Bill
LD 1888
Creates new racketeering offenses (Class B/C) to target organized crime in Maine; includes a one-time $45,000 AGO report/work group; could raise felony prosecutions and costs.
Status
- Bill number: LD 1888
- Introduced: May 1, 2025 (Sponsor: Rep. Arata of New Gloucester)
- Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (referred from Judiciary)
- Most recent status: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature (per Joint Order SP 800).
- Key legislative steps: Committee Amendment A (H‑630) adopted; House and Senate reports accepted; bill passed to be engrossed as amended and finally passed in concurrence on 2025‑06‑11; placed on the Special Appropriations Table pending enactment.
Purpose and intent
- The bill’s stated purpose is to strengthen Maine’s ability to combat organized criminal enterprises by creating statutory racketeering offenses and related tools to investigate and prosecute organized criminal activity.
Key provisions (what the bill would change)
- Creates new racketeering offenses, classified as Class B and Class C crimes. (The bill text itself is not provided here; the fiscal notes indicate the creation of these Class B and Class C racketeering crimes.)
- Establishes workgroup/report requirements (as reflected in the fiscal note and amendment): a one‑time General Fund appropriation of $45,000 in FY 2025‑26 to the Office of the Attorney General to hire a consultant to facilitate a working group and produce a report. (This appropriation appears in Committee Amendment A / the amended bill.)
- Other implementing details (elements of the offenses, definitions, penalties, procedural changes) are not included in the provided documents; readers should consult the engrossed bill text for the statutory language and sentencing elements.
Who would be affected
- Defendants/prospective offenders: Individuals engaged in patterns of organized criminal activity could face prosecution under the new racketeering statutes and exposure to Class B or Class C penalties.
- Judicial system: Potentially a small increase in felony cases involving racketeering charges. The court system’s workload increase is expected to be minimal and not to require additional funding at this time.
- Corrections system: Possible increase in incarceration if additional persons are convicted of these felonies. The fiscal note highlights uncertainty about how many additional convictions (if any) would occur; the current average annual cost to incarcerate one person is cited as $55,203.
- Office of the Attorney General: Receives a one‑time $45,000 appropriation to facilitate a working group and produce a report.
- State revenues: The bill could generate minor increases in General Fund or other dedicated revenue from collection of fines.
Fiscal impact
- Preliminary fiscal assessment (original version): Minor General Fund cost increase and minor General Fund revenue increase. No appropriation included in the original bill.
- As amended (committee amendment): One‑time General Fund appropriation of $45,000 in FY 2025‑26 to the Attorney General for a consultant to facilitate the working group and write a report. No ongoing costs were identified in the fiscal note.
- Correctional impact: Uncertain; potential costs if additional individuals receive incarceration for Class B or C convictions. Average per‑inmate cost used for estimates: $55,203 per year.
Procedure and timeline notes
- Committee Amendment A (H‑630) was adopted on 2025‑06‑11. The amended bill was passed and sent in concurrence the same day.
- On 2025‑06‑12 the bill was placed on the Special Appropriations Table pending enactment.
- Final formal status is CARRIED OVER to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature under Joint Order SP 800; it therefore awaits further session action for possible enactment.
For the full statutory language, definitions, and sentencing details, consult the engrossed/amended bill text and the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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