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LD 589

An Act To Make Agricultural Workers And Other Related Workers Employees Under The Wage And Hour Laws

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

LD 589 designates agricultural workers as employees under Maine wage-and-hour laws and creates a state minimum wage for farm labor, expanding protections and enforcement.

Signed by Governor
#agriculturalworkers #compensation #wages
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Bill Summary · LD 589

Summary — LD 589 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Make Agricultural Workers And Other Related Workers Employees Under the Wage And Hour Laws
Status: Signed by Governor (June 10, 2025)
Introduced: February 19, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross; Cosponsor: Rep. Richard Bennett

Purpose

LD 589 changes how Maine wage-and-hour law treats agricultural workers. The bill (as enacted with Committee Amendment C "A" (S‑196)) (1) classifies agricultural and certain related workers as “employees” under Maine’s wage and hour statutes and (2) establishes a state minimum hourly wage specifically for agricultural workers. The intent is to extend wage-and-hour protections to agricultural laborers who previously fell outside or ambiguously within those protections.

Key provisions (based on available documents)

  • Designates agricultural workers and related workers as employees under state wage and hour laws (bringing them within protections and obligations of those laws).
  • Establishes a state minimum hourly wage for agricultural workers (the fiscal documents do not specify the wage rate; see bill text for exact amounts and any phased-in schedule).
  • Grants enforcement authority to the Maine Department of Labor and the Attorney General’s Office consistent with existing wage-and-hour enforcement mechanisms (investigations, civil remedies, fines, filing of actions).

Who is affected

  • Positively affected: farmworkers, migrant and seasonal agricultural laborers, and other workers categorized as “related” to agricultural operations who will gain wage-and-hour protections (minimum wage, overtime where applicable, record‑keeping and wage‑claim remedies).
  • Affected entities: farms, agribusinesses, labor contractors, and other employers in the agriculture sector who will need to comply with Maine wage-and-hour requirements.
  • Government: Maine Department of Labor and Attorney General’s Office (enforcement responsibilities); state courts (potential increase in civil wage claims).

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal notes (approved 5/16/25 and 6/03/25) estimate:
    • Minor General Fund cost increases (administrative/enforcement) that can be absorbed within existing budgets.
    • Minor increases in General Fund and other special revenue from fines and filing fees.
    • Possible small increase in civil suits filed; workload is expected to be minimal and not require additional funding.

Legislative history & timeline

  • Referred to Committee on Labor (Feb 19, 2025).
  • Committee amendment C "A" (S‑196) adopted; reported OTP‑AM and passed both chambers (Senate: 22–12; House final roll calls 74–72 and 74–73 at various stages).
  • Signed by the Governor on June 10, 2025 and enacted. (The bill text should be consulted for the effective date.)

Notes / Where to find more detail

  • The fiscal notes do not include the specific hourly wage amount or phased implementation details introduced by the amendment. For specifics (exact wage rate, effective date, definitions of “related workers,” exemptions, overtime rules, and compliance timelines), consult the enrolled bill text or the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

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

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