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LD 408

An Act To Allow Unaccompanied And Emancipated Minors To Access Their Vital Records At No Cost

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Brennan and 7 co-sponsors

Waives all fees for unaccompanied and emancipated minors to obtain their own vital records (e.g., birth certificates), helping them access education, housing, jobs, and services.

Signed by Governor
#access #datarecords #vitalstatistics
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Bill Summary · LD 408

Summary — LD 408: An Act To Allow Unaccompanied And Emancipated Minors To Access Their Vital Records At No Cost

Status: Signed by the Governor (June 9, 2025)
Introduced: February 4, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Brennan of Portland
Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services
Enacted form: As engrossed with Committee Amendment “A” (H-253)

Purpose / Intent

The bill removes the fee barrier for certain minors when they request copies of their vital records. Its intent is to ensure unaccompanied minors and emancipated minors can obtain their own vital records (for example, birth certificates) without cost, to support access to services, education, employment, housing, and other legal processes that require proof of identity or age.

Key provisions

  • Waives fees for access to a minor’s own vital records for:
    • Unaccompanied minors (those not accompanied by a parent or guardian), and
    • Emancipated minors.
  • Applies to requests submitted to the state entity that maintains vital records (administration handled by the Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records).
  • Enacted bill incorporates Committee Amendment “A” (H-253) as passed by the Legislature. (The text of the amendment adjusted the bill as it passed; the enacted measure is the amended version.)

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: unaccompanied minors and emancipated minors seeking copies of their own vital records.
  • State agency impacted: Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — Vital Records division will process fee-waived requests.
  • Indirectly benefits service providers, schools, employers, housing programs and others who require such documents from young people.

Fiscal impact

  • Multiple fiscal notes (approved 02/10/25, 03/20/25, 05/28/25) estimate a minor increase in General Fund costs.
  • DHHS estimates any additional costs are minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative and procedural timeline (highlights)

  • 02/04/2025: Introduced and referred to Health and Human Services.
  • 03/11/2025: Committee work session; voted OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended).
  • 05/22–05/28/2025: Reported out OTP‑AM; Committee Amendment “A” (H‑253) adopted.
  • 05/29/2025: Passed by the Legislature to be enacted (in concurrence).
  • 06/09/2025: Signed by the Governor.

Note: The bill text enacted as amended should be consulted for precise definitions (e.g., the statutory definitions of “unaccompanied” and “emancipated”), any procedural requirements for requesting records, and any effective date specified in the final law.

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

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