Advocacy: Bills to Watch

Advocacy - Bills to Watch

The Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce understands the importance of keeping our business owners and residents informed about Bills being discussed during our legislative session that have significant potential to either hurt or help our economy and quality of life in Maine. Though the chamber does not generally take a "side" , we like to capture Bill 'summaries' and provide an easy platform for our members to click on a link to submit online testimony in favor of or in opposition to a Bill. If our partners at the Maine State Chamber or the Retail Association of Maine have concerns about a Bill, we will share those concerns with our members. Bills become laws that govern the way we do business, so our priority is to protect our business owners and call attention to Bills that are NOT business friendly and could have a lasting negative impact on our businesses, which are already struggling to survive.

We will continue to share advocacy alerts through e-mail through individual Advocacy Alerts or in the Advocacy section of our monthly Newsletter.
Starting May of 2025, we will also add Advocacy Alerts & Updates to our website, below.

To subscribe to our Newsletter or Advocacy Alerts, e-mail us and we will add you to our Mailing list!

DATA PRIVACY BILL STOPPED, $320 MILLION BUDGET PASSES WITH INCREASED TAXES - June 27, 2025

Tentative Victory on Data Privacy; Budget Passes with Increased Taxes

(for July 2025 Newsletter)

The Maine Legislature wrapped up almost all of their work last week, for the year. This week, the Appropriations Committee "ran the Table" on bills that need funding, and the full legislature enacted some of those bills on Wednesday. Any potential vetoes from Governor Mills will be addressed by July 1st.

Bad Data Privacy Bill stopped this session.

Thanks to hundreds of submitted testimonies, LD1822 was stopped, but now remains in the Maine House as Unfinished Business. So, it will most likely come back around in 2026

Supplemental Budget Passed:

The $320 million Supplemental budget was signed into law by Governor Mills on Monday the 24th.

Some key details:

This adds $320 million to the existing $11.3 billion two-year budget.
Overall, Maine's state budget has increased more than 60% in six years
Like the earlier budget, this passed along party lines with Democrats supporting the budget and Republicans opposing it.
There are 1,911 vacant positions within state government currently. This budget adds approximately 250 new positions to state government.
There are increased taxes: Tobacco taxes will increase 75% from $2 per pack to $3.50 per pack ($0.50 higher than originally proposed); it adds a tax to streaming services like Netflix and Spotify; it increases a paint fee to increase funding for lead paint abatement; it increases the tax on recreational cannabis by 40% from 10% to 14%.
The budget also includes money to pay for the entirety of the employee share of Maine's paid family and medical leave program for some state employees. This continues to be a controversial issue because for most employers, the premium is split between the employer and employee. The state has been pushing to have taxpayers pay for the entire premium for state employees.

Since this budget was passed along party lines, it will not take effect until the fall.

We will send out a Legislative Update as needed as things continue to be finalized.

This legislative update was forwarded from our partners at the Retail Association of Maine.

Miscellaneous Updates

New Laws Recently Enacted:

Note: Most bills will take effect 90 days post adjournment unless otherwise noted.
LD 124 is an expansion of Maine's food sovereignty laws. It becomes law without Governor Mills' signature.
LD 414 is the deceptive pricing bill that mirrors the current FTC rules for short term lodging and ticket sales. We initially opposed the bill, but supported the amended version. It becomes law without Governor Mills' signature.
LD 1033 would regulate alcoholic beverage competitions. It becomes law without Governor Mills' signature.
LD 180 is a modest change to Maine's pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulations.
LD 1325 changes Maine's property tax abatement laws for non-residential properties. Under the new law, any abatement appeal for properties greater than $1 million must be appealed to the State Board of Property Tax Review instead of the County Commissioners.
LD 1938 makes some technical changes to Maine's tobacco products regulations, and deletes some obsolete language.

Bills That Died Last Week:

LD 1928 is the bill that would ban mini plastic shampoo bottles from lodging properties. The bill is DEAD.
LD 442 is the bill that would make changes to Maine's automotive right to repair law. The bill is DEAD.
LD 746 is the perennial bill to establish a local option sales tax. The bill is DEAD and received very strong opposition in the floor votes.
LD 1394 is another bill that would make changes to Maine's automotive right to repair law. The bill is DEAD
LD 1960 would exempt electronic smoking devices that contain hemp from Maine's tobacco taxation. The bill is DEAD.

We have 30 bills on the Appropriations Table that we will continue to watch as well as the bills that are awaiting action from Governor Mills.

DATA PRIVACY BILL - May 1, 2025

ACTION ALERT: Protect Retailers’ Ability to Market Responsibly — Take Action on LD 1224 & LD 1822!

On Monday, May 5th, beginning at 10 AM, the Judiciary Committee will take public testimony on three bills related to consumer data privacy. This bill was of great concern in 2024, and it's back, requiring our immediate attention.

Last year, Maine attempted to pass data privacy legislation that would be a first-in-the nation type of law, and thankfully, that bill was defeated in the Maine Senate. During the floor debate, Senator Joe Baldacci-D of Penobscot said that Maine businesses should not be a laboratory for something as complex as data privacy regulations. He's right!

We are strongly supportive of Maine passing a comprehensive data privacy law, but we want to make sure it is done right, and does not make Maine a unique outlier.

We are supporting LD 1224, An Act to Comprehensively Protect Consumer Privacy sponsored by Representative Tiffany Roberts-D of South Berwick and co-sponsored by Senator Baldacci-D of Penobscot and Representatives: Bridgeo-D of Augusta, Collamore-R of Pittsfield, Crockett-D of Portland, Dill-D of Old Town, Henderson-R of Rumford, Stover-D of Boothbay, Senators: Guerin-R of Penobscot, Moore-R of Washington.

This bill is modeled after similar state laws in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In fact, 17 states have legislation that closely resembles LD 1224. Maine should follow the lead of LD 1224 so that Maine's businesses are competing on a level playing field, and it ensures interoperability for those businesses that work in multiple states.

What we learned last year was that certain national groups were targeting Maine, Vermont and Maryland to try to get a foothold with their version of data privacy. Their goal was to cause disruption at the state level to try to give them leverage at the federal level on this issue. We stopped them in Maine. Vermont's bill was ultimately vetoed and killed, but Maryland did pass problematic legislation that is set to take effect in October of 2025.

LD 1822, An Act to Enact the Maine Online Data Privacy Act, sponsored by Representative Amy Kuhn-D of Falmouth,and Cosponsored by Senator Carney-D of Cumberland and Representatives: Speaker Fecteau-D of Biddeford, Lee-D of Auburn, Moonen-D of Portland, Sato-D of Gorham, Sinclair-D of Bath, is modeled closely after the Maryland legislation, and we would be disappointed to see Maine follow in Maryland's footsteps.

LD 1088, sponsored by Representative Rachel Henderson-R of Rumford is fairly similar to LD 1224, but has a few additional provisions that are somewhat concerning. However, it is worth noting that Representative Henderson is a co-sponsor of LD 1224 so we want to focus our efforts on that bill.

How You Can Help!

✅ Support LD 1224: Balanced and Business-Friendly

LD 1224 protects consumer privacy without overburdening retailers. It’s a proven model, already adopted in 17 states, including:

· New Hampshire

· Rhode Island

· Connecticut

Why it works for Maine retailers:

· Protects consumer data while supporting responsible marketing

· Provides clear rules and time to comply

· Aligns with neighboring states, reducing compliance confusion

· Practical and realistic for small businesses

🚫 Oppose LD 1822: Overreaching and Costly

LD 1822 goes too far — adding new compliance costs, restricting marketing, and creating uncertainty just when retailers need clarity.

Why it’s a problem:

· Burdens small businesses with vague and complex regulations

· Limits how you reach new customers — including tourists

· Makes it harder to offer discounts, loyalty programs, or personalized deals

· Goes beyond what most other states have done

🎯 Why This Matters Now

Maine businesses — especially those in tourism-heavy regions — are already facing challenges:

· Canadian tourism is down due to tariffs

· Federal privacy rules are still unclear

· Businesses must now find new customers and new markets to survive

We need smart, consistent state laws that protect consumers AND support local business growth.

📢 How to Take Action

Attend an in person hearing on Monday, May 5 at 10 AM in the Judiciary Committee, 4th Floor, Maine State House.

If you are testifying in person, please bring 20 copies of your testimony, and begin your remarks with:

"Senator Carney, Representative Kuhn, and members of the Judiciary Committee…"

Please use your own words, but consider using these simple messages:

· “Please support LD 1224 — it balances privacy with business needs.”

· “Please oppose LD 1822 — it goes too far and hurts small businesses.”

· “Maine retailers rely on data to find new customers, especially with the loss of Canadian tourism.”

· “We need laws that match what other states are doing — LD 1224 does that. LD 1822 does not.”

Your voice makes a difference. Maine’s small businesses deserve data privacy laws that are fair, clear, and consistent.

Can’t Make It? Submit written testimony online, or sign up to testify via Zoom:

· Go to: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/

· Click: Public Hearing

· Choose a Committee: Judiciary

· Choose a Date: May 5 2025 10 AM

· You can only click one bill at a time. We suggest clicking LD 1224, An Act to Comprehensively Protect Consumer Privacy

· If you want to testify via Zoom, click that box, and you will get an emailed link. Otherwise, leave it unchecked.

· Either upload a letter, or type your testimony in the box.

· Enter your contact information, and press Submit/Register.

This message is shared in partnership with the Maine Retail Association.

PROPERTY TAX FAIRNESS CREDIT, GIFT CARD FRAUD, AUTO-RENTAL TAX

LD 1770 (Property Taxes) President Daughtry of Cumberland increases the maximum property tax fairness credit beginning in 2025, raising the cap from $1,500 to $2,000 for individuals under 65 and from $2,000 to $2,500 for individuals 65 and older. The bill also establishes the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force to study property tax assessments and relief programs and recommend reforms, potentially including constitutional changes.

LD 1773 (Gift Card Fraud) Senator Harrington of York expands the definition of "retail merchandise" in organized retail theft statutes to include the theft of gift cards.

LD 1807 (Short-Term Auto Rentals and Luxury Service Tax Expansion) Representative Skold of Portland increases the sales tax rate on short-term automobile rentals from 10% to 15% and eliminates the exemption for short-term rentals of loaner vehicles provided by car dealerships. The bill also expands the sales tax to cover new categories of luxury services.

If you are "in favor of" or "opposed to" any of the bills above and you cannot travel to the state house to testify in person, please e-mail the chamber to share your thoughts HERE, utilize the contact info below, below, or submit your own testimony before the bill is discussed, HERE.