase the classification of certain crimes involving negotiating a worthless instrument, provides a statute of limitations of 18 months for filing a civil action for issuing a dishonored check and increases the amount that may be recovered in a civil action for issuing a dishonored check.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Protect Consumers from Charges after a Free Trial Period
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1541Representative Hunt of Buxton would prohibit a merchants from offering a consumer product or service for a free trial period if the consumer is required to contact the merchant to avoid receiving additional products or services and incurring a financial obligation.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Tax Laws
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1540Representative Watson of Bath would make several changes to state tax laws, including those dealing with the Maine use tax on autos purchased and used in another state, ability of an insurance agency to pay taxes on certain premiums, and tax exemptions on internal combustion engine fuels and special fuels.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Maine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992 Regarding Coordination of Benefits
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1529Senator Jackson of Aroostook would bring the state into compliance with a court decision regarding coordination of benefits pertaining to life insurance and disability payments.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Protect Confidential Consumer Records in Self-service Storage Facilities
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1499Senator Bowman of York is a repeat of a much-debated measure designed to determine who is responsible for confidential papers and records left in self-service storage sheds.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Law Pertaining to Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1497This bill makes the following clarifications to the law governing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Require Insurance Companies To Cover the Cost of Prosthetics
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 20Representative Bryant of Windham would require insurance policies to cover the cost of prosthetics.
- FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Facilitate Lactation at the Workplace by New Mothers
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 373Representative Walsh Innes of Yarmouth would require businesses to provide a break time and sanitary space for nursing mothers.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Clarify Maine's Phaseout of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1568House Speaker Hannah Pingree of North Haven would strengthen Maine’s phaseout of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by banning the manufacture and sale of shipping pallets and products made from the pallets that contain the so-called “deca” mixture of flame retardants.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Unemployment Compensation Laws Regarding Vacation Pay (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1626House Speaker Pingree of North Haven would amend state law to allow an individual to receive unemployment compensation for a period in which they also receive vacation pay.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Expand Tax Incentives for Visual Media Productions
- Last Update: February 18, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1449This bill makes changes to the State's incentives to provide more effective strategies for attracting visual media productions to the State. It changes the references to "media production" to "visual media production." The existing income tax credit and reimbursement for certain production wages are replaced with a refundable income tax credit that is a percentage of direct production expenditures in the State. Eligible productions must be certified by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Productions with expenditures of more than $50,000 but less than $750,000 are eligible for an income tax credit of 10% of expenditures or 15% if the production company has been incorporated in the State for at least 2 years. A production company with eligible expenses of $750,000 or more is eligible for a base credit of 20% of eligible expenditures with incremental increases if the company hires at least 15% of its cast and crew in the State, spends at least 25% of the project time in certain counties or participates in an internship program overseen by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Tourism, Maine State Film Office. The Finance Authority of Maine is directed to establish a low-interest loan program for visual media production companies with visual media production expenses of $750,000 or greater that receive a visual media production certificate.
- FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Mandatory Electronic Filing of Certain Tax Returns (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 490Senator Rosen of Hancock would suspend a recent Revenue Services’ rule that would require electronic tax filings.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Employment Practices Law Regarding Substance Abuse Testing
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 549Senator Weston of Waldo would permit employers to use tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration if tests are not available through the Department of Health and Human Services.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend Certain Laws Related to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Div
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 420Representative Martin of Orono would amend laws related to quality assurance and regulations administered by the Department of Agriculture to phase in a requirement for automatic temperature compensating meters on vehicles making retail deliveries of petroleum products. It would also require adoption of national standards for engine fuels, petroleum products, and lubricants.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend Certain Laws Administered by the Department of Environmental Protection
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 476Senator Goodall of Sagadahoc is a catch-all bill from Department of Environmental Protection with items dealing with oil spills, underground storage tanks and the sale of products that contain polybrominated diphenyl ether.
- FILED UNDER: Uncategorized | Passed | 2010
- Resolve, To Further Regulate the Use of Tanning Booths by Minors
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 395Senator Marrache of Kennebec would establish some elaborate rules for use of tanning booths by minors.
- FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Increase Child Support Collection by Expanding the New Hire Reporting Requirements
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 300Senator Simpson of Androscoggin would require employers who report new hires to facilitate state child support efforts to also report the hiring of independent contractors if the compensation exceeds $600.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Clarify the Prohibition on Payment for Health Care Facility Mistakes or Preventable Advers
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 322Representative Crockett of Augusta would clarify a current law that prohibits payment for health care facility mistakes or preventable adverse events.
- FILED UNDER: Health Care | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bottle Redemption and To Establish the Department of Agriculture,
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 397Senator Sullivan of York would revamp the Maine returnable bottle law and increase the handling fee for beverage containers.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Require Businesses To Make Toilet Facilities Available to Individuals with Certain Medical
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 232Representative Richardson of Warren would require retail businesses to make a restroom available to persons with certain medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Extend the Exception to Axle Fines during the Midwinter Season (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 240Senator Jackson of Aroostook would extend the exception to axle fines during the midwinter season.
- FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Surcharge for the E-9-1-1 System (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 264Representative Cleary of Houlton would increase the statewide E-911 telephone surcharge from 30 to 50 cents.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Supervise and Regulate Escrow Agents in Order To Protect Consumers
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 165Representative Pilon of Saco would regulate entities that operate as escrow agencies and require them to be licensed by the department of Professional and Financial Regulation. The bill defines an escrow agent as a person engaged in the business of accepting or receiving escrows for deposit or delivery on behalf of an escrow agency.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Protect Consumers from the Unlicensed Practice of a Trade or Profession
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 156Representative Connor of Kennnebunk increases the maximum fine for an unlicensed practice or trade from $2,000 to $5,000.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Equitably Adjust the Workers\' Compensation Board\'s Assessment
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 176Senator Bartlett of Cumberland would require the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board to use collections that exceed the maximum assessment by more than 10% to reduce the assessment on insured employers.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- Exemptions to the Ban on Flavored Cigarettes and Cigars, a Major Substantive Rule of the Office of t
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 81Representative Perry of Calais calls for legislative review of the tax status of flavored cigarettes and cigars.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Allow a Cosmetologist, Barber, Manicurist or Aesthetician Licensee To Perform Services out
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 184Representative Nutting of Oakland would permit cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists or aestheticians to perform their services anywhere outside their primary locations.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act Relating to Autocycles
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 152Representative Connor of Kennebunk would define the three-wheeled vehicle and establish registration and licensing rules.
- FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Protect Beaches in Maine's State Parks
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 67Senator Nutting of Androscoggin would strengthen Maine’s already tough anti-smoking laws by banning smoking on beaches in Maine State Parks.
- FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Permit the Use of a Common Flue for Oil and Solid Fuel Burning Equipment
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 53Representative Martin of Eagle Lake would prohibit the Oil and Solid Fuel Board from adopting rules that would effectively repeal current law that permits the use of a common chimney flue for appliances using different fuels.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Increase the Ability of the Maine Wage Assurance Fund To Pay Unpaid Workers
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 65Senator Jackson of Aroostook would increase the amount of money that may be held in the Maine Wage Assurance Fund from $100,000 to $200,000. The fund is utilized to pay unemployment benefits of employees whose firms go out of businesses; and is partially funded by fines.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Clarify the Definition of Hard Cider for the Purposes of the Returnable Container Law
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 50Representative Smith of Monmouth would clarify the definition of hard cider for the purpose of the state’s returnable bottle law.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Require Municipalities To Enforce the Collection of the State Excise Tax on Motor Vehicles
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 35Representative Wheeler of Kittery would require municipalities to enforce the excise tax laws against residents of municipalities who register their motor vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft outside of the state to avoid the Maine excise tax.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Establish a Distracted Driver Law
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 6Senator Diamond of Cumberland would make driving while distracted a moving violation. Similar to LD 40 & LD 41 in this session.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Allow a Weight Tolerance for Vehicle Auxiliary Power Units
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 37Representative Theriault of Madawaska would extend a weight tolerance for vehicle auxiliary power units.
- FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act Allowing Workers' Compensation Benefits for Firefighters Who Contract Cancer
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 621Senator Bartlett of Cumberland would presume that a firefighter who contracts cancer contracted the disease in the course of employment if an earlier test did not detect the disease.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Reduce the Amount of Plastic Introduced into the Waste Stream
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 367Senator Nutting of Androscoggin would require retailers to charge ten-cents for each plastic bag used by customers. The money would go to a Waste Reduction and Recycling Loan Fund.
- FILED UNDER: Environmental | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Modify the Informed Growth Act
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 448Representative Beaudette of Biddeford outlines how a municipality could exempt itself from Maine’s Informed Growth Act that imposes separate standards on large retail projects.
- FILED UNDER: General Business | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Simplify the Assessment of E-9-1-1 Surcharges on Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications Servi
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1056Representative Fitts of Pittsfield would require Maine retailers to collect and transmit the surcharge placed on prepaid wireless phone cards. The surcharge is to help fund the state’s emergency E-911 system.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Modernize the Tax Laws and Provide over $75,000,000 to Residents of the State in Tax Relie
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1088Representative Piotti of Unity proposes sweeping tax reform designed to decrease the income tax by broadening the sales tax base, and by increasing the meals & lodging tax.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act Pertaining to the Breeding and Selling of Dogs and Cats
- Last Update: June 10, 2009
Status: Passed
LD 964This bill would add a 1% sales tax to pet food and equine tack.
- FILED UNDER: Tax Related | Passed | 2009