WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

LD 405

An Act To Define "Solitary Confinement" For The Laws Governing Jails And Correctional Facilities

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David Boyer and 9 co-sponsors

Defines 'solitary confinement' for Maine jails and requires agencies to report on prisoner segregation use, boosting transparency and oversight of how segregation is applied.

Signed by Governor
#correctionalinstitutions #management #solitaryconfinement
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 405

LD 405 — An Act To Define "Solitary Confinement" For The Laws Governing Jails And Correctional Facilities

Status: Signed by Governor (June 11, 2025)
Sponsor: Rep. Lookner of Portland
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Overview / Purpose

LD 405 establishes a statutory definition of “solitary confinement” for application in laws that govern jails and correctional facilities and, as enacted, requires reporting on the use of prisoner segregation. The overall intent is to create a consistent legal term for solitary confinement and increase transparency around how and when segregation is used in Maine’s correctional system.

Key Provisions

  • Defines the term “solitary confinement” for use in statutes governing jails and correctional facilities. (The enacted bill text is not included in the materials provided; this summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose.)
  • Requires correctional authorities to compile and report information about the use of prisoner segregation (often referred to as solitary confinement or segregation). The final, engrossed version’s fiscal note describes the bill as “An Act to Require Reporting on the Uses of Prisoner Segregation,” indicating reporting obligations were included or clarified in the amended bill adopted by the Legislature.
  • Committee Amendment A (H‑389) was the vehicle for the version passed by the Legislature.

Who Is Affected

  • Department of Corrections and county/local jail administrators — responsible for applying the statutory definition and for collecting/reporting required data.
  • Incarcerated individuals — the clarified definition and reporting may affect oversight, transparency, and future policy on the use and limits of segregation.
  • State policymakers, oversight bodies, researchers, and advocacy groups — will have access to standardized data on segregation use to inform policy, oversight, and legislation.

Fiscal Impact

  • Fiscal notes evolved as the bill moved through amendment. Preliminary versions indicated no fiscal impact.
  • The final fiscal assessment (approved 06/04/2025) reports a minor General Fund cost: additional work to compile and report segregation-use data for the Department of Corrections. Those costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative Timeline & Procedure

  • Introduced: February 4, 2025; referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
  • Work session: April 2, 2025 (divided report).
  • Committee Amendment A (H‑389) adopted in both chambers.
  • House passage: June 2, 2025 (Roll Call No. 271 — Yeas 73, Nays 63, Absent 15).
  • Senate passage: June 3, 2025 (Roll Call No. 336 — Yeas 19, Nays 13, Excused 3).
  • Signed by Governor: June 11, 2025.

Notes / Limitations

This summary is based on available legislative and fiscal documents. The full statutory language defining “solitary confinement” and the precise reporting requirements (data elements, reporting frequency, recipients) were not included in the materials provided; consult the enacted bill text or the Maine Legislature’s website for the exact statutory language and reporting specifications.

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

Sign in to ask a question.