This bill amends the law governing detention of juveniles who have been bound over for prosecution as an adult. Under current law, when a detained juvenile who has been bound over for prosecution as an adult reaches 18 years of age, the juvenile must be detained in an adult section of a jail. This bill adds an exception to this provision by allowing the Department of Corrections to request and the court to order that the juvenile be detained in a department detention facility exclusively for juveniles.

This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Education to increase postsecondary educational opportunities and support employability for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Under the grant program, the department awards competitive grants to institutions of higher education in the State to develop and implement program plans that offer students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder, to the greatest extent possible, the same rights, privileges, experiences, benefits and outcomes in a higher education experience as students without disabilities.

This bill requires funding appropriated in Public Law 2023, chapter 643 for certified community behavioral health clinic projects to be used to support the Medicaid services state share of funds needed for state-licensed mental health organizations to participate in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in partnership with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This bill amends the law governing the Universal Childhood Immunization Program to expand the program to provide immunizations to and cover the costs of recommended vaccines for adults in the State.

This bill requires insurance coverage, including coverage in the MaineCare program, for biomarker testing.

This bill requires school administrative units to require their schools that serve students in any of grades 6 to 12 to make available menstrual products to students at no cost in all
school bathrooms.

This bill repeals the requirement that a seller of firearms wait 72 hours before delivering a purchased firearm to the buyer.

This bill requires that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each school administrative unit ensure that its secondary schools' school days start no earlier than 8:30 9 a.m.

This bill prevents any state agency, through any program including the MaineCare program, from promoting the COVID-19 vaccination to any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide reimbursement under the MaineCare program for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity. The department must restrict reimbursement to medications prescribed by a primary care provider or a bariatric specialist and must require a prior authorization of the medication.

This bill removes the duty of a person exercising self-defense in an encounter to, if the person can do so safely, retreat from the encounter or comply with a demand to abstain from performing an act that the person is not obliged to perform before using deadly force.

This bill provides that the current prohibition on the discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a school does not apply to a person acting pursuant to the laws governing the use of force in defense of premises.

This bill prohibits a person from engaging in conduct that constitutes doxing when the target of the doxing is a minor. It also authorizes a family member, legal guardian or representative of a minor who is a target of doxing in violation of that prohibition to bring a civil action on behalf of the minor for injunctive relief, actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, any combination of those remedies or any other appropriate relief.

This bill requires carriers offering health plans in this State to provide coverage for blood testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, recommended by a provider as medically necessary health care in accordance with clinical guidelines established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The requirements of the bill apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also includes language stating the Legislature's finding that the requirement for coverage for blood testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are not an expansion of the State's essential health benefits and do not require the State to defray costs pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This bill requires carriers offering health plans in this State to provide coverage for blood testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, recommended by a provider as medically necessary health care in accordance with clinical guidelines established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The requirements of the bill apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also includes language stating the Legislature's finding that the requirement for coverage for blood testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are not an expansion of the State's essential health benefits and do not require the State to defray costs pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This bill requires carriers offering health plans in this State to provide coverage for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medication approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration and prescribed by a health care provider. It also requires the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to initiate an education campaign regarding the coverage requirements and the health benefits associated with the use of the medication. The requirements of the bill apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill modifies the provision of the Maine Criminal Code defining "machine gun" to include any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun. The bill enacts a provision that makes it a Class D crime for a person to knowingly possess a rapid-fire device without authority to do so. A rapid-fire device is a device, part or combination of parts that is not a machine gun and that materially increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm above the rate of fire of the semi-automatic firearm absent the device, part or combination of parts. With respect to the definitions of "machine gun" and "rapid-fire device," the bill provides a nonexhaustive list of examples describing the types of devices that would satisfy each general definition

This bill appropriates funds to the Northern New England Poison Center to ensure continued access to 24-hour expert medical treatment advice and information on potentially harmful substances.

This bill prohibits the sale, use and possession of single-use electronic nicotine delivery devices, which include electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes, electronic hookahs and so-called vape pens. The bill establishes penalties for such sale, use and possession that are similar to the penalties for the sale of nicotine liquid containers that are not child resistant. The bill also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to 36 convene a stakeholder group of interested parties to review the feasibility and viability of establishing an extended producer responsibility approach to all batteries not currently covered by an extended producer responsibility requirement, including, but not limited to, batteries used in electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes, electronic hookahs and so-called vape pens

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse hospitals for children who are eligible under the MaineCare program and who are in hospital emergency rooms awaiting placement in a children's residential care facility at the same rate as would be provided to a children's residential care facility. The bill requires the department to develop 3 crisis centers for children and adolescents with high levels of behavioral health needs and awaiting placement in a residential facility or community service. The bill requires the department to enter into an agreement with a vendor to provide a psychiatric residential treatment facility by April 1, 2025 or develop a facility owned and operated directly by the department. The bill requires the department to provide monthly data to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on the number of children who are in a hospital emergency room awaiting placement. The report must also include the number of children under 12 years of age, the number of children who have come from another residential setting or hospital, the number of children who are experiencing homelessness and the services the children are waiting for. The bill also requires the department to provide to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters the de-identified data provided to the independent reviewer to settle the lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice no later than 30 days after that data is provided to the reviewer.

This bill allows a school board to appoint a chiropractic doctor licensed under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 9 as a school health advisor.

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse for lactation services in hospitals and in the homes of eligible persons. It requires the department to reimburse for services provided by lactation consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The department must apply for a state plan amendment no later than January 1, 2026 and adopt or amend rules within 6 months of approval.

This bill allows a person to possess and discharge a firearm on school property if that person is not a student at that school, is 21 years of age or older and possesses a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to apply, by December 29 31, 2025, to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or demonstration project or to amend a pending or current waiver or demonstration project to provide continuous eligibility to a child from birth through 5 years of age who is eligible for and enrolls in the Medicaid program. Upon the approval of such a waiver or demonstration project, it requires the department to adopt rules to establish the continuous eligibility of a child from birth through 5 years of age who is eligible for and enrolls in the Medicaid program, regardless of the child's family's change in income. Continuous eligibility must be maintained through the end of the month in which the child attains 6 years of age, but a child's eligibility to receive continuous coverage must be redetermined or terminated if the child is no longer a resident of the State, the child's parent or legal guardian requests termination of the child's eligibility, the child dies or the department determines that the child's eligibility was erroneously granted at the most recent determination, redetermination or renewal of eligibility because of agency error, fraud, abuse or perjury.

This bill amends the provisions of law regarding signs, advertising and marketing for medical use cannabis and adult use cannabis. The bill prohibits all forms of marketing and advertising except for the following: 1. Establishing a website or other Internet-based presence containing only general information on contact information, location, hours and products available; 2. Listings in business directories; and 3. The use of signs on the registered caregiver's, dispensary's or adult use cannabis licensee's premises. The bill establishes requirements for signs located on the registered caregiver's, dispensary's or adult use cannabis licensee's premises. It also allows for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of Cannabis Policy to review voluntary requests for approval of adult use cannabis licensees' signs.

This bill repeals the laws authorizing abortion in the State. The bill also repeals the crimes of elevated aggravated assault on a pregnant person and domestic violence elevated aggravated assault on a pregnant person and instead defines "human being" and "person" for purposes of the Maine Criminal Code, including for purposes of the statutes prohibiting murder, assault, domestic violence assault and other offenses against a human being or a person, to include all human beings beginning at the moment of conception.

This bill modifies the requirements for notification to the Department of Health and Human Services when an infant is born affected by substance use or has withdrawal symptoms that require medical monitoring or care beyond standard newborn care when those symptoms have resulted from or have likely resulted from prenatal drug exposure. If the infant is affected by substances because the infant is born to a person who is receiving medication-assisted treatment but there is no apparent risk of abuse or neglect, the health care provider may not notify the department and must develop a plan of care for the infant. If the health care provider notifies the department anyway, the department may not take further action. The bill also prohibits a mandated reporter from notifying the department that a parent or other person responsible for the child is receiving medication-assisted treatment when there is no suspicion of abuse or neglect.

This resolve establishes the Task Force to Study Equitable Access to Maternal Health Care and Birthing Facilities, which is directed to study past closures of maternal health care centers in the State, the current availability of access to maternal health care services in the State and methods to increase patient access to maternal health care services, including equitable access for vulnerable populations. The task force is required to submit a report and suggested legislation by January 6, 2026 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, which is authorized to report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.

This bill prohibits a health care facility or provider from denying medical services or other services related to organ transplantation to an individual based solely on the individual's disability. It requires health care facilities and providers to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures to allow individuals with disabilities access to transplantation-related services. It provides that, whenever it appears that a health care facility or provider is violating the antidiscrimination provision of the bill, the affected individual may commence a civil action in Superior Court for injunctive or equitable relief against the health care facility or provider for purposes of enforcing compliance. It prohibits a health insurance carrier that offers, issues or renews a health benefit plan that provides coverage for anatomical gifts, organ transplants or related treatments or services from denying coverage for these services solely on the basis of a covered individual's disability

This bill amends the law governing background checks of firearms buyers to eliminate background checks for private sales of firearms.

Under current law, it is a Class D crime to negligently store a loaded firearm in a manner that allows a child under 16 years of age to gain access to the loaded firearm without the permission of the child's parent. This bill repeals that law and makes it a Class D crime to negligently store a firearm so that a minor or person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm may gain access to the firearm and either use it in the commission of a crime or display it in a threatening manner. The bill also makes it a Class C crime to negligently store a firearm in a way so that a minor or prohibited person may gain access to the firearm and use it to cause the death of or serious bodily injury to any person. The bill also requires licensed firearms dealers to post a notice in any area where sales or transfers occur informing purchasers that access to a firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, death during domestic violence disputes and unintentional death of children.

This bill repeals the requirement that a seller of firearms wait 72 hours before delivering a purchased firearm to the buyer

This bill prohibits a person from intentionally or knowingly storing a handgun in an unoccupied motor vehicle unless the handgun is stored out of plain view in a locked hard-sided container and the motor vehicle, including the trunk, is locked. The bill includes a number of exceptions to this prohibition. A person who violates this prohibition commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500 may be adjudged, except that a person who violates the prohibition after having previously been adjudicated as violating the prohibition may be adjudged a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000.

This bill requires that a prior authorization for health care services remain valid for the duration of the treatment or one year, whichever is longer. It prohibits a health care plan from requiring the renewal of a prior authorization more frequently than once every 5 years for treatment that is necessary for more than one year. It also prohibits a health care plan from restricting coverage for a health care service or a prescription that was approved under a previous health care plan within 90 days of enrollment in the new health care plan and requires a health care plan to provide at least 90 days' notice to an enrollee prior to restricting coverage of a previously approved health care service.

This bill requires reimbursement under the MaineCare program for doula services. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an advisory committee to provide advice and make recommendations to the department regarding doula services

This bill repeals the law governing the process for a public water system to add fluoride to its water supply. Instead, the bill prohibits a public water system from adding fluoride to its water supply. A person who intentionally violates that prohibition commits a civil violation for which a fine of $1,000 per day for each day of the violation may be adjudged.

This bill establishes a new dentist license category, adjunct dentist license, which allows a qualified dentist who lacks the board-determined educational equivalency to a United States doctoral degree in dentistry, such as a dentist trained outside of the United States with a bachelor of dentistry degree, to obtain a license to practice dentistry under the general supervision of a licensed dentist through a written practice agreement signed by both parties. The bill also establishes a pathway to be licensed as a dentist after practicing under an adjunct dentist license for 3 consecutive years in good standing.

The department is directed to do the following: 1. Address the closure of beds for children and youth residential services by counseling service providers about resource needs and providing emergency funds to support acute staffing needs; 2. Develop an internal process to ensure that the department is meeting its obligations to make available and maximize its use of funding for early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment services; 3. Submit 2 additional reports to the Legislature related to the number of children experiencing long stays in hospital emergency departments and other matters related to youth services; and 4. Submit a report to the Legislature containing a gap analysis that describes all of the youth beds and programs added since 2018 and lost since 2018 and information concerning waiting lists and average time waiting for approval for youth programs. The report must also contain updates on the implementation and development of various policy efforts related to behavioral health services.

This bill, beginning January 5, 2026, increases the cigarette excise tax rate by 50 mills, changing the rate per pack of cigarettes from $2 to $3, and the rate per cigarette from 10¢ to 15¢. Under current law, when the cigarette tax increases, the tax on tobacco products also increases by an equivalent amount. The bill includes in the excise tax on tobacco products that equivalent increase and specifies that the definition of "tobacco products" includes products with synthetic nicotine. The bill also, beginning in fiscal year 2027-28, requires the State Tax Assessor and the State Controller to annually determine the amount of revenue from the taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products that is needed to ensure the Fund for a Healthy Maine receives at least $65,000,000 annually from all sources of revenue, including from the so-called tobacco settlement and from certain slot machine income.

This bill prohibits a school administrative unit from adopting a policy that permits a student to use a school restroom according to the student's gender identity if that restroom is designated for use by a sex that does not correspond to the student's sex assigned at birth. The bill also directs the Department of Education to update its rules consistent with this legislation.

1. It delays the requirement for oral health services to be available in all schools from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027 and clarifies that the requirement applies only to public schools. 2. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public-private partnerships to establish a model to provide for mobile dental services providers to provide additional preventive oral health and disease intervention services in schools based on the model in the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project. It requires the department to provide for at least one mobile dental services provider in each public health district per school year. 3. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide training and education to primary care providers on minimally invasive dental disease treatment for infants and small children using guidance from the From the First Tooth program or its successor program and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians are encouraged to use silver diamine fluoride in primary care settings to reduce dental disease and prevent cavities. 4. It makes permanent 2 previously established limited positions related to provided oral health services in public schools within the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This bill modifies provisions of law governing the regulation of cigarettes and other 9 tobacco products as follows. 1. It modifies the provision of law that prohibits smoking in all enclosed areas of public places by eliminating the exception that allows smoking in motel or hotel rooms that are rented to members of the public. 2. It prohibits the sale of tobacco products in vending machines. 3. It increases the penalties for licensing violations for cigarette distributors. 4. It modifies the provisions of law governing the tax on tobacco products by replacing the definition of "electronic smoking device" under current law. The bill clarifies that while components, parts and accessories of the device, including substances intended to be aerosolized or vaporized by using the device, are included in the definition of "electronic smoking device," any separately sold batteries or chargers, or drugs, devices or combination products authorized for sale by the federal Food and Drug Administration, are not included in that definition. The bill provides an effective date of January 5, 2026 for these changes.

This bill makes several changes in the Maine Criminal Code to protect children and adults from sexual abuse that is facilitated by technology, including modified images or videos of children or artificially created images of children. First, the bill defines the terms "child sexual abuse material," "identifiable child," "image," "obscene material" and "generative AI or machine learning" and amends the definition of "minor" for purposes of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, chapter 12 to ban the possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material. The bill expands the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor by specifying that a person is guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor if knowing or intending that the conduct will be used to create an image and, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of that person or another person, the person intentionally or knowingly employs, solicits, entices, persuades or uses an identifiable child to engage in sexually explicit conduct or create child sexual abuse material. The bill further expands the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor to include a person who intentionally or knowingly modifies or alters an image to depict child sexual abuse material and the identifiable child depicted is a minor. The bill also expands that crime to prohibit a person from intentionally or knowingly manufacturing or creating an image, including generative AI or machine learning, and the person knows or should know that the material depicts child sexual abuse material and is obscene material.

This bill provides that sexual orientation and gender identity data required to be collected by a health care facility is limited to an individual who is 18 years of age or older and that this data is collected when other demographic information is collected from such an individual. It removes language that describes the data required to be collected.

This bill makes the following changes to the cannabis laws regarding the regulation of intoxicating hemp-derived products. 1. It amends the definition of "hemp" in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 2231 to exclude intoxicating hemp-derived products. 2. It defines in Title 7, section 2231 "hemp product," "intoxicating hemp-derived product" and "total tetrahydrocannabinol" and distinguishes hemp products from intoxicating hemp-derived products for the purposes of tracking and regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products as adult use cannabis under Title 28-B, chapter 1. 3. It amends Title 28-A to prohibit the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived products by liquor licensees and creates a penalty for liquor licensees found to be in violation of that prohibition. 4. It amends the definitions of "cannabis," "cannabis concentrate" and "cannabis product" to include intoxicating hemp-derived products and defines "intoxicating hemp derived product" in Title 28-B, chapter 1. 5. It permits a products manufacturing facility licensee to accept transfers of intoxicating hemp-derived products from outside the adult use cannabis program for testing, tracking, packaging, labeling and sale within the adult use cannabis program. 6. It provides for the taxation of intoxicating hemp-derived products and applies a tax of 20% of the cost price of any intoxicating hemp-derived products sold wholesale to adult use cannabis establishments or sold to a consumer.