Bill
LD 129
LD 129 amends dedimus justice law to require a Secretary of State mailing, adding a new admin duty with minor General Fund costs; effective immediately upon signature.
Status: Signed by the Governor (June 12, 2025) — emergency measure
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Carney (Cumberland)
Committee: State and Local Government
Subjects: Counties; Dedimus Justices; Officers
Note: The full bill text was not provided with the materials supplied for this summary. The summary below is based on the available legislative history, committee actions, and fiscal notes for the bill and its committee amendment (Committee Amendment “A” / S-290).
Purpose and intent
- The bill updates statutory provisions that govern dedimus justices (a statutory officer type referenced in Maine law). The legislative history indicates the enactment changes provisions related to dedimus justices and imposes at least one administrative requirement involving the Secretary of State.
- The measure was treated as an emergency to take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature.
Key provisions (based on available documents)
- The enacted (amended) bill requires the Secretary of State to provide a mailing as specified in the legislation. The fiscal notes reference this mailing as the principal administrative action created by the amendment.
- Committee Amendment “A” (S-290) was adopted and incorporated into the enacted bill; that amendment appears to be the version that added the mailing requirement referenced in fiscal notes.
- No other substantive provisions can be confirmed from the provided documents; readers should consult the enrolled bill text for full statutory changes.
Who is affected
- Dedimus justices and officers whose duties or appointments are governed by the relevant Maine statutes.
- The Department of the Secretary of State — responsible for implementing the required mailing and any associated administrative tasks.
- Counties and county officers may be indirectly affected depending on the specific statutory changes (not detailed in the available documents).
Fiscal and procedural notes
- Fiscal impact: Minor net increase to the General Fund. The Department of the Secretary of State will incur additional mailing-related costs, but those costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.
- A preliminary fiscal statement initially indicated no fiscal impact; subsequent amendments and committee action triggered a fiscal note reflecting the minor cost.
- Legislative process:
- Referred to State and Local Government (Jan 8, 2025).
- Committee reported OTP-AM; Committee Amendment “A” (S-290) was adopted.
- Passed both chambers as an emergency measure (two-thirds vote required) and was signed by the Governor on June 12, 2025.
- Because it was enacted as an emergency measure, it became effective upon the Governor’s signature.
Recommended action for readers seeking specifics
- Consult the enrolled/engrossed bill text (LD 129 as enacted, including Committee Amendment “A” / S-290) for the exact statutory language and the precise content and timing of the required mailing and other amendments to dedimus justice law.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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