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LD 1296

An Act To Amend The Law Governing Watercraft Franchisor Warranty Reimbursements

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chip Curry and 9 co-sponsors

Maine updates watercraft franchisor warranty reimbursements to clarify payments between brands and dealers; enacted as an emergency measure, effective immediately.

Signed by Governor
#businesspractices #sales #warranties
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Bill Summary · LD 1296

Summary — LD 1296 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Amend the Law Governing Watercraft Franchisor Warranty Reimbursements
Status: Signed by Governor (emergency measure) — became law 2025-06-12
Introduced: March 25, 2025
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Subject area: Business practices, sales, warranties

Purpose and intent

LD 1296 is intended to revise Maine’s statutes that govern how franchisors reimburse dealers (franchisees) for warranty work performed on watercraft. The bill updates the legal framework for warranty reimbursement in the watercraft dealer/franchisor relationship to clarify rights, obligations, and procedures related to warranty claims and payments.

Key points and provisions

  • The official bill text and the adopted Committee Amendment (Committee Amendment "A", S-245) are not included in the materials provided here. The public documents confirm the bill amends existing law governing watercraft franchisor warranty reimbursements and that the amended version was what the Legislature enacted.
  • Committee Amendment "A" (S-245) was adopted and the bill passed the Legislature as amended; that amendment is the substance of the enacted law.
  • The Legislature treated the bill as an emergency measure; accordingly, it required and received a two-thirds vote for immediate enactment.

Because the actual statutory language is not in the supplied documents, specific clause-level changes (for example, any alterations to reimbursement rates, required documentation, timeframes for payment, dispute-resolution mechanisms, caps or formulas, or penalties for nonpayment) cannot be summarized here. For precise operative changes, consult the enrolled bill text and Committee Amendment S-245.

Who is affected

  • Watercraft franchisors (manufacturers/brands with franchised dealers)
  • Franchised watercraft dealers and service facilities that perform warranty repairs
  • Consumers indirectly, to the extent the law affects dealer capacity to perform warranty work and timeliness of warranty service

Fiscal impact

  • The Fiscal Notes for both the original and engrossed versions (approved 05/23/25 and 06/04/25) state: No fiscal impact. The law is not expected to create state or local government costs or savings.

Legislative history & effective date

  • Referred to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development (3/25/25)
  • Reported out as OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended) and Committee Amendment "A" adopted (5/08/25 – 6/03/25)
  • Passed both chambers and treated as an emergency measure requiring a two‑thirds vote (6/09/25)
  • Signed by the Governor on 6/12/25; as an emergency measure, the law took effect immediately upon signature.

Where to find the enacted language

To see the exact statutory modifications and Committee Amendment S‑245, consult the enrolled bill and amendment text on the Maine Legislature’s bill tracking or public law website (search “LD 1296” or “LR 2161” for the 132nd Legislature).

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

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