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Home : About Us : Legislative Actions
During the legislative session, MaineHousing tracks bills of interest related to affordable housing, energy, and services.
Click the arrow icon next to the bill or the bill title for more details including a direct link to these bills as well as bill summary and status. Below is also a legend for abbreviations used in the bill summaries.
AFA Table Pending Funding Decision |
OTP Ought to Pass |
WS Work Session |
Carry Over Not dealt with yet |
ONTP Ought not to Pass |
PH Public Hearing |
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OTP-AM Ought to Pass as Amended |
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Current Session |
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| Summary: Directs MaineHousing to require, until June 30, 2010, whenever reasonable, waiver of the personal interview requirement to shorten the application process for LIHEAP benefits
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Flood
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allows, but does not require, PUC to use criteria other than eligibility for federal or state fuel assistance to qualify low-income customers for assistance. Also allows the commission to approve recovery of the costs of this assistance through base distribution rates or through the cost-of-gas adjustment rate.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Hobbins
Committee(s): Utilities and Energy
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 35
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| Summary: This bill requires mortgagees to provide notice of foreclosure proceedings to all occupants of mortgaged premises, by mailing a copy of the complaint to the physical address of the mortgaged premises. The notice must be mailed no less than 14 calendar days after the foreclosure proceeding is commenced
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Priest
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Creates the Maine Home Contractors Licensing Act, including creation of Maine Home Contractor Licensing Board and licensing fees.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. MacDonald
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: Carried Over
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| Summary: Bill proposes a regional review of a project if the project will have an adverse effect on more than the community in which it will be located.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. MacDonald
Committee(s): State and Local Government
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Amends the definition of "public records" to exclude certain information submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection or to participate in auctions held under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to prevent and protect of the carbon dioxide auction market from collusion and market manipulation.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bartlett
Committee(s): Utilities and Energy
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 200
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| Summary: Provides for legislative review of portions of Chapter 2: Administration of Trust, Budgeting, Project Selection Criteria and Procedures, Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements, a major substantive rule of the Energy and Carbon Savings Trust.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Hinck
Committee(s): Utilities and Energy
Status of Bill: Resolve 2009, Chapter 19
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| Summary: Requires the DEP to include in rules governing the regional greenhouse gas initiative provisions for the buying and selling of carbon dioxide emissions allowances by state agencies.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Trahan
Committee(s): Natural Resources
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allows a court upon a showing of good cause to extend a deadline for a notice of sale or conducting a public sale in a foreclosure action.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Treat
Committee(s): Insurance & Financial Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules governing conservation programs to provide funding to promote the use of more efficient furnaces by low-income residents.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Plowman
Committee(s): Utilities and Energy
Status of Bill: Resolve 2009, Chapter 18
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| Summary: Adds residential single family and 2-unit homes to the list of structures that are exempt from the requirements of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Crockett
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Bond issue in the amount of $50,000,000 to MaineHousing used for low-interest loans for energy conservation in private homes.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bartlett
Committee(s): Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allows landlord and tenant to agree in a written lease for the landlord to heat apt. at 62 degrees instead of 68 if the lease provides a reduction in rent or other consideration for the lower heat.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Tuttle
Committee(s): Legal and Veterans Affairs
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 139
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| Summary: Clarifies that businesses acting as foreclosure negotiators forresidential mortgages are subject to the laws regulating debt management service providers. Exempts those businesses from certain provisions of current law.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bowman
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Services
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 327
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| Summary: Requires that all single-family dwellings and multiapartment buildings sold in the State and newly constructed single-family dwellings have photoelectric-only-type smoke detectors and at least one carbon monoxide detector in an area within or giving access to a bedroom.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Damon
Committee(s): Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 162
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| Summary: Directs the DHHS and MH to convene a working group to review the services delivered to persons who are homeless, with the purpose of creating efficiencies while maintaining flexibility. Report back January 1, 2010.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Campbell
Committee(s): Health and Human Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Requires notice to be sent to municipal assessor of a property in that municipality upon commencement of the foreclosure and 60 days prior to the completion of the foreclosure.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Beaudette
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allows a landlord, after providing notice and service, and with cause, to terminate a lease that does not contain termination, default or forfeiture language.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Tuttle
Committee(s): Legal and Veteran’s Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Bond issue for $60,000,000, to be used to support weatherization and other energy efficiency improvements for Maine homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Hinck
Committee(s): Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Extends the period of redemption in residential foreclosure proceedings initiated on or after October 1, 2009 on any mortgage to one year. Also requires the use of alternative dispute resolution in foreclosures.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bartlett
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Enacts income tax credit for persons eligible under Circuitbreaker Program for 10% of the cost energy efficiency equipment, qualifying nonfossil fuel energy systems, and weatherization materials. Credit limit is $250 per tax return/structure. Funding from the Energy and Carbon Savings Trust Fund.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Fletcher
Committee(s): Maine’s Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Funds construction of multifamily affordable housing units; renovation of affordable housing units; weatherization of owner-occupied residences; and replacement of manufactured housing units that do not meet HUD Code. Paid for with revenue bonds supported by General Fund share of RETT.
Bill Sponsor: Pres. Mitchell
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allows income tax credit for a person who entered into a contract for the supply of heating fuel at a locked-in price for at least 6 months but no more than 12 months for the excess cost of that heating fuel if the average actual price of that heating fuel decreases after the parties enter into the contract.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Stevens
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Provides tax credit to landlords who have energy audits on properties. Maximum audits per tax credit depend on # of units in building. Deduction is capped at audit cost or $750, whichever is less.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Alfond
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Bond issue in the amount of $25,000,000 used to provide MaineHousing funds to promote sustainable environmentally friendly housing by assisting with both building new housing and rehabilitating existing housing.
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Pingree
Committee(s): Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Bond issue in the amount of $20,000,000 to provide MaineHousing funds for low-interest loans for construction of new homes.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Adams
Committee(s): Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Establishes a building energy performance rating program for the purpose of evaluating and rating buildings in terms of energy efficiency and carbon emissions. Mandatory for state-owned or leased buildings
Bill Sponsor: Senator Goodall
Committee(s): Utilities and Energy
Status of Bill: Resolve, Chapter 134
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| Summary: Requires a landlord or lessor of a residential building to test the residential building for radon every 5 years
Bill Sponsor: Representative Martin
Committee(s): Legal and Veteran's Affairs
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 278
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| Summary: Proposes to create the Energy Trust Authority under the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security. The purpose of the authority is to actively pursue and negotiate opportunities to transform the State into the greenest and healthiest state and to create jobs.
Bill Sponsor: President Mitchell
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to ensure that all revenues derived from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative be expended solely to support the goals and implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Adams
Committee(s): Natural Resources
Status of Bill: Carried Over
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| Summary: Provides income tax credit up to $5,000 for costs of alternative fuel heating or cooling systems, energy efficiency equipment and voltage regulation technology.Credit can be claimed beginning in 2009 or 2010. May be carried over up to 5 years. Cost of credits reimbursed from ECST to General Fund.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Smith
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: The purpose of this bill is to reduce the risk of serious illness caused by exposure to cold conditions by clarifying the obligation to provide heat to residential rental units.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Sullivan
Committee(s): Legal and Veterans Affairs
Status of Bill: Bill Withdrawn
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| Summary: Amends the laws governing the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code to allow a municipality to voluntarily adopt and enforce an appendix to the code, the so-called "stretch energy code," that contains energy standards that exceed the energy conservation and efficiency requirements established by the code.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Hinck
Committee(s): Business, Research, and Economic Development
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Allocates the state ceiling among the state-level issuers of tax-exempt bonds. Under federal law, a maximum of $273,270,000 in tax-exempt bonds benefiting private individuals or entities may be issued in the State in 2009 and 2010.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Schneider (Governor's Bill)
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: Private and Special Law, Chapter 14
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| Summary: Authorizes municipalities to provide for the delivery of heating fuel to rental housing units that are facing an imminent threat of becoming uninhabitable because of a lack of heating fuel.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Casavant
Committee(s): State and Local Government
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 135
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| Summary: Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a unified system of in-home and community support services.
Bill Sponsor: Peterson
Committee(s): Health & Human Services
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 279
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| Summary: Establishes a blue ribbon commission to conduct a study and make recommendations on landlord and tenant issues and specifically address the feasibility of obtaining heating fuel assistance and insulation assistance for landlords who serve low-income tenants in certain economically distressed areas, among other issues.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Tuttle
Committee(s): Legal and Veterans Affairs
Status of Bill: Resolved, Chapter 137
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| Summary: Amends the home construction contract laws to clarify what steps may be taken to resolve a dispute between the parties in the contract.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Mills
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 175
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| Summary: Reforms the State's tax structure and reduces the burden of taxes on residents of the State by simplifying the income tax code, broadening the sales tax base, increasing the sales tax on prepared food and lodging and rentals of automobiles of less than one year, and changes the real estate transfer tax.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Piotti
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: Indefinitely postponed
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| Summary: Requires general contractor on a project with public funds to provide a list of all independent contractors and subcontractors on the job site and the names of their workers’ compensation insurers. The list must be posted on the job site, onthe agency’s website and updated weekly. Also establishes penalties.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Tuttle
Committee(s): Labor
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Establishes study commission to examine causes, possible solutions and further assistance to homeless veterans in Maine.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Cornell du Houx
Committee(s): Legal and Veterans Affairs
Status of Bill: Resolve, Chapter 72
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| Summary: Part A provides a process, through the Senior Property Tax Deferral Program, that permits persons 65 years of age or older to defer property taxes on their homesteads without regard to income.
Part B requires 0.5% of the real estate transfer tax paid to the State to be deposited in a fund to be used to fund the Senior Property Tax Deferral Program.
Part C provides that a lien for unpaid property taxes may not be foreclosed against the homestead of a person who is at least 65 years of age and has lived in the homestead for at least 10 years until the property is transferred by deed or upon death.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Chase
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: Carried Over
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| Summary: Requires that a mortgagee who is initiating a foreclosure action in Superior Court or District Court include a mortgagor answer form in the documents that are served on the mortgagor with the complaint. The form must be readily understandable and provide explanations and affirmative defenses in a check-off format and provide an opportunity for the mortgagor to request mediation, if mediation is available.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Simpson
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Repeals the youth in need of services program and establishes a comprehensive program for homeless youth and runaways.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Alfond
Committee(s): Health & Human Services
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 155
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| Summary: Requires a mortgagor to notify a tenant of the commencement of foreclosure proceedings against the premises rented by that tenant no later than one week after the commencement of those proceedings by sending a notice to the tenant by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by notifying the tenant in person.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Cornell du Houx
Committee(s): Insurance & Financial Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Provides funding for cost-effective efficiency and renewable energy technology,creates an energy efficiency entity called Efficiency Maine to administer a wide range of efficiency and related programs and to leverage private and federal funds, and ensures the provision of training for the jobs that these measures will create.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Berry
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Establishes Efficiency Maine Plus as an independent authority overseeing energy efficiency/renewable energy programs for all fuels; directs Efficiency Maine Plus to plan, implement and evaluate energy efficiency programs for all consumer sectors; directs Efficiency Maine Plus to coordinate with other relevant agencies re:energy efficiency matters; provide for separate accounting for funds from different funding sources;establish a building weatherization program; create an interagency task force; and establishes the Energy Independence Fund.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. J. Martin
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Proposes to create a tax incentive program for geothermal energy, similar to the state solar rebate or wind energy rebate programs and the federal Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, to address the needs of residents who live in areas where solar or wind power are not viable options
Bill Sponsor: Senator Diamond
Committee(s): Utilities & Energy
Status of Bill: Carried Over
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| Summary: Provides for legislative review of the proposed plan for the use of federal energy stimulus funds submitted by the Maine State Housing Authority on March 19, 2009.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. J. Martin
Committee(s): Maine's Energy Future
Status of Bill: Resolve, Chapter 45
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| Summary: Provides for the delegation of fire code permitting authority from the Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal to municipalities.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Haskell
Committee(s): Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 364
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| Summary: Requires the Secretary of State to maintain a publicly accessible website for the posting of notices of all proposed and adopted rules, changes the requirements for public notice of proposed rules in the newspaper with the intention of making the notices shorter, removes from the newspaper notice the requirement to refer to the statutory or federal authority for the rule and replaces the requirement for the express terms of the proposed rule with a general statement on the substance. The notices posted on the publicly accessible website must meet the original requirements for the notice.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Hayes
Committee(s): State & Local Government
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 256
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| Summary: Amends the laws regarding the municipal assessment of service charges to certain tax-exempt institutions by narrowing the list of applicable services to fire and police protection and road-related services. Sets methodology for calculating service charges. Expands the list of tax-exempt institutions that may be subject to service charges.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Marrache
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Provides that salary information related to an individual state, county, municipal, school, University of Maine System, Maine Community College System or Maine Maritime Academy employee is confidential. Salary information related to specified positions, identified by those positions, is public information.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Marrache
Committee(s): Judiciary
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Directs DHHS to conduct a 2-year pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of placing mentally ill or dual diagnosed homeless individuals in stable housing and providing long-term support in accordance with Maine's Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness adopted March 11, 2008 by the Maine State Housing Authority's Statewide Homeless Council.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Adams
Committee(s): Health & Human Services
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Provides a tax credit of up to $250 annually, for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 but before January 1, 2011, to a person who pays out-of-pocket costs to purchase and install energy conservation measures in their primary residence.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bartlett
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: DEAD
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| Summary: Establishes the Maine Quality of Place Council to act as a coordinating body for state and regional quality of place investment strategies,provides definitions for both state and regional quality of place investment strategies, establishes a fund for implementing regional quality of place investment strategies, requires regional planning and development districts that have in place a United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration comprehensive economic development strategy andrequires the Executive Department, State Planning Office to provide assistance to the Maine Quality of Place Council, engage in public education regarding asset-based investment strategies and a state quality of place investment strategy and work with regional planning and development districts to aid them in development of regional quality of place investment strategies
Bill Sponsor: Senator Damon
Committee(s): Business, Research and Economic Development
Status of Bill: Carried Over
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| Summary: Makes the following changes to the laws governing taxation related to MaineHousing.
It changes procedures for certification of eligibility for the income tax credit for rehabilitation of historic properties including moving language regarding the responsibility of the Maine State Housing Authority to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 201, which establishes and controls the Maine State Housing Authority.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Watson
Committee(s): Taxation
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 361
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| Summary: Amends several mortgage lending provisions of the Maine Consumer Credit Code and enables the State to participate in the national loan originator registration program that is also required by the recent federal foreclosure relief law.
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bowman
Committee(s): Insurance and Financial Services
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 362
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| Summary: Bill provids that beginning January 1, 2010, a person performing construction work on a construction site for a hiring agent presumed to be an employee of the hiring agent for purposes of workers' compensation, unless the person either meets the definition of "construction subcontractor" or carries workers' compensation insurance.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. John Martin
Committee(s): Labor
Status of Bill: Public Law, Chapter 452
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| Summary: Allows the Treasurer of State to deposit up to $4,000,000 with financial institutions in the State at a reduced rate of return and require those financial institutions to provide bridge loans to first-time home buyers for the purpose of making home energy improvements or down payment assistance to allow those first-time home buyers to take advantage of the federal housing tax credit for first-time home buyers.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Cleary
Committee(s): Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Status of Bill: Resolve, Chapter 133
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Past Sessions |
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The 1st Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature featured a record number of bills filed (nearly 2,400). This document highlights some of the bills affecting affordable housing that were passed during this session. |
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This document highlights 8 bills affecting affordable housing, and provides links to statutory language. |
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Reports to the Legislature |
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A Report to the Joint Standing Committees on Health and Human Services and Natural Resources |
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Resolve, Chapter 156, Resolve, Regarding Loans for Geothermal Heating Systems, passed during the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Maine Legislature, directed MaineHousing to submit a report to the 124th Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy detailing the number, amount and characteristics of MaineHousing’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) loans made during the previous program year for geothermal heating systems and other energy conservation measures |
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Report to the Maine Legislature on HOME Fund uses 2007-2008. |
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