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LD 1813

An Act To Implement The Recommendations Of The Right To Know Advisory Committee Concerning State Boards And Commissions

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Amy Kuhn

LD 1813 clarifies Maine FOAA for state boards/commissions, defines public access officers, standardizes records, meeting notices, and retention to boost transparency.

Became Law without Governor's Signature
#freedomofaccess #publicaccessofficers #publicrecords
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Bill Summary · LD 1813

Summary — LD 1813 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Implement The Recommendations Of The Right To Know Advisory Committee Concerning State Boards And Commissions
Subjects: Freedom of Access; Public Access Officers; Public Records
Status: Became law without the Governor’s signature (June 8, 2025)
Introduced: April 29, 2025
Committee: Judiciary

Purpose

LD 1813 implements recommendations from Maine’s Right to Know Advisory Committee focused on how state boards and commissions comply with the Freedom of Access laws (open meetings and public records). The bill’s stated intent is to clarify and update the roles, responsibilities, and procedures that apply to state-level boards and commissions to improve public access and transparency.

Key points and (high-level) provisions

The legislative record provided does not include the full statutory text. Based on the bill title and classification, LD 1813 is intended to do one or more of the following (reflecting the Advisory Committee’s typical recommendations):

  • Clarify the application of the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) to state boards and commissions.
  • Define or refine responsibilities for public access officers or similar compliance/designated contacts for boards and commissions.
  • Standardize procedures for public records requests, meeting notices, minutes, and retention related to state boards and commissions.
  • Improve transparency and public notice practices for board and commission meetings and records.

Note: Specific statutory changes, wording, or affected code sections are not provided in the documents available for this summary. The bill was amended in committee (Committee Amendment “A,” H‑163) and passed as amended.

Who is affected

  • State boards and commissions (members and administrative staff)
  • State agencies that provide administrative support to boards and commissions
  • Public access officers or officials charged with FOAA compliance
  • Members of the public who request records or attend meetings
  • Legal counsel and compliance officers at state entities

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Two fiscal notes (LR 2468(02) and LR 2468(03)) were prepared and both conclude: No fiscal impact.
  • Committee actions: Referred to Judiciary; work session and OTP‑AM report; Committee Amendment A adopted; passed by both chambers and enacted without the Governor’s signature on 2025‑06‑08.
  • Effective date: Not listed in the summary documents provided. (Maine statutes typically specify an effective date in the enacted language; consult the enrolled law for the exact date.)

How to find the full text

For the precise statutory changes and operative language, consult the enrolled bill and final law on the Maine Legislature website (search LD 1813, 132nd Legislature) or contact the Legislature’s Office of Policy and Legal Analysis.

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

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