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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 Prohibit the Sale of Energy Drinks to Minors
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 17

Representative Pendleton of Scarborough would prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors. Similar legislation was defeated in the previous legislative session.

FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | In committee | 2009
An Act To Increase the Time Period for Motor Vehicle Inspections to 2 Years
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 42

Representative Wheeler of Kittery would change the annual inspection requirement for motor vehicles – except for commercial vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers – to a biennial rather than annual inspection requirement.

FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | In committee | 2009
An Act To Prohibit the Use of a Handheld Cellular Telephone While Operating a Motor Vehicle
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 41

Representative Beaudoin of Biddeford would prohibit the use of handheld cellular phones and electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Prohibit Certain Uses of Cellular Telephones and Handheld Electronic Devices while Operati
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 40

Representative Hogan of Old Orchard Beach would prohibit the use of hand-held cellular phones and electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Allow the Use of Only 2 Studded Tires on Front-wheel-drive Vehicles
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 38

Representative Pinkham of Lexington Township would allow a front-wheel-drive vehicle to have studded snow tires on its front wheels only.

FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | In committee | 2009
An Act To Allow a Weight Tolerance for Vehicle Auxiliary Power Units
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 37

Representative Theriault of Madawaska would extend a weight tolerance for vehicle auxiliary power units.

FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | In committee | 2009
An Act To Require Municipalities To Enforce the Collection of the State Excise Tax on Motor Vehicles
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 35

Representative 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 | In committee | 2009
An Act To Promote the Integrity of Citizens' Initiatives
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 28

Representative Bryant of Windham would require that persons collecting citizen initiative signatures be a Maine registered voter. In 2008, sufficient signatures were gathered to place a tax repeal question on the November ballot. The tax package was repealed.

FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | In committee | 2009
An Act To Amend the Definition of Employment for Purposes of Unemployment Compensation
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 27

Representative Flood of Winthrop would require individuals to work at least 16 hours to meet the requirements of the “ABC Test” for collecting unemployment benefits.

FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
An Act To Encourage the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 21

Representative Bryant of Windham would require insurance policies to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | In committee | 2009
An Act To Require Insurance Companies To Cover the Cost of Prosthetics
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 20

Representative Bryant of Windham would require insurance policies to cover the cost of prosthetics.

FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | In committee | 2009
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Public Rest Rooms
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 19

Representative Beaudoin of Biddeford would require all places of public accommodation that provide rest room facilities to also provide disposable toilet seat covers.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Ensure Access to MaineCare Services
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 18

Representative Beaudoin of Biddeford would require rulemaking to establish incentives for health care professionals to serve Medicaid members.

FILED UNDER: Pharmaceutical | In committee | 2009
An Act To Prohibit Air Bag Fraud
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 14

Representative Hinck of Portland would create the crime of air bag fraud, i.e., knowingly making an air bag inoperable for fraudulent purposes.

FILED UNDER: Auto Service Related | In committee | 2009
Resolve, To Encourage the Preservation of Dark Skies
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 11

Representative 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 | In committee | 2009
An Act To Prohibit the Force-feeding of Birds
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 9

Representative Casavant of Biddeford would prohibit the force-feeding of birds in order to produce the food product known as foie gras.

FILED UNDER: Miscellaneous | In committee | 2009
An Act To Deter Road Rage
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 8

Senator Rosen of Hancock would establish road rage as a Class E crime.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Establish a Distracted Driver Law
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 6

Senator Diamond of Cumberland would make driving while distracted a moving violation. Similar to LD 40 & LD 41 in this session.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Liquor Licenses
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 5

Senator Diamond of Cumberland would delete from current law the provision that limits the number of liquor stores that may be licensed in a municipality.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009
An Act To Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine
Last Update: December 29, 2008
Status: In committee
LD 1

Senator Mills of Somerset would establish a Maine “Fund of Funds” within the Small Enterprise Growth Board for the purpose of increasing the availability of venture capital to the Maine economy.

FILED UNDER: General Business | In committee | 2009