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LD 961

An Act To Address Maine'S Health Care Workforce Shortage And Improve Access To Care

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Poppy Arford and 6 co-sponsors

LD 961 aims to address Maine’s health care workforce shortage by reforming nurse practitioner supervision rules to potentially expand NP practice autonomy.

Signed by Governor
#healthcarepersonnel #licensing #nursepractitioners
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 961

Summary: LD 961 — An Act To Address Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage And Improve Access To Care

Overview

  • Bill number: LD 961
  • Title: An Act To Address Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage And Improve Access To Care
  • Status: Voted - OTP-AM (Ought to Pass As Amended)
  • Introduced: March 6, 2025
  • Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
  • Primary sponsor: Kristi Mathieson (cosponsors: Denise Tepler, Michelle Boyer, Anne Graham, Daniel Shagoury, Poppy Arford, Stacy Brenner)
  • Purpose: To address Maine’s health care workforce shortage and improve access to care, with a focus on licensing and nurse practitioner practice.

Key Provisions (as indicated by available fiscal note)

  • The bill appears to eliminate the “supervising nurse practitioner” designation within Maine’s nurse practitioner licensure framework.
  • By removing this designation, the regulatory structure governing supervision of nurse practitioners would be altered, potentially increasing NP practice autonomy (the exact statutory text would specify the precise changes to supervision requirements).

Fiscal Impact ( Preliminary Fiscal Note)

  • Source: Fiscal Note for the original bill (LR 926(01)), approved March 20, 2025.
  • Estimated effect: Elimination of the supervising nurse practitioner designation would reduce revenue to the State Board of Nursing by approximately $36,450 over a two-year biennium.
  • Fiscal context: The note is categorized under “Other Special Revenue Funds” for the current biennium.
  • Implication: The Board of Nursing would experience a net revenue decrease; potential indirect effects could include how the board licenses and oversees nurse practitioners.

Who Is Affected

  • State Board of Nursing: Revenue and regulatory framework would be impacted by removing the supervising NP designation.
  • Nurse Practitioners: May gain greater practice autonomy if supervisory requirements are loosened (subject to the bill’s full text).
  • Healthcare facilities and employers: Could experience changes in NP supervision requirements and related staffing practices.
  • Maine patients: Potentially improved access to care if NP practice becomes more autonomous, depending on subsequent implementation details.

Procedural Timeline and Status

  • 2025-03-06: Bill introduced and referred to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services.
  • 2025-03-21 onward: Various actions including carryovers; several work sessions and tabled actions.
  • 2025-05-15 to 2025-05-19: Work sessions and carry-over decisions; bill carried over to the next session as appropriate.
  • 2025-06-25: Carried over to any special or regular session (pursuant to Joint Order SP 800).
  • 2025-11-06: Work session held; voted OTP-AM (final status noted as of that date).

Summary of Purpose and Impact

LD 961 aims to address Maine’s health care workforce shortage and enhance access to care, in part by reforming nurse practitioner supervision requirements. The fiscal note highlights a expected revenue impact on the State Board of Nursing due to eliminating the supervising NP designation. The bill would primarily affect licensure and supervision rules for nurse practitioners, with downstream effects on providers, facilities, and patients in Maine.

If you want, I can attach a brief comparison to current law or provide a plain-language chart of who gains or loses authority under the proposed changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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