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LD 545

An Act To Exempt A Person Making Electrical Installations In The Person'S Existing Bona Fide Personal Abode From Licensing And Permitting Requirements

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tiffany Roberts

Exempts homeowners doing electrical work in their own primary residence from licensing and permitting rules, allowing DIY install without electrician licenses.

Signed by Governor
#electricians #exceptions #licensing
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Bill Summary · LD 545

Summary — LD 545 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Exempt A Person Making Electrical Installations In The Person's Existing Bona Fide Personal Abode From Licensing And Permitting Requirements
Bill number: LD 545 (LR 632)
Sponsor: Rep. Roberts of South Berwick
Subject: Electricians; exceptions; licensing
Status: Signed by Governor (May 23, 2025)

Purpose / intent

LD 545 creates an exemption from licensing and permitting requirements for a person who performs electrical installations in their own, existing bona fide personal abode. The stated intent is to allow homeowners to do electrical work on their primary residence without having to obtain an electrician's license or local electrical permits.

Key provisions

  • Exempts a person who is performing electrical installations in the person's existing bona fide personal abode from statutes and rules that otherwise require licensing and permitting for electrical work.
  • Applies to "existing bona fide personal abode" — i.e., the person's current primary residence (the bill text as enacted defines the scope by that phrase; the full statutory language should be consulted for precise legal boundaries).
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H-101) was adopted during the Legislature’s consideration; the enacted version incorporates that amendment. (Fiscal notes for both original and amended versions report no fiscal impact.)

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: homeowners or persons who own and occupy an existing primary residence who perform electrical installations in that residence.
  • Indirectly affected: licensed electricians and electrical contractors (may reduce some homeowner demand for paid services); municipal permitting and inspection offices and the Board of Electricians (may see procedural or enforcement impacts, though fiscal notes indicate no cost impact).
  • Not affected: commercial electrical work, new construction, work on non-owner-occupied properties, and persons who are not working in their bona fide personal abode (unless otherwise specified in the enacted text).

Fiscal impact

  • Multiple fiscal notes (preliminary and as amended/engrossed) state: No fiscal impact.

Legislative timeline (selected)

  • Introduced: February 11, 2025
  • Committee: Referred to Labor; Work session March 18, 2025; voted OTP-AM (committee amendment adopted)
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H-101) adopted: May 13, 2025
  • Passed both chambers and sent for concurrence: May 20–21, 2025
  • Signed by Governor: May 23, 2025

Notes / considerations

  • The summary here is based on the bill title, legislative actions, and fiscal notes provided. For precise legal application (definitions, exceptions, effective date, and any limits added by Committee Amendment A), consult the enacted statute text as codified in Maine law.

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

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