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LD 168

An Act To Improve Safety In Public Schools By Requiring Silent Electronic Notification Systems In Classrooms

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Brennan and 1 co-sponsor

Requires silent electronic notification systems in eligible classrooms to automatically alert emergency services, school security, local police, and opt-in parents.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
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Bill Summary · LD 168

Summary of LD 168: An Act To Improve Safety In Public Schools By Requiring Silent Electronic Notification Systems In Classrooms

Overview

  • Bill Number: LD 168
  • Official Title: An Act To Improve Safety In Public Schools By Requiring Silent Electronic Notification Systems In Classrooms
  • Introduced: January 14, 2025
  • Status: DEAD (Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3, placed in Legislative Files)
  • Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
  • Primary Sponsor: Rep. Sinclair (Bath)
  • Purpose: To enhance safety in public schools by mandating silent electronic notification systems in classrooms that can automatically alert emergency services, school security staff, local law enforcement, and, optionally, parents.

Key Provisions

  • Applicability: Required in public elementary and secondary schools that enroll 12 or more students.
  • System Requirement: Each classroom must be equipped with a silent electronic notification system.
  • Automatic Notifications: The system must automatically notify:
    • E-9-1-1 emergency dispatch
    • School security personnel
    • Local law enforcement agencies
    • Parents who opt to be notified
  • Notification Features: Silent (non-disruptive) alerts intended to speed response while remaining unobtrusive to classroom activity.

Fiscal Impact

  • State Mandate and Local Costs: The Fiscal Note identifies a potential unfunded state mandate with significant local costs statewide.
  • Local Responsibilities: School districts would bear the main costs to install and maintain the systems in eligible classrooms.
  • Funding Considerations: The bill does not specify a funding source. The Fiscal Note discusses constitutional options for funding:
    • General Fund appropriations to cover at least 90% of any additional local costs, or
    • Addition of a Mandate Preamble and a two-thirds vote in each House to exempt the mandate from funding requirements.
  • Net Effect: If deemed a mandate and not funded under these provisions, local units would not be required to implement the system.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Public elementary and secondary schools with at least 12 students enrolled per school.
  • Impacts: School administrators, local districts (costs for procurement, installation, maintenance), emergency responders, and parents who opt-in to notifications.

Procedural History and Timeline

  • 2025-01-14: Referred to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.
  • 2025-01-14: Sent for concurrence; ordered printed.
  • 2025-03-21: Carried over to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature (Joint Order SP 519).
  • 2025-05-09: Work Session Held; Voted ONTP (Ought Not To Pass).
  • 2025-05-12: Reported Out - ONTP.
  • 2025-05-14: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3.

Notes and Context

  • The bill emphasizes rapid, non-disruptive communication in emergencies and provides for parental opt-in notifications.
  • As of the latest action, the bill is not moving forward and is listed as dead, though carried over actions indicate it could be reconsidered in a future session.

Key Takeaway

LD 168 proposed a classroom-level safety enhancement requiring silent electronic notification systems in eligible Maine public schools, with automatic alerts to emergency services, security staff, and opt-in parents. It faced mixed committee sentiment and ultimately did not advance, being placed in legislative files as dead.

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

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